October 2011
Ken Ufton, around 1972
Kenneth Arthur Ufton
(September 2, 1921-October 14, 2011)
In October, we got the sad news that member Ian Ufton lost his father Ken Ufton shortly after the Joliet convention this year. Ken Ufton was a musician of note and had an impact on the music industry... unusual for someone who did not make music his life’s work. He is known for his work with his band, Ken Ufton and His Harmony Hawaiians, including an LP for Maple Records' "Sweet, Sweet, Steel" series and many other recordings made in both England and Canada. Ian's mother Doris, also known to many HSGA members, passed away in 2010.
Please take a moment and listen to some of Ken's beautiful contributions to the world of steel, posted on his HSGA audio page. Look for more information about Ken's life in the fall issue of the Quarterly.
June 2011
Annual Joliet Convention Dates and Guest Announced from Don Weber and Wally Pfeifer
Don't miss this year's Annual Joliet Convention, October 6-8, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Joliet, Illinois. The Guest of Honor, direct from Hawaii, is none other than Greg Sardinha.
The 3-day convention fee is $45 or $15 daily, which includes entertainment, seminars, playing, and jam sessions. A memorable event for performers, collectors and lovers of Hawaiian steel guitars. Please register early! Details here.
More details, including the playing schedule and lu'au ticket price, will be announced at a later date. Plan to perform on stage? Please get your forms in early... and see you in Joliet!
April 2011
Legends of Steel Concert Announced from Isaac Akuna
Saturday, May 14th, 2011 at 10:30 am • Pacific Beach Hotel Grand Ballroom Waikiki
Doors fling open at about 10:15am with guests being greeted by Wayne Shishido on steel backed up by Haa Heyer, Henry Makua, and Danny Kiaha... followed by a set by Isaac Akuna.
After a short break, the program will begin with a performance of the Kamehameha Schools Alumni Glee club under the direction of Aaron Mahi. They are going to be backed up by a quartet consisting of Isaac Akuna, Kimo Artis, Dennis Keohokalole, and Bryan Tolentino.
Following this, Harry B. Soria will take our guests on a historical musical journey beginning with the man himself, Joseph Kekuku, outlining his life and contributions to the musical industry.
This will be followed by a performance from Greg Sardinha. We will proceed down the list of honorees and live performances: Sol Hoopi'i (Eddie Palama), Dick McIntire (Steve Cheney), Rogers' Ohana (Timi Abrigo), Jerry Byrd (Paul Kim) and lastly, David Keli'i (Casey Olsen). Casey will close the show with our lovely Kuuipo Kumukahi.
In a break from steel guitar concerts of the past, we will be having an informal jam session immediately after the concert with folks jamming in the foyer of the ballroom. Thanks to our friends as HSGA, people will be able to play, sing, dance or just hang out.
Tickets are $60, which includes Brunch and Performance. For tickets, call the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts office 808-593-9424 or 808-356-8732. Bryson Ramos is the administrator for the academy and he is coordinating ticket sales.
Don't miss this memorable event!
March 2011
Tune in to Pakele Live on March 10
HSGA President Paul Kim will be performing live on the internet on Thursday, Mar. 10 from 6pm-8pm Hawai`i standard time. The show is called Pakele Live and is broadcast from the Willows Restaurant near the University of Hawai`i. Visit www.pakelelive.com for more info...
February 2011
Come to Honolulu!
Details for the 2011 Biennial Honolulu Waikiki Convention are now online! Take advantage of our terrific HSGA hotel rates, listen to some fabulous Hawaiian Steel music and meet your fellow HSGA members. Please register by March 15 and see you on the beach! Many events open to the public.
December 2010
Ending the year on a sad note...
It is with great sadness that we share the news that HSGA member Dave Giegerich passed away on December 29, 2010 after a long and courageous battle with Aplastic Anemia.
From Betty Wheeler and from Dave's family via their caringbridge.org page:
Dave lived a full and good life. Loved by his family as well as the hundreds of you who have shared your thoughts and prayers with us over the past three years. He also loved his Dobro and steel guitar. Please draw solace at this difficult time from knowing he was picking away to the very end. We should all be so lucky.
Dave was the leader of the Hula Monsters, played dobro with Wayne Taylor and Appaloosa, and performed or recorded with a wide range of artists including Bill Harrell, Eva Cassidy, Bill Kirchen, Johnny Gimble, Robin & Linda Williams, John Starling, Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer, Commander Cody, Mac Wiseman, Greg Kihn, Cracker, Bobby Hicks and Jimmy Arnold.
A celebration of Dave, his life and music was held in January. Please read the details in the upcoming newsletter.
September 2010
Sad News...
It is with great sadness that we share the news that long-time HSGA member Bernice Honold died at home at about 3:00 AM this morning, September 6, 2010, after a long bout with cancer at the age of 84.
Bernice was born October 11, 1925 in Detroit. On April 15, 1944, Bernice married Richard Leonard Honold at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Detroit. Bernice and Richard were foster parents for Lutheran Child and Family Service for over 33 years fostering 79 children. She and her husband played Hawaiian music professionally and for enjoyment and were members of the Aloha International Steel Guitar Club, HSGA and the music group, Coral Islanders with the Maui Maidens. Bernice was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Roseville.
Please visit the funeral home website here www.haussfamilyfuneralhomes.com to view the complete obituary including funeral arrangements and sign the guest book. Thank you all for your love and encouragement.
Bernice performs on stage with her National double eight steel guitar
at the Joliet convention in October of 2002.
Below, Bernice Honold and the Coral Islanders and guest Julie Waters, Joliet, October 2002.
(l-r) Virginia Grzadzinski, bass; Bernice Honold, steel; Julie Waters, uke; Dick Honold, guitar.
August 2010
Just Released...
Attention Hawaiian Steel Guitar fans and friends...
Bobby Ingano's new CD is out on Kuli'ou'ou records...
Entitled STEEL'N LOVE, it is a fun mix of Hawaiian, swing, some originals,
and even a couple of blues numbers. To order, check out the CD's website @ http://www.steelnlove.com and click on the "Contact Me" link.
Mahalo Nui for the support,
Bobby Ingano and Mark Amundson
July 2010
Newly Elected...
Elections for the HSGA Board of Directors were held this spring. The following Board of Directors was instated during the July 18th Board meeting.
Re-elected Directors:
President: Paul Kim
Members: Terry Miller, Chris Kennison, Pete Kahele, Ivan Reddington.
Japan Coordinator: Tom Tohma
Recording Secretary: Frank Della-Penna
Editor-in-Chief: John Ely
Incoming Directors:
Vice President: Gerald Ross
Secretary/Treasurer: Kamaka Tom
Members: Mike Scott and Ian Ufton
Just Released...
Attention Hawaiian Steel Guitar fans and friends...
Just released by Keala Records and produced by Greg Sardinha is "Hula Island Style II". The CD features Hiram Olsen, Casey Olsen and Dennis Keohokalole.
Casey and Hiram are the featured guest artists at the HSGA Joliet Convention in October.
The new CD will be available for sale at the convention.
See you all there. Get your registrations in now.
-Wally Pfeifer
April 2010
Joliet Guests of Honor Announced
Mark your calendar now... before you forget. The Joliet convention is October 7-9, 2010 and this year we have a double-barreled treat for you — not one, but two Honored Guests. Two of the
greatest names in Hawaiian music will be on stage in Joliet, Casey and Hiram Olsen!! It doesn’t
get any better than that.
Casey was a student of Jerry Byrd, and is the last member of the “Byrd’s Nest” to appear in
Joliet. Casey’s dad, Hiram Olsen, was a long, long time friend and fellow musician; you just
didn’t see Jerry without Hiram backing him up, and that’s how Jerry wanted it. There will be a lot
to talk about when Casey and Hiram join us for the guests annual “talk story.”
April 2010
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival on Maui - April 23-25
The second annual Henry Kaleialoha Allen Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is being held Friday, April 23 through Sunday, April 25 at Kaanapali Beach Hotel on Maui and features free workshops and performances by some of the greats: Henry Kaleialoha Allen, Alan Akaka & the Islanders, Duke Ching, "Lion" Kobayashi, and more.
The festival was created in 2003 by a nonprofit organization, Arts Education for Children Group (AECG), to provide opportunities for students to study and play alongside accomplished instructors. It includes classes and workshops that are open to musicians and vocalists of all ages and skill levels.
For a complete schedule, visit www.aecg.org or www.henrykallen.com.
Calling all ukulele enthusiasts...
Texas Swing with Aloha! is the theme for this year's fun-filled Lonestar Ukulele Festival and Music Camp. The 3-Day Ukefest will take place on
April 29, 30, and May 1, 2010 in
Dallas, Texas.
The line-up of talented performers and teachers this year is AMAZING! HSGA member Gerald Ross will be featured, as well as other talented artists including James Hill, Kimo Hussey, Debbie Porter, Pops Bayless, Mark "Spanky" Gutierez, Ukulele Bartt and Dennis McBride... along with special guest appearances by The Wahooligans & more!
A portion of proceeds from the festival will be used to start a "Ukes In The Classroom" program in the North Texas Area! Brought to you by UkeLadyMusic and Dallas Ukulele Headquarters. For updates, workshop listings, and registration information, visit the event website at lonestarukefest.com
All EARLY registrants will be in a drawing to win a uke!
Email Safety
Scams 101. Have you recently received an email that appears to be from an HSGA member in need of money for a trip back home or some other strange emergency? This is a common type of scam in which hackers gain access to someone's email address book (or more recently, Facebook account) and send messages to all of his or her contacts. One of our members has recently found himself the victim of this scam and his friends are receiving emails of this nature. The best course of action is to delete the email immediately.
March 2010
HSGA Loses a Dear Friend
Doris Annie Ufton, long time HSGA friend and mother of member Ian Ufton of Ontario, passed away on Sunday, February 21st, 2010. She was loved by all who knew her. The Joliet HSGA convention was one of her favorite "things to do."
Ian writes,
"On Sunday, February 21st, my mother, Doris Annie Ufton passed away after a
brief illness, leaving behind a husband of 70 years, 2 sons, 4
grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren who miss her dearly.
The Joliet conventions were very special events for her --- she enjoyed
the times she spent with the many friends she had made over the years ---
thank you all so much for remembering her with kind words and warm
thoughts --- she was such a special person."
Sincerely,
Ian Ufton
In the photos: Top: Doris and Ian. Photo courtesy of Chris Ufton. Bottom: Doris (second from left) enjoying the 2005 HSGA convention, with Ian (left). Photo courtesy of Wally Pfeifer.
Feb 2010
2010 HSGA Board of Director Elections
HSGA Board of Directors elections are underway for the 2010-2012 term. A mail-in ballot is included in your Winter 2010 HSGA Quarterly. Please fill in your choices and mail in your ballot by March 15, 2010. Sorry, no online ballots will be accepted.
View all of the candidates' statements here. Note: Because Board nominee Frank Della-Penna was on vacation, we were not able to print his bio in the Winter newsletter but it is included on the web page version.
Website Management Changing Hands
By decision of the Board of Directors, the HSGA website will now be maintained by HSGA friend, Amy Pace. Amy has many years of experience designing and maintaining websites (view her work at amylynpace.com) and is very excited to be involved with the HSGA once again! We thank Gerald Ross for the great job he has done maintaining the website for these past several years!
2009 Joliet Convention and Guest of Honor Announced...
We look forward to this year's convention with special guest steeler John Ely. See the Upcoming Conventions page for more info.