George Kahumoku Jr. and Da Ukulele Boyz with Ledward Kaapana February 1, 2014

George Kahumoku Jr. and the Ukulele Boy Make Cerritos Tropical Paradise

                          By Glen Creason

     This was truly one of the most exotic concerts in Cerritos history and a winner in all respects. While the music came from one of our fifty states it represented a culture that is actually little known here on the mainland except maybe for the many Hawaiians who filled up the Performing Arts Center for this long and sweet show. If you thought this might be like a Vegas style Hawaiian themed evening you would have another thought coming as this night gave us four superb musicians who were masters of the instruments that fully express Hawaiian culture. There was also down to earth hula dancing and a few tunes on the autoharp that made that complicated tool just perfect for these compositions. The first half was segmented with the Ukulele Boys, George Kahumoku and Ledward Kaapana each doing a mini-show that could have satisfied many an audience. However, this crowd was hungry for a Polynesian banquet and got almost three full hours of a musical feast.

       Da Ukulele Boyz really did start with a set you would hate to follow as they progressed from the levity of “Sweet Okole” to the lilting beauty of “Kapalina” to the best version of “Still the One” you will ever hear and a pulse-quickening “G-major Fleas” that brought a huge roar from the house. Headliner George Kahumoku didn’t seem to mind following these young powerhouses and his confidence was fully understood after his singing and playing of “Aloha Oe,” “Tutu Pele,” and “Hi’ ilawe” that was used in the film “the Descendants.” Maestro Ledward Kaapana followed with dazzling playing of “Kalapana,” “Sparkling Waters,” “Everybody Is Somebody’s Fool,” and a delightful slack key composition “Sleeping Shellfish.”  Really, the beginnings were a concert in themselves but the second half was very special indeed with all four musicians gathering on stage and riffing together in a sort of Hawaiian jam session that was deeply enjoyable for not only the delighted audience but the men in front of the footlights who glowed with Hawaiian happiness.