Aloha Boys Musicians
Born and raised in Hawai'i and transplanted to the Washington D.C. area to pursue careers, the Aloha Boys, Glen Hirabayashi, Isaac Ho'opi'i and Irv Queja - met in 1996 while playing music for their children at Halau O 'Aulani, a school of Hawai'ian culture, in the Washington, D.C. area. A special and exciting bond grew musically among the Aloha Boys, who love to kanikapila or play an acoustic down-home, backyard-style Hawai'ian music, a style which includes everything from the very traditional to contemporary songs and styles. They all sing lead and backing vocals. Their voices blend in a nahenahe (soft pleasant) style. They have performed at numerous functions from backyard parties to concerts and at many venues including Carnegie Hall and on the National Mall at the openings of the World War II Memorial and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, the Barns at Wolf Trap, and in Rheims, France, Toronto, Canada, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlotte, Southern California and Hawai'i. In Hawai'i, their peformances include Pakele Live, the Gabby Festival, Slack Key Guitar Festival O'ahu Style, and Slack Key Guitar Festival, Virginia Style. The music of the Aloha Boys brings them and their audience back to a lifestyle that is unique and precious to Hawai'i.
Jason Arimoto Musicians
Originally from Hawaii, having been weaned on contemporary and traditional Hawaiian music, and later drawn to acoustic and slide blues guitar, Jason brings the “island blues” to Southern California. These eclectic musical influences are echoed in the way he plays his “electric ukulele” to produce his signature “island blues” sound -- the flavor of Hawaii with the soul of the blues. Showcasing the versatility of the ukulele as a lead instrument across a variety of musical styles, Jason has guest performed with alternative rocker Donovan Lyman and his band, Blue Meridian, the R & B acoustic soul songstress Lady L, singer-songwriter Deron Wade, and cello rockers, the Ken Oak Band. Influenced by the music and culture of Hawaii and acoustic and electric blues guitar, Jason rocks out on his “electric ukulele.”