Two-day passes for Friday and Saturday are available for $70

Join us for a weekend of aloha at the Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival. Thrill to the heavenly sounds of slack key guitar and ukulele, drift away on the harmonies of an all-star band, and fall under the spell of swaying hula dancers as the Freight presents two amazing evenings of enchanting Hawaiian music, hula, and mountains of aloha, hosted by Berkeley’s own Patrick Landeza.

Hawaiian music master Cyril Pahinui has contributed to three Grammy-winning albums, received several Na Hoku Hanohano awards, and played on more than 35 recordings of Hawaiian music. His father, Gabby Pahinui, was a musical legend who hosted weekly jam sessions at the family home in Waimanalo on the windward side of Oahu, where Cyril absorbed the secrets of such greats as Sonny Chillingworth and Ray Kane. He grew up to become a slack key virtuoso, known for the soul and skill of his playing. His latest album, Kani Pu Kolu, which means “three sounds together,” has given him a chance to pass on his musical wisdom to a younger generation of musicians. The three sounds are those of Hawaii’s signature stringed instruments – with Cyril on slack key guitar, Jeff Au Hoy on steel guitar, and Peter Moon, Jr. on ukulele – woven together on traditional songs and originals that redefine and expand the boundaries of Hawaiian music. After a long and illustrious career, Cyril is cutting down on his travel, and tonight’s show provides the opportunity to honor him with the Ke Kanaka Po`okela Award, in gratitude for his great contributions to Hawaiian music and for bringing the aloha spirit to those of us on the mainland.

The band Hūʻewa takes its name from the Hawaiian word meaning “to sing or create in your own way,” and these three young men from O’ahu – Kekoa Kane, Kahi Young, and Kupu Dalire-Na`auao – do just that: they honor the accomplishments of their elders while carrying on Hawaiian musical traditions in their own way. Hu`ewa is currently at #1 on all of the Hawaii music charts. This Freight performance will be their first appearance together on the mainland.

Kawika Alfiche is the director of the Kaululehua Hawaiian Cultural Center in San Francisco and a long-time advocate of teaching people on the mainland about the essence of Hawaiian culture. A talented musician and singer, he has recorded two albums, Nalei and Kale’a, and has a third album in the works.

Halau Keolaloa Kuikanani, based in Hayward and under the direction of Kumu Hula Kaui Dalire, will perform hula.