Hokus for Hoku
The winner of six Na Hoku Hanohano awards this year-including best Hawaiian album and vocalist and entertainer of the year-Kaneohe boy Hoku Zuttermeister is excited to be headlining Windward Community College’s ho’olaulea Saturday. After winning six Na Hoku Hanohano awards this year
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Zuttermeister.
Burns adds, “It’s when we look at each other and it was like, wow, that was pretty good. But it doesn’t happen very often.”
As the first in his immediate family to play music professionally, Zuttermeister has taken the responsibility of putting his music and himself out in the public eye seriously. It isn’t a family obligation, but a personal one, to not only stay true to the music and the language, but to be a positive example for Hawaii’s youths. This comes with years of experience as a school teacher, having taught at Waimanalo Intermediate, Kamehameha Schools and King Intermediate.
“Our responsibility is to perpetuate and stay true to what we love,” says Zuttermeister. “Being the younger generation, I think the example we try to set is just to be true to the music and share the love for the music and the language. Hopefully that will give the next generation something to follow.”
This attitude, as well as his talents and Kaneohe roots, made Zuttermeister the obvious choice to headline this Saturday’s (Sept. 27) Windward Ho’olaulea, themed Pulama ka Hanauna Hou -Nurturing the Next Generation. Organizers promise that it will be “the best one yet.”
Happening on the Windward Community College campus from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., the eighth annual event will feature crafts, food booths, keiki games, high-tech Imaginarium shows and a silent auction including items such as two round trips on the Hawaii Superferry and a 2008 Nissan Versa - which is good news for Zuttermeister, since he has pretty much owned every Nissan vehicle except the Versa.
“I’ve gone through so many cars - I don’t know if that should be something I should be proud about,” laughs Zuttermeister. “I’d say maybe about seven, but you can check with Guy Mello at King Windward Nissan for the exact numbers.”
We’ll see if he walks away with car No. 8 at the Ho’olaulea this weekend. But if he doesn’t, his checkbook may thank him now that he has a mortgage to attend to, having recently purchased a “fixer-upper” home in Kaneohe.
“I don’t know why buying a house is the American dream; it costs so much money,” jokes Zuttermeister. “With the house we had to do a lot of work, so it’s been pretty gratifying. The inside is pretty much done, but we didn’t even touch the outside yet. It’s so different from music because I have no idea what we’re doing with the house.”
Along with his home renovation projects and busy performance schedule, Zuttermeister also is working on a second album, which he anticipates will release sometime next year. And if his schedule permits, he hopes he can get back into the classroom to teach again.
“I taught in the schools for a long time and I really feel I connect with the younger people - I kind of miss it,” he says. “It was hard, because an entertainer schedule with an educator schedule just doesn’t work, because you’re out late at night and then you have to wake up early, and touring. And then you’re talking all day, and when it’s time to sing, your voice is all tired. So I kind of had to give up teaching for a while.”
But if he isn’t teaching, Zuttermeister hopes to be able to give back to younger generations in other ways, perhaps one day helping them record their own albums or simply being a positive role model.
“Working in the schools, I can see how great of an influence people in the entertainment industry are,” says Zuttermeister. “I don’t consider myself a role model because we’re still trying to get our own two feet set in the industry, but I accept it and I take that responsibility.”
To find out more about this young talent, visit www.hokuzuttermeister.com.
EIGHTH ANNUAL WINDWARD HO’OLAULEA
This year’s Windward Ho’olaulea happens Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the Windward Community College campus. Coordinated by WCC and the Kaneohe Business Group, this celebration is one of the largest community events on the Windward side.
In conjunction with this year’s theme of Pulama Ka Hanauna Hou - Nurturing the Next Generation - live musical performances showcase the new generation of Island talent, including Pila Nahenahe, Halau Hula O Napunaheleonapua, WCC slack key students, Hoku Zuttermeister and many others.
In addition to the all-day music lineup, folks can enjoy unique island crafts, food booths, keiki games, high-tech Imaginarium shows and an expanded silent auction. And best of all, admission is free.
Among the items up for bid at the silent auction will be a timeshare stay in Cabo San Lucas, a Kaneohe Bay cruise package, special family passes to Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, restaurant gift certificates and much more. Proceeds from this year’s silent auction will help establish WCC’s first general scholarship endowment for WCC students.
The Ho’olaulea also will have a used-book and white elephant sale, as well as interactive exhibits from community organizations. Several well-known artists, including Hiroshi Tagami, Michael Powell and Gary Reed, also will be there to talk about their work. A nice selection of artwork will be on sale in a special art corner.
The Windward Ho’olaulea is the recent winner of the prestigious 2008 “Keep It Hawaii” award from the Hawaii Tourism Authority for demonstrating a commitment to the growth and development of Hawaiian culture.
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE:
9:15-10 a.m. - Na Kupuna O Ko’olau
10:15-11 a.m. - Pila Nahenahe
11:15-noon - Royal Hawaiian Band
12:15-1 p.m. - Hawaii Loa
1:15-2 p.m. - Halau Hula O Napunaheleonapua
2:15-3 p.m. - The Geezers
3:15-4 p.m. - WCC slack key students
4:15-5 p.m. - Halau Hula O Na Wahine
5:15-6 p.m. - Hoku Zuttermeister
6:15-7 p.m. - Cyril Pahinui and friends
7:15-8 p.m. - Pilioha
8:15-9 p.m. - Kaukahi
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