MEDIA RELEASE

Waikoloa Beach Resort presents the 10th Annual Great Waikoloa Ukulele Festival, 2-7 p.m. Saturday, March 6 throughout Queens’ MarketPlace.

With Hawaii’s “Ambassador of Aloha” Danny Kaleikini as Master of Ceremonies, the Festival spotlights ten different performances on two stages, a free workshop with ukulele master and protégée of Roy Sakuma, Nelly Toyama-Baduria, and chances to win top of the line ukulele from KoAloha, Kala and the Ukulele Festival-Hawaii.

Toyama-Baduria is one-fourth of the all-girl group “Joy” (Living in Paradise). A musician since the age of 5, she studied with Hawaii’s foremost ukulele teacher Roy Sakuma, and with his group “Super Keikis” performed in Hawaii, Disneyland, Japan and around the world.

Other headliners include celebrated musician Herb Ohta, side by side with jazz guitarist Nando Suan. In his long and prolific international career, “Ohta-san” has compiled more than 100 albums and 6,000 songs ranging from sweet Hawaiian sounds to pop, rock and “bossa nova jazz.”

Also onstage will be Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Troy Fernandez, formerly one of the Kaau Crater Boys (“Opihi Man”). Joining Troy on stage are his two daughters Tory (11) and Tia (9). Both daughters are now part of the group “Troy Fernandez & TNT.”

Sponsors include Waikoloa Beach Resort, Queens’ MarketPlace, Ukulele Festival Hawaii, ukulele companies KoAloha and Kala, Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa.

For more information, call Queens’ MarketPlace office at 886-8822 or visit www.QueensMarketPlace.net

Schedule of events

Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort and Spa:
10 a.m.-noon. Ukulele Workshop with Nelly Toyama Baduria. BYOU (bring your own ukulele). Free.

In the Queen’s MarketPlace:
2-6 p.m. Ukulele Making Demonstration by Bob Gleason of Pegasus Guitars & Ukuleles
2-6 p.m. Ukulele Lessons with Auntie Marjorie Spencer
2-6 p.m. Lei-Making

Island Gourmet Markets Stage
2 p.m. Hookani Pila Ukulele Ensemble, directed by B.J. Soriano
3 p.m. Ohta-san and Nando Suan
4 p.m. Auntie Lani Lee & Na Kupuna O Kona Alii
5 p.m. The Kupukaa’s

Coronation Pavilion
2 p.m. Ukulele Workshop Students
2:15 p.m. Kris Fuchigami
3 p.m. Kanu O Ka Aina New Century Charter School
4 p.m. Uncle Willie Perreira & Ukulele Lehu Lehu
5 p.m. Ohta-san and Nando Suan
6 p.m. Troy Fernandez & TNT