Backyard Concert Series
SEASON 1
Support Our Concerts!
Our Concert Series is free to the public! For Season 1, Digital Programs were sold for $10, and included box charts for ALL SONGS performed in the concerts. You can still purchase these Digital Programs for their corresponding concerts, below!
If you would like to continue to support this series, please click the button below to learn more about becoming an Associate Producer, Patron, or Supporter of this free series.
Backyard Concerts - Season 1
Aloha and welcome to our Backyard Concert Series, Season 1. This season was truly special and we hope you take the time to watch each of these amazing artists. Every concert has a Digital Program you may purchase to help support our series and future concerts.
Thank you to our sponsors for Season 1 for your support. This season would not have been possible without your help and we are grateful. If you would like to watch our WRAP UP PARTY featuring Herb Ohta Jr, please CLICK HERE. We discuss some of our favorite filming moments, gear, and more!
This program includes box charts of songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #9 - Jeff Peterson
Recognized as one of Hawaii’s most versatile musicians, Jeff Peterson is at the heart of the Hawaiian music scene today. His passion for the guitar has allowed him to shine as a solo artist and has given him the opportunity to collaborate with a wide variety of artists from Hawaii, across the US, and abroad. Though his focus has been Slack Key Guitar for most of his career, he has always had a passion for ukulele.
He is a multiple Na Noku Hanohano award winner, has contributed to two Grammy Award-winning records, and has even been nominated for a Grammy himself. He’s traveled the world performing and has even had the opportunity to perform with such greats as Eric Clapton, James Galway, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Aaron Neville, Boz Scaggs, the Honolulu Symphony, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Keola Beamer, Nathan Aweau, Amy Hanaiali’i, The Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii, jazz bassist Rufus Reid, and more. Five of his songs were also featured in the movie, The Descendants, staring George Clooney.
He studied ukulele with renown Jazz Ukulele Player, Benny Chong, and has recently started an Online Ukulele Course called Ukulele Corner. There, students can learn Classical, Hawaiian, Jazz, and even Pop pieces, all through his gentle teaching style.
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #8 - Ke’olu
Hiʻilani Asing, Krystal Mokuahi, and Cory Mau make up the young, dynamic trio known as Ke`olu. Together, their voices blend to create a unique sound that bridges traditional and contemporary styles. Their passion and love for music includes not only the traditional Hawaiian genre, but also hits from the 70s, 80s, and more. They are an incredible joy to watch perform and we know you will love their beautiful harmonies and music.
Thank you to Kanile’a Ukulele for being this concert’s main sponsor.
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #7 - Neal Chin
Award winning artist and Maui, HI native Neal Chin, has been both an ‘ukulele educator and performer over the course of his musical career of 19 years. His clear and direct enthusiasm for music has come to life in countless workshops, concerts, and private instruction. While his heart is in jazz, Neal has played with many musicians of different genres including Hawaiian, folk, rock, and hip-hop. His contribution to the collective The Akira Project, won his first Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award in 2014 before moving up to the Pacific Northwest. Since then he has been nominated for the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for ‘Ukulele Album of the Year two years consecutively for ‘Ukulele Paintings and The Spotless Mind in 2017 & 2018, started his own ‘ukulele practice in the Pacific Northwest, and has toured from Vancouver Island BC to Milwaukee to his home state, Hawai’i . Neal currently lives, teaches, and performs in Seattle, WA.
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #6 - Andrew Molina
Andrew started playing at the age of 13 inspired by Jake.His first CD “The Beginning” was released in 2013, his next album “A New Journey” was released in 2017 and “Evolve3” will be out April 16th.His music covers a wide variety of genres including, Hawaiian, pop, rock, blues, latin, classical and jazz and is a mix of original music and cover songs. He has traveled and performed across the US and internationally to China, Tahiti, England, Austria, Scotland and Ireland teaching workshops and playing concert dates.
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #5 - Kala’e Camarillo
Born and raised in Kihei, Maui, Kala’e Camarillo comes from a family of music educators and entertainers. His grandfather, George Camarillo, started the first ʻukulele band in Hawai'i public schools at Waiakea Intermediate, and his father, Rama, followed in his footsteps by becoming an ʻukulele teacher as well. In addition, his mother, Cora, is the sister of multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner Lehua Kalima of Nā Leo Pilimehana.
At the age of seven, Kala'e's father taught him to play the ‘ukulele, which led to him picking up other instruments like the guitar, bass, and piano. By the age of 12, he began gigging weekly along side his father. In 2009, Kala’e moved to O’ahu to attend the University of Hawaii at Manoa and graduated with a degree in Elementary & Special Education. His education and passion for music led him to becoming a third-generation music teacher (Kapalama Elementary) and professional musician. In 2017, Kala'e released his his debut album entitled “Working Man.” In 2018, "Working Man" garnered Kala'e a nomination at the prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii Grammys), recognizing him as one of Hawaii's "Most Promising Artists." In 2019, he released his sophomore album entitled "Feel at Home." This album features 11 original tracks and was produced by Hawaii's very own two-time Grammy Award Winning Producer, Dave Tucciarone. "Feel at Home" went on to win Kala'e his first ever Na Hoku Hanohano award for Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year.
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #4 - Honoka
Brought up in Hawaii embraced by beauty from the mountains to the sea, Honoka has grown an admiration for the nature that surrounds us. This connection to nature, in all of its diverse vibrancy, is what inspires her music. Spanning across a wide range of genres and eras, Honoka’s music is expressive, poignant, but always rooted in authenticity. In 2019, Honoka released her debut single entitled “Island Of Love” inspired by spending summer at home in Hawaii with the person that she loves. She is currently working on new music and hopes to share it with the world very soon!
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #3 - Karlie G
Karlie G is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Hawaii. In 2018 Karlie produced and engineered her first full‐length album titled “Have Fun.” The album received a 2019 Na Hoku Hanohano award for R&B album of the year. Her latest album “Train of Thought” is nominated for this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano award, and she is also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year.
Karlie has fast become known as a creative ‘looping’ artist, where she uses effect pedals during live performances effectively creating a one‐girl band. She covers a wide variety of artists and genres and has fast grown a dedicated following on YouTube.
This program includes box charts of all songs performed during this concert.
Backyard Concert #2 - Kalei
Kalei began playing the ukulele at 13 and was instantly hooked. His exposure to a wide variety of ukulele masters including Alfred Canopin, Gordon Mark, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong and Kimo Hussey, motivated him to embrace a range of styles - jazz, rock, pop, classical, blues, flamenco, funk, as well as the music of his cultural roots, Hawaiian and island contemporary.
With 3 completed nominated albums to his name Kalei Gamiao been at the forefront of today’s ukulele revolution since 2008 when his debut album, “Contemporary Ukulele”. After the release of his second album entitled “Redefined” in 2012 a greater demand for more of his music and performances exposed Kalei to hundreds of thousands of ukulele enthusiasts from around the world as he continues to tour countries such as Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S mainland. When his third album “Merry Ukulele Christmas” released in 2013 as a seasonal project it propelled and broadened Kalei’s repertoire to new levels as many web and social media sites provide instant access for his fans to stay connected to his music and the explosive world-wide popularity of the ukulele. With the release of his 4th latest album “These Moments” in 2016 he has already traveled and performed in different parts of the world to share his passion for music.
This concert was our very first and a fundraiser for this series. You may still purchase access to this concert featuring Herb Ohta Jr. with Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel. The program contains the video link for the concert and box charts for all songs performed.
Backyard Concert #1 - Craig Chee & Sarah Maisel
Featuring Herb Ohta Jr.
This concert was our fundraiser and required purchase. We had enough support from this concert to allow us to have the rest of the series be free to the public.
International recording artist Herb Ohta, Jr., is considered to be one of today’s most prolific `ukulele masters. Influenced by Jazz, R&B, Latin and Brazilian music, he puts his stamp on Hawaiian music by pushing the limits of tone and technique on this beautiful instrument. The son of `ukulele legend "Ohta-san," he started playing at the age of three, and teaching at the age of nine. He now shares the music of Hawai‘i and the beauty of the ‘ukulele with people around the world, performing and conducting instructional workshops.
His recording debut was in 1990 on his father’s recording. Since then, Herb has recorded on over 50 recordings with 13 Solo and 13 duet recordings to his credit. With 17 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award nominations, he has won a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for "ʻUkulele Nahenahe” in 2011, “Pure ʻUkulele” in 2013, Instrumental Song of the Year in 2013, “ʻUkulele Friends” in 2015, “ʻUkulele Friends The Sequel in 2018, and “ʻUkulele Hula” in 2019. Herb is also a four-time Hawai‘i Music Award Winner as well. Herb has released 3 national releases in Japan, 1 in Taiwan, co-authored two ‘ukulele instructional books with Grammy Award artist Daniel Ho that was released in Japan and the United States, and in 2015 Herb published a songbook of his arrangements in Korea.
Backyard Concert #10 - The Legacy Ukulele Ensemble
We had the pleasure of filming this group in July at the Sheraton Waikiki. Peter Luongo is the director of this international group, with members from all across Canada and the United States. Their concert was a lot of fun to film!
To access the Free Digital Program, please click on the button below and a new tab/window will appear. Right click on the Program and download it to your device.
