A NextGen Christmas at Mele Pakolu

December 4, 2019 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

NextGen steel guitarists and musicians kicked off the Christmas season at the Royal Hawaiian Center at the monthly Mele Pakolu music series on December 3, 2019.

The one-hour program entertained a large audience of visitors and local residents at Helumoa, the playground of Hawaiian royalty. Program guests were treated to a variety of Hawaiian and seasonal favorites performed by steel guitarists Ho‘ailona Mahuka, Mālie Lyman, and Enosa Lyman, and Ikaika Orlando on ‘ukulele. The NextGen players were accompanied by Ke Kula Mele Kumu Alan Akaka on guitar and Addison Ching on U-bass.

A last-minute change to the program was precipitated by the absence of a scheduled hula dancer who was not able to participate due to illness. Enosa Lyman stepped in doing the hula to "Boy from Laupahoehoe" and Mālie Lyman danced "Kane‘ohe" with mom Pomaika‘i Lyman on vocals and Alan Akaka on steel guitar.

The group shared seasonal favorites including "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" (Ho‘ailona), "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (Enosa), "White Christmas" (Mālie), and "Jingle Bell Rock" (Ikaika). The group closed out the program with the Hawaiian traditional "Mele Kalikimaka."