Take a bite out of Crimson Apple

Comprised of sisters Colby, Shelby, Carthi, and Faith Benson, and family friend Rachel Look, the all-female rock outfit Crimson Apple has consistently showcased a brand of melody-driven pop rock island-wide since the group’s inception in 2012. Along with a significant subscriber base on YouTube, these Mililani girls have played countless venues and continue to generate buzz both on and off the web.

While it’s been common in the past for all-girl groups to feel like they’ve got something to prove (particularly in rock ‘n’ roll), Crimson Apple falls far from such a tree (though, as winners of the Star 101.9 Battle of the Bands back in October of 2014, the proof is in the pie, as it were).

“As a band, we look forward to competitions because we see it as an opportunity to push ourselves and meet new musicians as passionate about music as we are. When we compete, our goal is to come out of the competition a better band than we were before, whether or not we win or lose. We were so humbled and happy to have won the Star 101.9 Battle of the Bands and so grateful for all that we learned from the experience,” says rhythm guitarist and band manager Shelby Benson.

“We weren’t planning on putting together an all-girl band; it just so happened to work out that way,” she says. “Sometimes it’s difficult because people don’t always take us seriously. On the other hand, we do find a lot of people who are excited about the fact that we are an all-girl band. Luckily for us, we have found a very supportive scene for our style of music. It’s been amazing meeting and working with so many other wonderful musicians and people in the local music scene.”

Overflowing with one-hit-wonders, slumping sophomores, and pitfalls as common as pitch-fails, the music biz is tough. With such competition at every turn, what is a young band to do? Crimson Apple has found a way to not only beat the competition, but turn that competitive spirit into camaraderie. And when you’ve got four sisters and a family friend on the roster, it’s easy to see just how they do it.

“Being in a family band is very different from being in a band with friends,” says Benson. “For us, the band has been a great way to connect and become closer together as sisters. As siblings, collaboration is very easy because we almost always know what we’re each thinking. We also get a lot of extra practice time because we live in the same house.”

That creative energy sometimes erupts in spurts of creativity, as with their new song, “One Time,” which is one of our favorites by the band.

“I came up with a couple verses to “One Time” about a year ago, but never got around to finishing it,” says Benson. “When we made it to the final round of the Star 101.9 Battle of the Bands, we decided that we wanted to bring in some of our new music to compete with, and this song was last on the list because it was the least finished. One night, a week before the final, we randomly jammed it, and were so excited that we finished writing the song in an hour. So far, people seem to be as excited about the song as we are. It’s awesome seeing people in the audience singing along to it already.”

When they’re not busy putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length album and opening for acts like Will Champlain (The Voice) at Doris Duke Theatre on January 31, the girls like to relax and enjoy Hawaii. At its core, Crimson Apple is a group of girls that want to have fun while pursuing their passion for music. By the look of things, they’re well on their way.

See Crimson Apple in concert tonight at Anna O’Brien’s, as part of the “Chicks With Picks” rock show. Also performing, indie/acoustic duo Foreseeable Futures, indie/garage rock duo The Dirt Squirrels and the four-piece alternative/folk rock band Halcyon Continuum. Read more.

Chicks With Picks
Anna O’Brien’s, 2440 S. Beretania St.
Fri., Jan. 16, 8:30pm
$5, 21+
More information

Fresh & healthy: local produce delivered right to you

It all started on the lanai of a home in Kula, Maui. Roxanne Tiffin held her newborn baby dreading the 45 minute drive she would have to make to the nearest health food store if she wanted fresh, local produce for her family that week. As she looked out over the farmland below her house, an idea came to her; what if quality, local produce could be delivered right to her front door?

Tiffin realized Hawaii was missing such a service and pitched the idea to her husband, who gave her a shoestring budget to start Kula Fields produce delivery.

Before moving to Maui, Tiffin ran a private practice as a naturopathic doctor in Chicago. When she wasn’t advising her patients, she tended her 10-acre farm and taught classes on aromatherapy and herbal medicine-making at a community college. She would bring her students to her property, and teach them how to identify medicinal plants and turn them into teas and tinctures. She also grew a variety of vegetables and fruits, eventually starting a natural foods co-op that served over 30 families and several restaurants in the Chicago area.

“And then my husband tricked me into marrying him [while we were] in Kula, here on Maui” she smiles. “We had made that ‘where do you want to be in five-years’ plan and six years had already passed. We thought, ‘what are we doing?’”

So they packed their belongings and moved to Maui in 2004, and Tiffin took a job as a buyer for Mana Health Foods. It was mere months later when Roxanne found herself holding her baby while overlooking acres of Kula farmland with no fresh produce in her refrigerator.

“At the time, there wasn’t a big push for local produce … no farmers markets; nothing. I started calling farmers around the area and, at first, they were like, ‘this crazy haole girl wants to do what?’” Tiffin laughs. “Low and behold, I ended up getting a hold of [enough] farmers and doing it.”

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A typical box delivered from Kula Fields could include mangos, okra, green beans, Kula sweet onions, tomatoes, purple daikon radish, lettuce, cucumbers, cilantro, bananas, green onions, baby bok choy, carrots, eggplant, zucchini, strawberry papayas, Crimini mushrooms, curly kale, sweet potatoes, pineapples, strawberries, oregano and various other herbs,

When the economy crashed in 2008, Tiffin’s husband was unable to find work in his trade as a plasterer, but the produce delivery business was booming. She needed more help, so her husband took over as her delivery guy.

“There wasn’t even delivery pizza outside of Kihei,” Tiffin recalls. “I started delivering out of my little Ford Escape and set it up so [Jesse and I] were doing different areas on different days.”

As Tiffin’s clientele-base kept growing, one of her customers began pushing the idea of outer-island deliveries. After coordinating shipping schedules and delivery options, Kula Fields began delivering to Oahu, which is now their largest market.

“And with Lanai… these poor people get the [worst] produce of all,” Tiffen says. After visiting the island and seeing broccoli sell for $7 per pound at the grocery store, Tiffin knew she had to do something.

“All of the [produce] they get comes from a container from the mainland once a week,” she says. “The shipment arrives on Tuesday, and by Friday, if you’re having a cook-out or a barbeque, don’t count on having any usable produce.”

Tiffen spoke with the management of the Four Seasons on Lanai and, together, they arranged an employee wellness package that works as a subsidy. All Four Season employees now receive a discount on Kula Fields’ weekly produce boxes, giving them affordable access to fresh produce from around the state.

“We work with farmers throughout the state of Hawaii,” Tiffin says. “Most of them are neighbors… it’s like a good ol’ boys, backyard gang.”

Although Tiffin’s produce delivery service was thriving, she still felt like she was missing something. After years of working in a medicinal and vegetable garden, she realized that what she missed was getting her hands dirty.

“I missed being out with plants,” she says. “Doing deliveries and giving people access to fresh, local food is one thing, but it’s another thing when you actually get to produce it.”

But last September, Tiffin’s dream came true. Kula Fields took over the lease of Maui’s Enchanted Botanical Gardens, an eight-acre parcel of unsprayed, organic botanicals in Kula. There are over 2,000 plant species on the property, including mangoes, citrus, avocados and a variety of fresh herbs. Tiffin also plans to start several vegetable gardens to supply her newly-opened gift shop and cafe at 2505 Kula Highway. Whatever is leftover will be added to the weekly produce basket deliveries.

“We’ve always had left over produce [from our deliveries] at the end of the week,” Tiffin says. “I wish I had a way that I could process this stuff to turn it into something instead of composting it at the end of each week.”

She tells me that despite the community’s desire for fresh produce, it’s amazing how much food she ends up composting. Because most of her produce is unsprayed, some of the fruits and vegetables don’t look “perfect” like store-bought fruit (even though they might taste a whole lot better). She tried giving the extra produce away to food banks and homeless shelters, but they wouldn’t take it. Now that she’s opened her cafe, she can use the imperfect fruits and vegetables in soups and other dishes in her shop.

“It just blows my mind about people’s opinions about the ugly fruits,” she says. “[But the cafe] gives me the ability to transform the ‘waste’ into something that’s quite delicious.”

Tiffin also sells a variety of artisanal products like North Shore Macadamia Nut Honey Peanut Butter, locally-made jams and jellies and a variety of natural foods. Now that she has an eight-acre garden, she can focus on growing fresh herbs and spices that are healthy and delicious.

“It’s a combination of dreams come true,” she says.

Visit the Kula Fields Farmshop online at kulafields.com

The Sailor Jerry way

The roguish attitude of the American sailor; the Romance of the Pacific; the mysticism of the far East—not a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical but, rather, a few of the key elements that make up the Sailor Jerry brand.

“This is the story of an American icon,” says Paul Monahan, the National Brand Ambassador for Sailor Jerry Ltd. “A pioneering tattoo artist who served in the war, who was a sailor for as long as he lived, and who had so many other wonderful things to offer—that legacy is what we continue to pay homage to.”

That icon was Norman Collins, the prominent American tattoo artist who moved to Hawaii in the 1930s and opened the Sailor Jerry tattoo parlor in Chinatown. And what better day to pay homage to the influential artist? If he were still alive, today would mark his 104th birthday.

Collins regarded tattooing as the ultimate rebellion against square society. During his career as an artist, he expanded the array of colors available through connections with Japanese tattoo masters, and even developed his own safe pigments. He created needle formations that embedded pigment with much less trauma to the skin, and he was one of the first to utilize single-use needles and to use an autoclave for sterilization. His attention to detail was so precise that the depictions of rigging in his nautical tattoos were said to be perfectly accurate.

“The bright colors and the bold lines in his work are a result of blending Japanese designs with Americana tradition, and that’s an easy way to sum up Norman Collins’ tattoo style” Monahan explains. “If you look at the iconic hula girl—the voluptuous curves, the color of the skin, and then the bright colors—that’s a perfect example of a classic Sailor Jerry design that blends those two worlds together.”

Eight different bars will be celebrating tonight with various drink specials, including several Chinatown bars right around the corner from Collins’ original shop at 1033 Smith Street, which is now Old Ironsides Tattoo Shop—a reference to Collins’ former radio show on KTRG (AM) where he was known by that epithet.

“We’ve found some great friends here in Hawaii that appreciate his legacy and wanted to help celebrate his life tonight,” says Monahan, who plans on stopping by the Old Ironside Tattoo Shop tonight at 9 p.m. to get a Sailor Jerry-inspired tattoo. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm out there—whether it’s among tattoo artists, rum aficionados, service industry workers—they really look at who he was as an individual, what he did for tattooing, what he stood for; and that’s how we continue to grow his legacy.”

The Brand

The modern Sailor Jerry brand was born in Philadelphia in the late ’90s when the owners of an independent clothing company—who were tattoo and Americana aficionados—decided they wanted to pay homage to Collins by creating a clothing line that embodied his style and values.

Sailor Jerry Ltd. is anti-sweatshop, and the company produces nearly all its items in the United States and sells them primarily online. The company also showcases rising talents with its “Artist Series,” which it describes as a way to “keep Sailor Jerry’s legacy alive and kicking.”

Coming out of Philly in the late ’90s, the clothing line has a clear grunge influence mixed into it, but that aesthetic fits well with the Sailor Jerry flash that adorns its shirts, beanies and denim jackets. Monahan says the creators would often give away articles of Sailor Jerry clothing to other fans of this aesthetic, including touring bands, visiting grease heads and traveling tattoo artists, helping to spread the brand across the country.

The clothing line’s success helped the brand expand into new territory. “[The company was] requested to do a proposal for a spiced rum by a privately owned, global liquor supplier out of Scotland,” says Monahan. “These guys realized they had a good thing going with the clothing line and used the opportunity to create a 92 proof, bold, spiced rum as a way to further the Sailor Jerry brand.”

Unlike other liquor brands that have begun featuring an increasing number of increasingly odd-flavored spirits, Sailor Jerry has only ever produced the one recipe. And it’s continued to received multiple awards in competitions around the world.

“The versatility of the liquid is something that we really emphasize, whether it’s a shot and a beer bar, whether it’s a tiki bar that’s doing great classic tiki cocktails, or a bar that is doing modern riffs on classic cocktails, this rum will serve you well. You can even use it as a base spirit for Old Fashions, Sazeracs, Manhattans and other tradtionally non-rum cocktails,” says Monahan. “What the rum is built up from—the classic Caribbean spices of nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla; the way the higher proof holds up in tropical flavors like mango and passion; the great vanilla flavors it has when mixed with some effervescence, whether it’s soda or ginger beer—allows us to do a lot of different creative things with just one rum.”

Replacing the traditional base spirit of an Old Fashioned or a Manhattan with Sailor Jerry works because the rum’s vanilla, nutmeg and toffee flavors interact well with the flavor profile of, say, an Italian vermouth like Carpano Antica. Monahan says he’s also been experimenting with aging batches of Sailor Jerry Old Fashioned in used whiskey barrels obtained through the brand’s parent company, the independent, family-owned William Grant & Sons, a Scottish company that distills Scotch whiskey and other selected categories of spirits.

“A lot of distilleries will play jazz or something with a lot of bass to help stimulate the wood in the barrels, which helps in the aging process,” Monahan says. “It gives it a very boutique, esoteric and original flavor.”

Monahan wanted to emulate that idea, but wanted it done the Sailor Jerry way. “I was able to get some used Glenfiddich barrels—which is the flagship brand of our parent company—and age some Sailor Jerry cocktails in hot-rod shops in Southern California. The reverberations of the welding and the painting and all the machines inside the hot-rod shops have created this once-in-a-lifetime, original, small-batch, lowly allocated piece of Sailor Jerry.”

The Legacy

Soldiers returning from the war came back to a very conservative United States. “There was a reach for the Polynesian culture and the notions of a kind of freedom that they had left behind,” says Monahan. Romantic notions of the Pacific blossomed into a full-blown sub-culture, Tiki, complete with palm trees, rockabilly and—of course—rum.

“Working with a brand of rum that’s based on an historical figure who actually lived during the time and played an integral role in the rise of this fascinating culture—it’s truly special,” Monahan says. “I’m a huge fan of the culture—and not just the cocktails, but the architecture, the fashion, the music, the style. Just to appreciate the transition that occurred between the 1930s–’60s in America—anyone who was a part of those times, I will sit and listen to their conversations forever. So it’s great to have some authentic ties to that era of American history.”

As tattoos become more popular and more mainstream, the aesthetic has shifted from what it was in Collins’ heyday to include a much wider spectrum of tattoo styles. But Monahan believes that the things that made Sailor Jerry tattoos so special—the Romantic outlook, the adventurous subject material, the care and attention to detail, and bold lines and bright colors—will remain the bedrock of great tattoos. Those same values seem to embody the Sailor Jerry brand as a whole, which is only right, Monahan says: “The brand is a reflection of the man and of the aesthetics that embodied his work.”

Bars that will be celebrating Sailor Jerry’s birthday tonight:

Bar 35: the official “toast” to Sailor Jerry will take place here at 10pm.
Fresh Cafe: serving Jerry and Ginger, $6
Downbeat: serving all Sailor Jerry drinks, $6
The Study at The Modern Honolulu: featuring the cocktail “Withering Heights” all week long
Smith’s Union Bar
MonkeyPod
The Hideaway
Arnolds

All photos courtesy Sailor Jerry Ltd.

Hawaii loves Atmosphere

“What the fuck, Maui?”

Atmosphere rapper Slug said the phrase at least seven times during his Maui concert. And I could see why; it looked like everyone living on the island was at the show, and pretty much everyone knew all the lyrics to every one of his songs.

It was a sold-out show at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center; all three tiers of seating in the indoor music hall were jammed with concert-goers. I grew up on island, and I’m pretty sure everyone I went to high school with was there; all die-hard Atmosphere fans.

After watching Kula-resident the Grouch open with some of his most popular tracks and a new anti-GMO rap, Atmosphere took the stage, opening with a couple of the duo’s newer tracks. Though the crowd mostly consisted of twenty-somethings, there were a few parents there too, equally entranced by the meaningful messages within Slug’s lyrics.

After a few minutes, the feeling in the room had shifted. The eyes of hundreds of people in the audience were glued to Slug. Everyone who frequents concerts knows the feeling when the entire audience comes together with the artist; it’s magical.

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Photos: Marina Riker

Slug changed his entire concert agenda on the fly, busting into “God Loves Ugly,” and continuing with tracks off his older albums like Seven’s Travels, God Loves Ugly and the Lucy Ford album. He performed “The Women with the Tattooed Hands,” “Best Day,” “Lovelife,” and “Guns and Cigarettes” as the Maui crowd became even further fixated on the artist.

It seemed like the connection between the artist and the crowd grew stronger with every song, and Slug began to talk about what it’s like to show someone you love the songs that you write about them. He spoke about his wife, Jessica, prior to their marriage, and about how he used to sit her down to listen to the songs he’d written about her before they were produced.

At one point, some kid jumped on stage and threw his arm around Slug to try to take a selfie; five songs later, another woman was chased off the stage by security. Slug was a good sport, joking that they were lucky he wasn’t carrying a knife.

“If you jump on stage I’m gonna kick you in your fucking nuts,” he laughed. “Nah, I’m fortunate to be here, you should actually require me to bust a freestyle. Anthony Davis,” he said, referring to Ant, the DJ and producer of the duo, “you better play something with a whole lot of fucking potential!”

As he began his freestyle, the entire audience could feel the emotion and passion behind his performance. After his freestyle, he performed “Flicker” while hundreds of people waved their flashlights on their phones. In that moment, I really appreciate the beauty of the 21st century.

He left the stage to close, only to return to play three more tracks, joking that the Maui audience had made him wet. He ended the night with “Trying to Find a Balance,” but only after yelling, “Alright Anthony, let’s make them come!”

Read our profile on Atmosphere, and listen to the complete interview with Slug here.

WKND: 8 ways to say back to school

Friday, January 16

Nick Swardson

Laugh away the back to school blues with comedian Nick Swardson. With a successful stand-up career in his Minneapolis, New York and Los Angeles already underway, Swardson became nationally recognizable for his role as the flamboyant gigolo Terry Bernadino on Reno 911! That same year, he co-wrote Malibu’s Most Wanted (2003) with Jamie Kennedy and Adam Small. Since then, he’s proven to be a true triple threat, finding success as a stand-up comedian, as an actor and as a writer/producer. Swardson will perform at The Republik on Friday and Saturday. He will also perform on Maui on the 24 of January.

Nick Swardson: Live
The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
Fri., Jan. 16 & Sat., Jan. 17, 7:30pm
$29–44, all ages (accompanied by adult 18+)
Tickets

Crimson Apple

Chicks With Picks

Anna O’Brien’s continues to feature great local musical talent paired with cheap drinks, and all within walking distance from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. And what better way to ease yourself back into academia with a good ol’ night of raucous rock ‘n’ roll? Chicks With Picks is a night dedicated to bands featuring female singers and/or band members and these ladies sure can rock. Bands featured will include the indie/acoustic duo Foreseeable Futures, indie/garage rock duo The Dirt Squirrels, the all-girl pop/acoustic band Crimson Apple and the four-piece alternative/folk rock band Halcyon Continuum. Drink specials will include $3.50 PBR, $5 Coldcock Whiskey and $4 Jameson Black. Read our feature on Crimson Apple.

Chicks With Picks
Anna O’Brien’s, 2440 S. Beretania St.
Fri., Jan. 16, 8:30pm
$5, 21+
More information

Saturday, January 17

Miss Vamp Vampire’s Ball

Join KTUH DJ and radio personality Nocturna for the 6th Annual Vampires Ball, a themed dance party at Nextdoor in Chinatown. Along with Nocturna, DJs Shadowfaxxx and Dark Cloud will also spin. The party is a kick-off leading up to the October Miss Vamp Hawaii Beauty Pageant and is a chance to party in your best Gothic-inspired outfits. Nocturna hosts a monthly ’80s pop night at Bar 35 which will be featuring live, local musicians in 2015. You can also catcher her radio show, A Feast of Friends, every Saturday night from 6–9 p.m. on KTUH 90.3 FM, co-hosted by singer/songwriter Lana Saldania.

6th Annual Miss Vamp Vampire Ball
Nextdoor, 43 N. Hotel St.
Sat., Jan. 17, 9pm
$5, 21+
More information

Adventure Club

Of course, what back to school weekend would be complete without at least one great Electronic Dance Music (EDM) show? This weekend, Electric Palms (BAMP) presents two. Night one of “Dream Weekend” will feature Canadian duo Adventure Club, a club-savvy EDM act popular with Hawaii fans. Comprised of producer/DJs Christian Srigley and Leighton James, their style makes the most of the classic “banger” combination of ethereal female vocals with heavy bass drops. Adventure Club will also perform at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center Yokouchi Pavilion on Sunday (Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day) for the Electric Palms brand’s first outer-island event.

Adventure Club: Live, behind the decks
The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
Sat., Jan. 17, 10pm
$40–45, 18+
Tickets

Sunday, January 18

Maisey Rika

Maori singer/songwriter Maisey Rika has been compared to everyone from Tracey Chapman to Lily Allen, Sade to India Arie. Whatever the references, her acoustic-based sound and expressive vocals make her one of Aoetearoa’s most exciting performers, and she’s performing at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre on Sunday. Mixing English and Te Reo (Maori) lyrics, Maisey, with guitarist (and brother) J.J. create an original melodic experience backed with strong messages. A mix of folk, acoustic, soul and easy listening, their musical palette is vibrant with elements of roots and deep culture.

Maisey Rika: Live, in concert
Honolulu Museum of Art Doris Duke Theatre, 901 Kinau St.
Sun., Jan. 18, 7:30pm
$30–35, all ages
Tickets

Justin Nozuka

Singer/songwriter and guitarist Justin Nozuka comes from a talented family (He is the brother of musicians George Nozuka, Henry Nozuka and Christian Nozuka, and actor Philip Nozuka). He first began writing his own songs at age 12 and several songs off his first album, Holly (2007), were composed when he was as young as 15. The folk, acoustic rock and soul musician’s influences stem from artists such as Lauryn Hill and Marvin Gaye and his lyrics often address serious themes and issues.

Justin Nozuka: Live, in concert
The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
Sun., Jan. 18, 8pm
$22–25, all ages (accompanied by adult 18+)
Tickets

Borgeous

Night two of Electric Palms’ “Dream Weekend” will feature big room EDM producer and DJ John Borger, better known by his stage name Borgeous. Initial productions included “From Cali With Love,” “GANGSTEROUS,” “Rags to Riches” and “AGGRO,” but it big room house anthem “Tsunami” (created in collaboration with Canadian EDM duo DVBBS) that landed him international fame. Billboard magazine called it “the most played tune at Tomorrowland,” the 2013 Belgian electronic music festival. Since then, Borgeous has signed with Spinnin’ Records and has continued to produce infectious, festival-worthy original and remix tracks.

Borgeous: Live, behind the decks
The Republik, 1349 Kapiolani Blvd., third floor
Sun., Jan. 18, 10pm
$25–30, 18+
Tickets

Monday, January 19

MIA

Wrap up the long weekend with something a little more intellectual to get you prepped for the next week of school. Recurring literary event Mixing Innovative Arts (MIA) returns in 2015 with another great session of readings by top Hawaii-based writers and authors. Hosted by Joseph Han and Jaimie Nagle, the event will feature readings by Abbey Seth Mayer, Susan M. Schultz and Brenda Kwon. As always, books will be available for purchase, including Kwon’s The Sum of Breathing from Bamboo Ridge Press and Schultz’s Memory Cards: Dogen Series from Vagabond Press.

MIA: Celebrate 2015
Fresh Café’s Loft in Space, 831 Queen St.
Mon., Jan. 19, 7:30pm
Free, all ages
More information

A curator for Arts of Hawaii

The new year marks a milestone for the Honolulu Museum of Art: the museum has hired someone dedicated to curating the Arts of Hawaii collection. Healoha Johnston joined the museum as an assistant curator on January 5. It is the first time the museum has had a position devoted to this collection, which spans from pre-contact to the 1970s.

“I am really excited to work at the museum,” says Johnston. “It is a big responsibility, not just to the museum, but to the Hawaiian community.”

The new position is part of the European and American Art Department, headed by curator Theresa Papanikolas. “All of us at the museum are just delighted to have Healoha as part of our curatorial team,” says Papanikolas. “Not only does she bring her immense experience and expertise to the museum, but for the first time we now have a specialist in this area. I think we’re all going to learn a lot from Healoha about Hawaii’s singular art history, how it plays within the local community, and how it resonates in its broader context. I can’t wait to see what interesting projects and initiatives she develops.”

Johnston brings to the museum a diverse arts background. Her experience runs from serving as an assistant curator at the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and running a small photography gallery in San Diego, to curating contemporary photography exhibitions at the San Diego Natural History museum as an independent curator. For four years she was the gallery assistant to Luis De Jesus at his well-regarded contemporary art gallery in Los Angeles where she did everything from working with international curators to handling publicity and the budget.

She has also applied her research skills and museum studies experience to other areas—most recently she worked as a grant writer for the Hula Preservation Society, where she assisted in the development of museum methodology practice that observes cultural protocol as well as conservation quality methods, and as a policy specialist for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration she assisted with the writing of Marine National Monument Plans for the Marianas Trench, the Rose Atoll, and the Pacific Remote Islands marine national monuments.

She holds two Masters of Arts degrees, one in Pacific Island Studies and one in Art History, both from the University of Hawaii. Her areas of focus were contemporary art and the genealogy of art. Her art history research was on the Queen’s Quilt—the patchwork quilt Queen Lili‘uokalani created during her imprisonment at ‘Iolani Place, where the poignant textile resides. “I investigated the quilt’s symbols and considered their meaning within the context of the politics of the time,” Johnston says.

Johnston looks forward to familiarizing herself with the museum’s collection of the arts of Hawaii, as well as reaching out to her curatorial peers in the islands and throughout the country who work with similar collections. “There is a lot of room to expand existing narratives about the art of Hawaii by working with curators at other museums,” says Johnston. “It will take time, but I am really looking forward to cultivating those relationships.”

Director Stephan Jost sees this as a great opportunity for the museum. “The museum is thrilled to be able to add a new curator of the Arts of Hawaii,” says Jost. “Healoha will focus on art created in the 19th century and 20th century, which is the strength of the museum’s collection. The history of art in Hawaii is complex and contested. Healoha has the skills and background to make significant contributions to the field.”

Cash Cash Money WKND

Above: Cash Cash performing at Club Sutra on February 23, 2014 / Eric Mooney

Friday, January 9

Gummy

Originating from Long Beach, California, DJ/producers Justin Perez and Will Gresham released their first bass-driven EP as the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) act Gummy in 2012. Since then they’ve toured the continental United States, growing their fan base through high energy sets that rotate between bright, pop-driven, big room anthems and hard-hitting, electro and future bass tracks with seriously gnarly drops. Head to Crossroads inside Hawaiian Brian’s this Friday to experience this crowd-pleasing EDM duo. With opening sets by local DJs/acts Project Insomnia, Koopa Kidds, Eluden, Riddlin and DJ Kazuo. Gummy will perform from 1 to 2 a.m.

Gummy: Live, behind the decks
Hawaiian Brian’s, 1680 Kapiolani Blvd., 2nd level
Fri., Jan. 9, 8pm–2am
$20–25, 18+
Tickets and information

Saturday, January 10

Elton John

Elton John and his band return to Honolulu on Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena as part of John’s “All The Hits” tour. The 10-city tour showcases iconic hits from throughout the singer’s five-decade career. Elton John’s band includes original members Davey Johnstone on guitar and Nigel Olsson on drums, as well as Matt Bissonette on bass, John Mahon on percussion and Kim Bullard on keyboards. His latest studio album, The Diving Board, features 12 new songs written by Elton and his longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin and returns Elton to the piano, bass and drums lineup that marked the artist’s introduction to worldwide audiences more than 40 years ago. Since his career began in 1969 John has played almost 3,000 concerts worldwide. This will be the 20th time that Elton John has performed at the Blaisdell Arena since first playing the venue (when it was called the Hawaii International Center Arena) in May 1971.

Elton John: Live, in concert
Neal S. Blaisdell Arena, 777 Ward Ave.
Sat., Jan. 10, 8pm
$35.50–159.50, all ages
(808) 591-2211
Tickets

Beauty and the Beat

Anna O’Briens Club presents a unique musical combination: Beauty & the Beat. With piano and vocals by singer/songwriter Angie Delight and percussion by drummer Luke Daddario. The Maui-based Delight is a trained pianist, vocalist and saxophonist with two albums of original compositions under her belt, while Daddario is known as a masterful metal drummer. The duo will play a selection of their favorite re-worked rock hits as well as originals.

Beauty and the Beat
Anna O’Brien’s, 2440 S Beretania St.
Sat., Jan. 10, 9pm
$5, 21+
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Cash Cash

It’s been fascinating watching Cash Cash transform from their early days as a dance-sensible pop/indie band to a highly skilled trio of producers creating and performing pop-sensible EDM. That transition has catapulted the trio into the spotlight recently with the release of several successful singles including “Take Me Home” (2013), as well as “Lightning” and “Surrender” this past year. In an interview with Only The Beat, the group stated, “When we first started as a band our sound was ‘poppy,’ but we always had underlying electronic elements to our music.” The group’s 2011 album Love or Lust was described by Under the Gun Review as “full of bass rhythms, synthetic claps, techno beats, and dance/party/club themes.”

Cash Cash: Live, behind the decks
The Republik: 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
Sat., Jan. 10, 10pm–2am
$30–35, 18+
Tickets

Latin night at eleven44

Downtown Honolulu’s hot night scene is about to get even steamier with the launch of Aloha Carnival, eleven44’s official Latin Night that will take place every Wednesday evening. If your New Year’s Resolution was to sweat it out to sexy tunes or maybe take a (dance) step out of your comfort zone, consider making Aloha Carnival part of your weekly Hump Day routine.

Coordinated by new event promotions company SL808, along with Amp and Sick Dog Promotions and eleven44’s General Manager Jody Jenkins, Aloha Carnival brings together a team of dancers, teachers, DJs and promoters that promises to infuse the Latin and Salsa community in Oahu with new zest.

“We want to offer a Latin night that will grow the Latin dance community by catering to newcomers and dedicated, experienced dancers as well,” says SL, founder of SL808 Promotions and lead promoter of Aloha Carnival.

An introductory lesson will be held from 8 to 9 p.m. taught by one of several skilled teachers. Expect to learn basic bachata, merengue and salsa steps all set to great music until 1 a.m.

No partner is required but participants are encouraged to dress to impress. Salsa veteran Judah Da Lion will be DJing with Israel’s talented Mor Raybi and world-traveled teacher and choreographer Jerome Mester De Trevino.

There will be a $10 entry fee that includes a drink ticket redeemable for selected drink specials and an extended happy hour offered from 5 until 8 p.m. for food and drinks. Free entry is available for anyone arriving before 7 p.m. for happy hour.

Validated discounted parking will be offered for $5 at Mark’s Garage between Bethel Street and Nuuannu Avenue.

“We look forward to sharing our passion of dance, nightlife and entertainment with you,” says SL.

Aloha Carnival Latin Wednesdays
eleven44, 1144 Bethel St.
Weds., 8pm–1am
$10, 21+
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Schoolboy Q smashes in the new year

“Fuck the Seahawks.”

That was Schoolboy Q’s message to Hawaii fans about a half-hour after midnight on New Years Eve. Why? Just because. Schoolboy Q was having a grand ol’ time at The Republik—and so was everybody else.

Thirty minutes earlier, the Cali-born rapper was so engrossed in his hip-hop that he missed the countdown to midnight. Instead, Schoolboy Q counted down to the new year two minutes late, while everyone tried to grab as many free champagne toasts as possible.

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Photos: Jake Smith

The up-and-coming rapper played a selection of new and older tracks, including his radio hit “2 On.” About half way through the track, he decided that he just wanted “to have fun” and busted into “Break the Bank.” The crowd went wild and a mob of dudes jumped around while holding on to their bucket hats. The audience seemed to know the lyrics to every song he performed, and at least four partygoers ended up tackled to the floor by security for lighting up during his performance.

Schoolboy Q played the majority of his most popular tracks, opening with “Hands on the Wheel.” He interacted constantly with the audience, slapping or touching nearly every hand in the front row, including the photographers. He played his hits like “Collard Greens,” “Gangsta” and “What They Want,” working the crowd into a mosh-like frenzy.

It was a rowdy way to bring in the new year, and it seemed like everyone there was having a blast. If Schoolboy Q continues to amaze audiences with the same skill, charisma and humor in his 2015 performances, he stands a good chance of being crowned “Man of the Year.”

Feed your Hungry Ear

“It’s the sound of [vinyl].”

That’s the reason that music-lovers have been returning to Hungry Ear Records for nearly 35 years, co-owner of Hungry Ear Records Dennie Chong says. And that’s why loyal customers have followed Hungry Ear to its new King Street location all the way from Kailua.

“Some people I think discover the sound, and want to listen to it as it first came out,” Chong says. “And [they also want} the physical artwork that comes with it.”

Dennie tells me that listening to vinyl is as physical in its experience as it is auditory. Vinyl is something that you can actually hold in your hands or play on a turntable; it isn’t just pressing a button to play an MP3 on your iPod.

He says that actually hearing the details within the music is what creates vinyl collectors. And fortunately for Hungry Ear, they’ve started to see a large number of younger people who have caught the vinyl bug.

“[Vinyl is] growing… with the younger influx of people getting into it or people who are rediscovering it and getting back into it again,” Chong says.

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Photos: Marina Riker

Chong was the first employee of Hungry Ear, back in the 1980s, and has witnessed the ups and downs of the vinyl medium. After moving to the mainland to work with Universal Distribution and Sony Music, he returned to Hawaii to become part-owner of Hungry Ear with co-owner Ward Yamashita.

“[Vinyl has] gotten more popular and we’re seeing younger people come in [to the store],” Chong says. Then there’s the other half of their customer base, the folks that never stopped collecting records. Hungry Ear’s most popular sellers are still classic-rock titles from the likes of the Beatles and Led Zeppelin, but other artists such as Iron and Wine and Neutral Milk Hotel are constantly in demand as well.

“What’s really nice is seeing families come in together, and [parents and their children] shopping for vinyl together now.” Chong says that this happens much more frequently in their new location than it did in Kailua.

Hungry Ear strives to support local artists, specializing in Hawaiian music and planning to host frequent performances by local artists at the new location. Hungry Ear also puts on the annual Hawaii Records Fair, hoping to connect Hawaii’s close-knit music-collecting community.

But Chong says that running a small business that sells vinyl and CDs isn’t always easy. In addition to the challenges that any small business faces, he says that one of the greatest challenges is that many local artists have stopped producing CDs.

“We try to support local artists as much as possible… people expect to find their releases in a store too, so if they don’t bring it by us its kind of hard for us to sell,” Chong says. “Some people just put out MP3s and don’t realize there’s an audience especially in Hawaii that still wants a CD of their album.”

Chong wants to support Hawaii’s local artists, and hopes that Hawaii residents will help support his local business.

“We’re collectors ourselves,” Chong says. “We’re very particular and passionate about the condition of the vinyl that we put out; we clean a lot of records, and we sell a higher quality of record, we feel, than other people.”

Hungry Ear sells new and used vinyl and CDs as well as turntables. They also carry cleaning supplies, covers, needles and almost any vinyl-related accessory that you would need to start a collection.

“It’s hard competing against big conglomerates and online [businesses],” Chong says. “But people who know vinyl have supported us since 1980.”

Hungry Ear Records
2615 South King St., Ste. A-100
Mon.–Thu., 10am–6pm
Fri., 10am–8pm
Sat., 10am–6pm
Sun., noon–5pm
(808) 262-2175
hungryear.com