Tune into the Big Island Mele Scene

Music on the Big Island

My love for real estate and new construction does not stand alone. I also have a strong passion for music. Mele is the Hawaiian word for song, music, chant, or poem. I am a songwriter hobbyist and just love how the island inspires me to write. Check out “Island Life” on songsbyed.com. Just keep in mind… I’m not a professional musician 🙂 The music scene like everything else this past year has been challenging for so many of our local musicians. Things are slowly headed back to some normalcy at venues like Gertrude’s Jazz Bar in Kona and a few of the hotels and bars along the coast. Live music is the lifeblood of our island vibe and it’s important to support these establishments along with our music community.

Vibe online… A great way to get a feel for what’s happening on the Big Island is to listen to some local radio. Just about every station is available online to enjoy from the comfort of your mainland home or almost anywhere on the planet. If you can’t jump on a plane right now, get transported into the Island lifestyle with KAPA 100.3 FM, kaparadio.com. Close your eyes and take it all in. If you do make the trip for a visit, chances are you will rent a car, push the buttons on the radio and most likely stumble on KBIG-FM 106.1 for a mix of music ’80s, ’90s, and today’s music along with some local news. Paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys and cowgirls) love the country sound KKOA 107.7 to name a few.

All About the Ukulele

The Classic Uke… I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Ukulele in my mele blog. Pronounced OO-koo-LEH-leh, it is most recognized for its Hawaiian roots. However, the tiny guitar-shaped instrument was actually introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants from Madeira in the late 1800s. Many of our visitors purchase cheap Ukes at the gift shops as a souvenir to commemorate their visit to the islands. If you are looking for a better quality ukulele, one you can actually strum and play, visit Kiernan Music up mauka in Kainaliu. Run by father and son duo Brian and Derek Kiernan. They have a wonderful little guitar shop filled with ukes to fit all types of budgets. From beginners models built to actually play not discourage, on up to handcrafted and vintage gems for collectors and pros. These guys are wonderful to deal with and as a musician myself, I feel lucky to have them in our community.

The Kona side has two other music shops worth mentioning. The Music Exchange is a tiny hole-in-the-wall store jam-packed with great stuff and good service and Sound Wave Music owned by my buddy Rick who is a wealth of knowledge and experience and offers a great lineup of instruments and gear. Each of these stores is a “must stop” for any musician or visitor interested in musical instruments.

Want to Know More?

Stay tuned for more Big Island lifestyle info on my blog and follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter @hawaiilifeed. Please let me know if you have any real estate questions… I am here to help.