MEDIA RELEASE

The most nominated artist for the Na Haku Hanohano Awards 2012, Kuana Torres Kahele brings his band and very special guest Nani Lim Yap to Hawaii Island for three shows at the end of May.

Kuana will play three shows on the Big Island:

* 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 24 at Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua
* 8 p.m. Friday, May 25 at The Palace Theatre, Hilo
* 7 p.m. Saturday, May 26 at Kahilu Theatre, Kamuela

Kuana Torres Kahale is renowned as founder of legendary traditional Hawaiian group Na Palapalai. He is now recognized widely as solo artist, and his 2011 CD, KAUNALOA, has been nominated for an incredible 10 Na Hoku Hanohano awards in 2012.

The CD was released last June and went straight to No. 1 on the Billboard World Music Charts and the iTunes World Music Charts, was awarded Hawaiian Album of the Year from Big Island Music Awards (BIMA) and sold out in stores statewide last year, beating out mainstream artists such as Beyonce and Rihanna.

Three back to back concerts kicking off the weekend of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards offer big islanders a chance to catch Kuana live on his home island.

Kuana Torres Kahele is a child of Piihonua, a River Rat, a Hilo boy. Judging by his already extensive 100 song legacy to Hawaiian music at only 33, it is safe to say Kuana was born with a song in his heart.

His greatly anticipated solo CD, KAUNALOA, tipped 20,000 pre-orders in Hawaii and Japan. His two Kaunaloa concerts in Tokyo and Kyoto both sold out 2,000 seat venues with post concert CD signings lasting two and a half hours.

Kuana’s success is driven by a fiercely loyal local and international Japanese fan base, his skilled marketing team and the power of the famed Mountain Apple Company.

For a Hilo boy who got his start in a tiny hula studio singing for Uncle Johnny Lum Ho’s halau, Ka Ua Kani Lehua, Kuana is happy and humbled to be coming home with the laurels.

Tickets for all shows are priced at $20 until April 25, then will be priced $25. At the door all tickets will be $30.

All tickets available now at www.brownpapertickets.com, and available in person during the Merrie Monarch Festival from Wednesday, April 11 to Saturday, April 14 at the Na Palapalai Booth at the Civic in Hilo. Tickets available for all three shows at the booth. Call Marc (808) 348-3035 for more information about the pre-sales at the booth.

Tickets for the Waimea and Hilo concerts are also available from the theatre box offices. Kahilu Theatre box office is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Friday, for walk ins or calls to (808) 885-6868.

The Palace Theatre box office is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Friday for walk ins or calls to (808) 934 7010.

— Find out more:
www.mountainapplecompany.com