Music Lover’s Guide to Hawaii
The New York Times recently profiled one of Hawaii’s most famous locals: singer-songwriter Jack Johnson. Born in Oahu, Johnson still calls the Aloha State home. And his music always captures the spirit of this special place: laidback, easy, and breezy.
If you’re planning a visit to Oahu, I definitely recommend reading the NYT profile. But when you’re thinking about the Big Island, check out my guide for music lovers.
Better Together
The history of Hawaiian music goes way further back than Jack Johnson, Bruno Mars, or Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.
Music has always been a huge part of Native Hawaiian culture. Traditional music combines chanting, percussion, and dance for practical purposes. These songs tell the stories of Hawaiian mythology, genealogy, and religion.
The arrival of Mexican cowboys also brought string instruments to the island. And, although synonymous with Hawaiian music, the ukulele actually traces its roots back to Portugal.
Thanks to this rich heritage, community is at the heart of the Big Island music scene. So it’s no surprise that you can catch live, local music at over 25 venues in Kona alone.
Here are some of my favorites:
Gertrude’s Jazz Bar: Don’t let the name fool you. Gertrude’s does jazz and so much more, with two shows a night on most evenings.
On the Rocks: Huggo’s outdoor lounge serves local beats and tasty bites all against the backdrop of a stunning sunset.
Kona Brew Pub: Beer is the star of the show at Kona’s very own world-famous brewery. But the tunes are worth the visit too, with some room to wiggle your hips on the outdoor patio.
Want to croon with the best of them? Don’t worry. There are plenty of places to sing some karaoke. And when you need a little autotune… there are plenty of places to hand it over to a DJ.
Making Banana Pancakes Music
When you inevitably need to replace those guitar strings, here are the places to go in Kona:
Music Exchange: Since 1978, Music Exchange has stocked the Big Island with everything you could possibly need for string instruments. Capos, cables… you need it, they got it.
Soundwave Music: In addition to providing for your musical instrument needs, Soundwave Music has you covered for audio and lighting equipment. They also rent out equipment.
Just ‘Ukes Hawaii: Yep, this store specializes exclusively in ukeleles. You don’t have to perfect Somewhere Over the Rainbow to enjoy playing this wonderfully simple instrument.
If you’re making your own music on the Big Island, you’ll find plenty of open mic nights, concerts, and even conferences where you can hone your craft. For instance, the Hawaii Songwriting Festival has been attracting musicians from across the world since 2002!
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
Want to achieve a Jack-Johnson level of chill? Then don’t waste your time sitting, waiting, wishing for your dream Hawaiian home. Give me a call to make it all happen. I’ll even help you realize your schemes for installing a state-of-the-art sound system in your garage.
Aloha, and welcome to Hawaii.