Archives for January 14, 2016

On February 10, 2016, the GRAMMY Museum^® celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Hawaiian music and kicks off Mele Mei 2016 with Mele Mei In L.A. The event will be held in conjunction with the opening of the GRAMMY Museum’s new fourth-floor exhibit, Kī Hō’alu: Honoring The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Tradition, and will feature performances by renowned Hawaiian artists and musicians.

“A large part of our mission at the GRAMMY Museum is to honor all genres of music,” said Bob Santelli, Executive Director of the GRAMMY Museum. “We are excited to celebrate the diversity and revered history of Hawaiian music, and the important influence of the slack key guitar tradition.”

Taking place in the week leading up to the 58th Annual GRAMMY Awards^®, Mele Mei In L.A. will begin with a daytime education workshop where students will explore Hawaiian music traditions and instruments with participating slack key guitar artists. The day will close with an intimate concert in the GRAMMY Museum’s Clive Davis Theater beginning at 8:30 p.m. featuring performances by GRAMMY^® winner Charles Brotman, GRAMMY nominees Amy Hānaiali’i, Raiatea Helm, Cyril Pahinui, and Jeff Peterson, and Kawika Kahiapo, Makana, Bobby Moderow Jr. of Maunalua, and PALI.

“Hawaiian music is beloved the world over and we applaud the GRAMMY Museum for this new exhibit showcasing an authentic piece of Hawai’i’s artistic heritage, the slack key guitar,” said George D. Szigeti, President and CEO of the Hawai’i Tourism Authority. “Guests to the opening day celebration will feel like they have been transported to the islands, being able to relax and enjoy the beautiful melodies by some of Hawai’i’s very best slack key guitar artists.”

Tickets for the concert are $35 and can be purchased at AXS.com beginning Thursday, January 14 at 10:30 a.m.

On display on the Museum’s fourth floor through April 2016, Kī Hō’alu: Honoring The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Tradition will explore one of the world’s greatest acoustic guitar traditions. With a history that dates back to the 1800s, the unique sound of slack key comes from the resonance of the tunings and techniques that mimic the yodels and falsettos rooted in ancient chants that are common in Hawaiian singing. Through artifacts and historical instruments that trace the history of this Hawaiian music tradition, the Museum’s tribute to the slack key guitar serves as the official kickoff of the Mele Mei 2016 celebration in Hawaii.

Mele Mei (Music May) is a month-long celebration of Hawai’i’s music, hula and culture. Music and hula events are at various hotels, venues, on the beach and statewide. From ‘ukulele to steel guitar, traditional Hawaiian music to slack key, island reggae to rock — and everything in between — Mele Mei has something for everyone. To learn more visit melemei.com.

“The Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) is very honored that the official announcement and kickoff of Mele Mei 2016, the month-long celebration of Hawai’i’s music, will take place at the GRAMMY Museum via the Mele Mei In L.A. event and Kī Hō’alu: Honoring The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Tradition exhibit, as part of the week leading up to the GRAMMYs,” said Pali Ka’aihue, Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts President. “HARA and our partners are excited to promote Hawai’i’s music and its artists in this wonderful, world-class venue.”

Kī Hō’alu: Honoring The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Tradition and the coinciding Mele Mei In L.A. event are made possible by the support of Hawai’i Tourism Authority, Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts, Outrigger Resorts, Travelocity, Waikiki Beach Walk, and Yasuda International.

About The GRAMMY Museum
Paying tribute to music’s rich cultural history, this one-of-a-kind, 21st-century museum explores and celebrates the enduring legacies of all forms of music, the creative process, the art and technology of the recording process, and the history of the premier recognition of excellence in recorded music — the GRAMMY® Award. The GRAMMY Museum features 30,000 square feet of interactive and multimedia exhibits located within L.A. LIVE, the downtown Los Angeles sports, entertainment and residential district. Through thought-provoking and dynamic public and educational programs and exhibits, guests will experience music from a never-before-seen insider perspective that only the GRAMMY Museum can deliver. For more information, please call 213-765-6800 or visit www.grammymuseum.org. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYMuseum on Twitter and Instagram, and like “The GRAMMY Museum” on Facebook.

Credit: The Grammy Museum.

The GRAMMY Museum is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.Museum admission is $12.95 for adults; $11.95 for senior citizens (65+) and college students (18 years and older, valid ID required); and $10.95 for youth (ages 6–17) and members of the military. GRAMMY Museum members and children 5 and under are admitted free. Located at 800 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite A245, Los Angeles, CA 90015, with an entrance off of Figueroa Street, the Museum resides within the L.A. LIVE campus, at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles.

About Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA)

The Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards started in 1978. HARA’s mission is to preserve, perpetuate, promote and celebrate Hawai’i’s music and recording industry.

About Hawai’i Tourism Authority
The Hawai’i Tourism Authority is responsible for strategically managing the State of Hawai’i’s marketing initiatives to support tourism. HTA’s goal is to optimize tourism’s benefits for Hawai’i, while being attentive to the interests of travelers, the community and visitor industry. Established in 1998 to support Hawai’i’s leading industry and largest employer, HTA continually strives to help ensure the sustainability of tourism’s success. For more information about HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org. Follow updates about HTA on Facebook, Twitter (@HawaiiHTA) and its YouTube Channel.