Aloha Kakou!
Pehea'oe? How are you? Maika'i au! I am good. I hope you are well also.
As you can tell by looking at the date on the calendar that today is the last day of The Ho'okipa Project fundraising campaign on Kickstarter. Unfortunately, we have not met our funding goal and I do not think we will meet it by the deadline at 11:59 MST tonight. Do Not Worry!!!!! It's only the Kickstarter campaign that ends tonight... Hope is not lost! I have moved the entire project to my website and we are going to start again. You can currently go to the website and donate any amount to the project you feel you can afford.
Check it out:
I know, some of you may be thinking that this Kickstarter campaign was a failure, but in fact, it was a great success! Putting together the campaign actually kickstarted the original idea behind the project and has now found it's true meaning. It has inspired a bunch of people to come together for one goal with many different paths leading to it, but I haven't done enough to explain to you why! So we are going to change things a little.....
The Ho'okipa Project will still take place and become a reality, but it will be a documentary film, not what appears to be a vacation for 21 people who enjoy playing the ukulele. All of us in the group are searching for something, needing something, looking for something and we have found the ukulele to be our vehicle to get us there.
When I attended the Aloha Music Camp for the first time in 2007 I was also searching for something, but I had no idea what I was looking for or how to find it. I even ran away from some of the things I was learning during that camp. It was scary! What I didn't know was what was coming.... My father's death, a daily battle with anxiety and depression, economic hardships and 2 failed businesses... All these things happened to me since 2007. Keola Beamer and the Aloha Music Camp have been there along the way to hold me up when I was falling fast. It is Keola Beamer, Kaliko Beamer-Trapp, Liko Puha, Uluwehi Guerrero, Herb Ohta Jr., Robyn Kenubuhl, Sam Ohu Gon III, and all the other kumu (teachers) from the many camps over the years that have given me my wings and daily help me to fly. When I feel like I am going to pass out from an anxiety attack I begin to Chant... I go back to Kapa'a in my mind and smell the ocean air and feel my feet in the kai! THIS IS WHY THIS IS PROJECT IS IMPORTANT!!!
The Ho'okipa Project is not about 21 people going on an all expenses paid vacation.... It's about changing lives and bringing people together through the AWESOME power of Aloha! With daily reports on the news of bombings and shootings, it's about time we start talking about things that bring us together not tear us apart! This is what the Aloha Music Camp does and it has changed my life. It brings people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all viewpoints together through music and more importantly ALOHA!
I swear I will show you how! Stay tuned true believers and Shaka on!
Malama ko aloha!
- Pirate Jim
This weeks kanikapila will be held at my shack.
When: Tuesday April 25, 2017 - 7:30-9:00pm
Where: 60 Tuscany Ridge Way NW
How Much: FREE
Why: Because we can and we should!
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Oli Club (Hawaiian Chanting)
Many of you have come with me before to the Aloha Music Camp. Many of you have taken the Oli classes with me at Aloha Music Camp. Many of you would like to practice more and gain an even deeper connection with this ancient art. Many of you are just curious... Well, I have decided to get organized and set up a time for us to practice together....
What: Pirate Jim's Oli Club (Hawaiian chant)
Where: Pirate Jim's Ukulele Shack - 60 Tuscany Ridge Way NW
When: Sunday April 30, 2017 - 10:30 - 11:00am
How Much: FREE
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Mele Kakou Class - Hawaiian Song Study Class
Have you been coming to my Tuesday night kanikapila for a while now and wish you could sing along with me in the Hawaiian songs? Have you heard the call to learn the Hawaiian language? Perhaps you just want to learn more about the hidden meanings behind many of Hawaii's famous songs. Well then come to my new Mele Kakou class on Sunday's. We will slowly go through one song per class and break down all the words, how to say them, what they mean, the story behind the words and song, etc... There will be no pressure to memorize, but a deep requirement to have fun and learn something while doing so.
What: Mele Kakou Class - Hawaiian Song Study Class
Where: Pirate Jim's Ukulele Shack - 60 Tuscany Ridge Way NW
When: Sunday April 30, 2017 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
How Much: $10 per person drop in or $30 per person monthly
Why: To learn how to speak and sing the Hawaiian language and learn more about the songs.