Huna Wai Hawaiian Band: Links

Laura Fernandez - Realtor, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage: Real Estate for the Santa Cruz area served professionally and with Aloha by Vern's wife. If you know Laura, you know she's a go-getter and a full-timer in the business! In fact, if you buy or sell a house through Laura, or refer someone who does, you can get a complimentary performance from Vern for a housewarming party or something like that! You can even offer the performance to someone else of your choice as a gift!
Aloha Island Grille: Brok da mout grinds from Tim and Numa at Santa Cruz's island style Hawaiian Restaurant on 17th and Portola near Sunny Cove. Call them for catering and get one of their infamous Team SPAM apparel! Catch us here on just about every Thursday from 5:00 - 8:00!
Eventscapes: Call Jeff at Eventscapes if you want to go big with your lu'au or themed party. Great setups and great guy
Michael's on Main: Fine cuisine, great bar area, a wine series, and a great staff. Come see us play here a couple times a month! Michael's specializes in weddings and other catered events.
Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band: Led by Saichi Kawahara, this is the band where Vern and Vince learned many of the traditional Hawaiian songs in their repetoire. Saichi has collected not only lyrics, but also translations and intimate knowledge about Hawaiian mele from the songwriters themselves. His band is both a musical and historical treasure. Saichi also collects information about the worldwide Hawaiian community and publishes performance dates, reunions, Hawaiian businesses, and local news in his quarterly newsletter.
Te Hau Nui Dance Company: Lorraine Kinnamon teaches hula as well as dances from Tahiti and New Zealand, performing in the local Santa Cruz area.
The Ladies of Mehana: Aunty Tootsie teaches hula locally in Santa Cruz to both adults and kids. Stacey, a.k.a. Peanut teaches the little keikis. Beautiful hula! They are a local connection for many Hawaiian musicians when they come to town such as The Makaha Sons, Fiji, Sistah Robi, John Cruz, George Kahumoku, Cyril Pahinui and many others.

Contact Marlene Thomas (Aunty Tootsie) at 831-761-1946 - The Ladies of Mehana
Kanaka In Korea: This site is from Korea.See how tied in they are over there! Lots of good Hawaiian links,music plus stuff on/about Korea.
The Wedding Connection: Located in Aptos, the Wedding Connection offers full service wedding coordination including music, catering, site, coordination and everything you need to create the wedding of your dreams!
Hula School of Santa Cruz: The Hula School of Santa Cruz (HSSC) invites you to discover the expressive dance form of the Hawaiian islands. Founded in 1998 by Leolani Lowry, a native of Hilo, Hawai'i, the HSSC offers hula classes for all ages and abilities and is Santa Cruz's primary resource for Hawaiian cultural events.

HSSC's official halau name is Ka Lei Wehi O Ka Mailelauloa, which honors Leolani's past kumu hula and the big-leaf maile, a symbol of her upbringing on the island of Hawai'i. Ka Lei Wehi O Ka Mailelauloa is an 'ohana style halau where everyone is welcome. Whether you are new to hula or would like to start dancing again, you will find becoming a part of the 'ohana at Ka Lei Wehi O Ka Mailelauloa to be rewarding and enjoyable. We welcome you to join us and share the hula with others who have Hawai'i in their hearts.
James Houston - Santa Cruz Author of, "Hawaiian Son, THe Life and Music of Eddie Kamae": This is one of those books that will always remind us of why we play Hawaiian music. Eddie has brought ancient melodies to life, perpetuating Hawaiian culture through purposeful musical arrangements and well researched films. Mahalo to James and Eddie for telling this story.
Ledward Ka'apana: Led Kaapana is nearing his 40th year as a professional musician. His mastery of stringed instruments, particularly slack key guitar, and extraordinary baritone and leo ki`eki`e (falsetto) voice have made him a musical legend. His easy-going style and kolohe (rascal) charm have made him a favorite of audiences from Brussels to his birthplace on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Ledward is famous for his Kalapana style of guitar and his music with Hui 'Ohana and Ikona.
Lost Isle Design: Randy is a graphic genius and he's mastered the art of being a laid back professional who has a great eye for design. Check out his incredible portfolio at his website!
Tony Graziano Ukuleles: Tony makes custom ukuleles in Santa Cruz. Ledward Ka'apana plays one of his models.
Mele.com: Get your Hawaiian CDs here or find a hula school just about anywhere on the globe!
Sun Jose Hawaii: All the local Hawaiian Style apparel and music you can ever want to find! Located in San Jose, they are another center of all things Hawaiian in the Bay Area
Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu: Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu is a dynamic Hawaiian dance company based in San Francisco. The company features hula as a full theatrical experience that is visually captivating. Its performances are a rich blend of traditional and contemporary forms of hula.

The company's trademark hula mua style pays homage to tradition while bringing hula into a modern realm. This innovative approach showcases hula as a living and evolving art form.

Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu's performances are given in a talk-story format that incorporates narration and dance to provide a rich cultural context in which to understand the hula.

Led by Kumu Hula Patrick Makuakane, Na Lei Hulu has enjoyed tremendous success in the Bay Area, garnering audience and critical acclaim with its theatrical hula shows. Na Lei Hulu presents its annual fall hula production at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco, and routinely sells out its five performances to a total of 5,000 audience members. The company has performed in locations throughout California, and in Las Vegas, New Orleans and Honolulu.

Founded in 1985, Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu (the many feathered wreaths at the summit, held in high esteem) is committed to the preservation and education of the Hawaiian culture through hula. It has a performance group of about 40 dancers and offers classes to students in the beginning and intermediate levels. The organization holds educational workshops throughout the year in Hawaiian language, history, and arts and crafts.
Ho`omana Hawaiian Band: Robert Uncangco, Kaipo Hanakeawe, Manley Bush, Eddy Navarro. These guys are based in the Monterey area and frequent Gilroy, San Jose and other venues. They play for the Ke Kai O Uhane Canoe Club whose members also dance hula when they are not paddling in the Monterey Bay.

Contact Information 831-648-9043
Na Wai Ola: This is a Sunnyvale halau that we have close ties to as well. Kaui and Anson Kahaku do some of the best husband/wife dances I've ever seen...not to mention their daughter Kanoe who has been dancing since the age of 3! She must be 10 by now!
Pacific Islanders Cultural Association: This is the Northern California chapter where you can find a lot of resources in the Hawaiian Community
Charley Lochtefeld: Charley coordinates Hawaiian musicians for shows at Santa Cruz venues like the Kuumbwa, the Rio and other places worldwide. Great guy with great Hawaiian connections!
Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz: What a bunch of fun people! They play Hawaiian music as well as tin-pan alley era swing. They feature many guest performers and meet every third Thursday at Bocci's Cellar in Santa Cruz
Hula Halau 'O Mahina I Ke Kai: This is a local hula halau taught by Jacinta Maiva McGinnis. She offers many hula classes through Parks and Rec and performs locally. Their contact information is:

Jacinta Maiva McGinnis, Ben Lomond, CA (831) 336-8037, FAX (831) 426-4809
Island Breeze: Stan Medeinger plays with Michael DeMartini, Dave Ray, and Patty Maxine (all who have also played with Michelle Kiba) to bring a great blend of Hapa Haole Hawaiian Swing, Surf Rock, and some traditional island tunes. Their contact information is (831) 475-7412.
Michelle Kiba - The Ukulele Lady: Watch for Michelle's contagious smile! She teaches ukulele in Santa Cruz at the Pa Mele 'O Hokulea Ukulele Academy. Michelle just released her "Reflections of Aloha" CD with the Aloha Style Band. Watch for her around town!
Dancing Cat Records: Looking for Slack-Key legends? Santa Cruz houses one of George Winston's studios where he has preserved and perpetuated Hawaiian music.
Mountain Apple: Very large distributor of Hawaiian Music for IZ, Keali'i Reichel, Amy Gilliom, etc and many more