Posted on January 22, 2013 // 0 Comments

Do you love Hawaiian music? Then E’ Kanikapila Ka’Kou (EKK) is for you. Taking place on Kauai every year from mid January to the end of March, EKK is celebrating it’s 30th year of sharing the best that Hawaiian music has to offer. E’ Kanikapila Ka’Kou translates as “Let’s all get together”. For EKK it stands for “Let’s strike up the music”, and it often has that wonderful intimate backyard feel of a group of friends getting together to talk story and play music.

Over the years award winning musicians such as Eddie Kamae, Willie K, Dennis Kamakahi, George Kahumoku, Napua Makua, Jeff Peterson, Nathan Aweau, and Makana have shared themselves and their music. Often someone in the crowd will get up on stage and perform a graceful hula to a special song being played. Sometimes Hula Halaus (hula schools) are the evenings entertainers and the stage is full of dancers that you would rarely have the opportunity to see otherwise.

The last few years EKK has taken place Monday evenings in the ballroom at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort just north of Lihue. It is a good central location, and tourists from as far away as Europe and Asia join with locals from all parts of Kauai to take part in this 3 hour event. From 6-7pm the musicians performing later that evening lead ukelele workshops on how to play some of their songs. Every once in awhile, if a Hula Halau is performing, they will teach a hula dance. The main event is from 7-9pm and is a wonderful mix of stories and music.

EKK is free, but donations are gladly accepted to help the Garden Island Arts Council keep the program running. You can put money in the basket, or become a patron with early entry privileges to the events. Schedule info is available on their website; click here for this year’s program.

Category : Blog