George "Keoki" Matsushita, famed Hawaiian male falsetto singer of Japan, hosted a luncheon at the beautiful Meshima Restaurant in the Pacific Meridian Hotel in Shinagawa, Japan on Sunday, April 25, 2010. Left to right: Ryoko Takaya, Harry B. Soria, Jr., Mr. & Mrs. George Matsushita. (Photo: Meshima Restaurant staff)
O'Brien Eselu & his band pose just seconds before the curtain they are facing is raised and their performance begins. From left to right, Ken Makuakane, Max Sanchez, O'Brien Eselu, & Mitch Sanchez. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Kumu hula Mapuana de Silva sits with 6 of her traveling dancers of Halau Mohala Ilima backstage in their dressing room prior to their performance in Shinagawa, Japan, on Saturday, April 24, 2010. (Left to right: Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva, Lilinoe, Pualani, Mahina, Nanea, Makanani, and Anela. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
The Kamakura Train Station clock welcomes us for another visit to the beautiful seaside town of Kamakura, Japan. On Friday, April 23, 2010, Harry B. had a free day to hop the trains and holoholo around Tokyo. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Harry B. Soria, Jr. hangs out at a grass shack in Volcano, Hawaii shortly after Halau Mohala Ilima concluded their tribute dance on the Hula Pa on Monday, April 12, 2010. (Photo: Lynn Cook)
Halau Mohala Ilima dances their tribute on the Hula Pa (hula mound) on Monday, April 12, 2010 at Volcano, Hawaii. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Halau Mohala Ilima celebrate in the bleachers with kumu hula Mapuana de Silva and her creative husband, Kihei de Silva following the 2010 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival on Saturday, April 10, 2010. Note the 3 awards the halau received for their performances: Ipo for Kahiko 4th place, Ukulele for Auana 2nd place, & Pahu for 3rd place Wahine Overall. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Halau Mohala Ilima kumu hula Mapuana de Silva is accompanied by her eldest daughter Kahikina de Silva, as they leave the stage with an ukulele award for 2nd place in the wahine auana competition at the 47th annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival on Saturday, April 10, 2010. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Halau Mohala Ilima rehearses their auana performance with their musicians on Saturday morning, 4/10/10. The Halau would be awarded 2nd place for their performance of "Hanohano Wailea". composed by Kumu Hula Mapuana de Silva's husband, Kihei de Silva. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
On Thursday morning, 4/08/10, the Miss Aloha Hula entrant representing Halau Mohala Ilima, Christina Mahinakauahiahi Gamayo rehearses. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Here is the same 2010 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival house band performing for the festival crowd in Edith Kanakaole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaii. Kuana, Kehau, Ainsley, & Kelly share their magical chalangalang. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
The 2010 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival house band also played at many other venues in Hilo promoting the festival. Here they share their music at the Craft Fair. Left to Right: Keli Gobles, Ainsley Halemanu, Kehau Tamure, & Kuana Torres. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
Harry B. had the distinct pleasure of joining the support team for Halau Mohala Ilima at the 2010 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, Hawaii. During our 1st rehearsal, support team members put up the halau's banner in the stadium in front of our reserved bleacher section. (Photo: Harry B. Soria, Jr.)
2009 Annual Meeeting - Luncheon of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame
was held on Sept. 27, 2009 at the Kamehameha Schools.
L to R: Boyce Rodrigues, Harry B. Soria, Jr.
(HMHF Advisory Board member), Nina Keali'iwahamana. (Photo: HMHF)
On Sunday, September 20, 2009, new panels highlighting the ten 2008 Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame honorees were unveiled in the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame exhibit at Waikiki Beach Walk? in Waikiki. A special musical celebration was held to mark the occasion.
It was a beautiful afternoon of music and spirit in celebration of some of Hawaii?s most renowned musical artists; and as people were leaving, they made sure to stop by the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame exhibit to read about all of the 2008 Hall of Fame inductees, who also include Joseph 'Ae'a, Elizabeth Leilu'uhipolani 'Alohikea, Alber Po'ai Nahale-a Sr., Alice Johnson, Thomas Kihei Desha Brown, Anueha Audrey Brown and James Ka'upena Wong, Jr.
Pictured here at the celebration are (L to R) Senator Brickwood Galuteria, Eric Masutomi, Hawaiian Music historian Harry B. Soria, and Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame President Kimo Stone. (Photo: Nancy Daniels)
