PERFORMERS

ENTERTAINERS

Check our this years Bands, Entertainers & Festival Pros!

Augie T.

a professional comedian, actor and radio personality from Hawaii

He has been performing for over 30 years, yet was named one of the US’s top undiscovered comedians in 2019 by Thrillist magazine.Augie has been named “funniest comic” in Hawaii and one of Hawaii’s top 100 influential Filipinos. He was awarded the best comedy show by Honolulu Magazine and has won 2 Na HokuHano Hano awards which are Hawaii’s equivalent to the Grammy Award.

Augie has appeared in numbers television programs including “The Wayne Brady Show”, “Hawaii Five-O” and “Magnum P.I” and was elected to Honolulu City Council in 2020.

Mitch Kekoa Kepa

Contemporary soul singer, guitarist, and Hawaiian artist Mitch Kekoa Kepa

Mitch Kekoa Kepa, mixes R&B traditions with island vibes, offering a laid-back and funky groove that appeals to all generations. Considered one of the few remaining original Hawaiian Renaissance artists, Kepa found his musical style through a range of influences including local Hawaiian hit artists Gabby Pahinini and Cecilio & Kapono, Motown greats like Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, and Steve Wonder, and the soulful jazz and blues

genius of George Benson. “Music is my first love,” says Kepa. “What it means to me? It comes before everything. It’s food for the soul.” From a young age, Kepa had a keen ear for music which sprung out of his Hawaiian family beginnings. The second of nine children, Kepa grew up listening to the ukulele and Hawaiian folk songs of his mother, Nani “Barbara” Kepa and extended family which played music during regular family gatherings. Nani inspired a new generation of musicians who included Kepa’s five brothers—John, Milton, Ama, Alika, and Tony—all of whom grew up playing music together.

Upon leaving home to attend college at the University of Hawaii Manoa, Kepa quickly developed his distinct sound and found himself playing among the likes of Joe Cano, an internationally recognized guitar virtuoso who played with George Benson, and Hawaiian legends Henry Kapono, Jon Cruz, and other iconic R&B and jazz musicians. For twenty-plus years, Kepa has captured the hearts of local Hawaiian culture and the appreciation of crowds across Hawaii. He played with Iao Stream Band for close to a decade, and today performs solo and duo contemporary arrangements with local music greats including jazz saxophonist Rock Hendricks.

Kermit Apio

Traditional Slack Key & Comic

Comedian Lives in Mountlake Terrace,Washington From Honolulu, HawaiiBorn and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii

After graduating from high school,Kermet moved to Seattle to attend theUniversity of Washington. Seattle became home. In early 1989, Kermet didhis fi rst open mike night at the ComedyUnderground in Seattle. Comedy wasa fun hobby. In May of 1990, he quit hisjob, said good bye to health care andbenefi ts, and took the leap to performing full time. It is still his only job skill.

Winner of the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival and has had numer-ous appearances on television and radio. Showcased at comedy festivals in Aspen, Las Vegas, and Vancouver and has performed in 47 states and 3 Canadian provinces. He is a past winner of the Seattle Comedy Competition and was a semi-fi nalist in the San Francisco Comedy Competition. Kermet is married and the proud father of two wonderful children. He enjoys his family, baseball, and pie.

Northwest Blend

Northwest Blend is one of the premier and sought after group to perform. Back again this event, they generously and humbly give their time and aloha to the Islander community.

Hawaiian music and culture are among the few things that makes Northwest Blend so special. They have a unique harmony that blends well with their music. The members of the band all hail from the islands of Hawaii but have made the beautiful Pacific Northwest their home. They have performed in Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, Hawaii and all around the Puget Sound.

Gil Sax

Gil will be sharing his Original music along with some island favorites.

Guest musicians:
Joaquin Galiza – Guitar
Matthew Vining – Drums
Larry Cabaccang – Bass

“I’m so looking forward to be sharing the stage with some amazing talent and Headlining “The Kalama Heritage Festival” on Bring the Ohana

Kumu Hula Gloria Nahalea.

Under the instruction of Kumu Hula Gloria Nahalea. Gloria Nahalea Producer of The Kalama Heritage Festival & Kumu Hula of Halau Hula O Napualani Her Hula Haumama Will Perform A Special Mele!

We teach dance and music. Our dance classes include Traditional Hawaiian Hula (Auana and Kahiko), Tahitian, and Maori dancing. Our music lessons includes ukulele and toere/pahu pehe (Tahitian drumming). We also offer entertainment shows for any events. See Less Halau Hula O Napualani (HHON) Hawaiian School of Dance Seattle, Washington is the North Puget Sound end of HHON Seattle which was founded in 1977 by Kumu Gloria (Napualani) who studied under Kumu George Naope. HHON is the oldest Hawaiian dance school (Halau) in Seattle, Washington.

Kumu Gloria has trained roughly 40,000 students since HHON’s founding. The North end group dances in a wonderful dance studio at the Alive Juice Bar located in Shoreline. Here you can expect a nice warm up with hula basics and the opportunity to learn from the hula haumana (students).Both groups have competed in several Polynesian Dance competitions such as such as King Kalakaua Hula Festival in Hawaii, Pacifi c Northwest Polynesian Dance Competition, Surrey Arts Festival, Tahiti Fete in San Francisco and San Jose, Mai Kahiki Mai, and Ka Ohana Hula Festival. Most recently, our group took 1st place in the Na Wahine category at the Hapa Haole Hula Competition held in Vancouver, WA

Nisqually Indian Tribe

The Family Has Been Part of Kalama Heritage Festival Since 2005.

The 2018 Nisqually Indian Tribe Charitable and Local Government Program awarded more than 190 area agencies and organizations a total of $2.4 million in vital operational funding through a competitive application process. Funds are awarded to 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations dedicated to public safety, children’s services, community health, cultural preservation,veteran’s support and environmental protection. Scholarship funds and community groups also participate in the program while local government funding provides for police, fire, emergency services and other public safety needs. Nisqually is proud to be a part of helping to grow and support agencies and partners that are integral parts of our communities.

STRUM

STRUM has started their 10th year playing at the Ballard Locks and Edmonds

Waterfront center, and playing music all over Washington, Oregon, Canada and Hawaii, including being a part of the Kalama Heritage Festival over the past several years. All levels of profi ciency are welcome! We also have made three ukulele practice books, the latest one almost ready during the pandemic. We started with Eric, Chontel, and Uncle Rod, over 100 members and visitors from all over globe. We also work music in healing. Hospice, veterans, Children’s hospital and other intimate playing for end of life.

Chet Mcvay

Chet Mcvay…native Lakota elder sharing stories & demo of teepee building traditions accompanying native drumming & songs. ‘

Chet McVay is Eastern Band Cherokee, Echota Cherokee, and Minneconjou Lakota. He will share his teepee and drum, explaining the way these are used and understood in the native cultures. He is a native storyteller and may tell a few tales for us! Being a pastor for twenty years of a contextual fellowship that believes in Jesus, he will also be sharing on Sunday morning.

Stephen Braddah

GomesAnnouncer/Board Operator at KUOW 94.9 Seattle’s NPR News station.

He is the Host/ Executive Producer with the Hawai’i Radio Connectionon AM1540 KXPA and kxpa.com He also host’s the Hawai’i Radio Connection on 91.3FM KBCS on the 3 rd Saturday of the month. Braddah” Gomes was born and raised on the Garden Island of Kaua’i. He is a graduate of Koloa School, and Kaua’i High School.He as an AA in Liberal Arts from Leeward Community College and BA in TV Radio and Television News from San Francisco State University.

Braddah loves hanging out with his Ohana, his wife Denise “Aunty Keniki” and his son Micah Kaleo’okalani Gomes. Micah is currently on his LDS Church mission in Tampa Florida. They get to see and talk story with him every Monday via zoom.Braddah enjoys seeing Kama’aina and Koaloha (Friends) who live in Wakinekona. He’s got lots of friends here! Braddah loves fl ying back to Kaua’i and visiting with his ohana in Omao. He also loves going to the beach, hiking all over the Island and eating ono food grindz! He believes the world would
be a better place if everyone treated each other with ALOHA!

Amazing Emcees

We’re Excited About Having Our Amazing Emcees @ Our Hawaiian ???? & Native Indian Festival Kalama Washington Amphitheater
Mr. Gregg Porter King Radio FM Seattle I Hawaii Radio Connection “Stephen Gomes” I The Polynesian Connection ”Ala Talo”
Sharing The Hawaiian & Native Indian Culture & our Very own Talia Manu Pati the Queen of Poly Love Sauce (aka Keli’s Gluten Free Sauces)

Ala Talo…. We are honored to have Ala Talo from the Asian Pacifi Cultural Center grace us with her warm and welcoming energy at this year’s festival. Our wonderful and talented Cultural Program Manager, has been instrumental in planning, developing, and implementing Cultural Program activities since she joined APCC in 2017. She has had over a decade of experience, managing cultural programs and working with children in after school programs, including in her previous job as Tacoma Metro parks. She is also the Executive Programming Director and proud co-founder of Hearts for Kids. Ms Ala is a dedicated and passionate person who is highly experienced in Samoan and Polyne- sian culture and arts, is bilingual in Samoan. Ms Ala Talo is a proud mother of four adultkids. She is a voice and organizer for the Samoan Community in Pierce Count. You will often see her as the face APCC’s online programming, especially as the host on many Facebook Live videos. Whenever you see Ms. Ala, you will always be welcomed with her big smile and big heart.

Gregg Porter Uncle Gregg Porter is a former radio host and producer for NPR stations in Seattle and Iowa. He has also been a regu- lar on the “Hawai`i Radio Connection” shows and was a writer for the Northwest Hawai`i Times newspaper. He has emceed dozens of Hawaiian-music shows throughout the Pacifi c Northwest. He has produced and hosted national radio programs, created mu- sic programming for businesses across the country (including Hawaiian music mixes for airports and shops throughout the Islands), and produced music CDs, including one for Hawaiian artist Al Tringali.Originally hailing from the land-locked island of Iowa, he has family on O`ahu. As a member of Halau Hula O Napualani since 1999, he found he was a better musician than dancer and has been playing `ukulele and bass guitar for several years.

Queen of Poly Love Sauce

Talia Manu Pati…..Our very own the Queen of Poly Love Sauce (aka Keli’s Gluten Free Sauces)

Talia joining us at the Kalama Heritage Festival. Talia graces the social media with her highly energetic FaceBook Live Infl uencer, sharing all things Polynesian, markets,
events, and festivals throughout the community and beyond. Talia has encouraged and helped many of the innovative new businesses grow and raise awareness of events, activities, venues, businesses with her going onsite to share the Keli’s Sauces. Look for her at these events. Say hello to her when you see her and will surely want to have a photo with you to share … Watch for Talia as she and LaDonna with Lady L’s Rainbow Candy Chips head to the Emmy’s in Los Angeles September 12, be sure to stay connected with their adventures. You will find them sharing their Keli’s sauces and candy at the festival.