Aloha kākou, We have had a busy first half of 2018: After over a year and a half of negotiations, the musicians at Diamond Head Theatre finally have a contract; The Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra has completed another season and we are currently negotiating a new agreement; The Hawai‘i Opera Theatre has leadership changes and is […]
Musicians Association General Membership Meetings Monday, September 24, 7 p.m., Studio 909 Monday, December 17, 7 p.m., Studio 909 From the Spring/Summer 2018 issue, Ke Ola O Na Mele
2018 MAH Elections Elections for the Musicians’ Association of Hawaii officer and board of director positions were held this past May 10 through May 16. Unopposed and elected outright for three-year terms were: Steve Pearson: President Jim Moffitt: Vice President Robert Shinoda: Secretary-Treasurer David “Mochi” Freeman: Sargent at Arms Board of Directors elected are: Steve […]
In Memoriam Former Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, the ambassador of Aloha When Daniel Kahikina Akaka, 93, passed away April 6, the world mourned the loss of a great Statesman, the first native Hawaiian to serve in the U.S. Senate. His death made headline news on the Mainland, New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, NBC. The […]
Of Note The Last 5 Years Actress/producer Kimee Balmilero has launched a new theater company, Stagefish, to provide paid local opportunities for professional actors and musicians. The company’s premier production, “The Last 5 Years,” was presented to critical acclaim on May 9 at the Doris Duke Theater. Musicians worked the show under a Musicians Union contract and […]
Member Spotlight: Jim Moffitt, the Music Man Everybody in town knows Jim Moffitt, Symphony musician, Chamber Music Hawai’i president, AFM Local 677 union vice president, and an all-around nice guy. He’s been in the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, now Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra since forever — 1981 to be exact. And he lived through the infamous 2009 […]
Of Note Coming Up for Chamber Music Hawaii: The Tresemble January 22 with pianist Joyce Yang, Doris Duke Theater February 12 (Doris Duke) and February 19 (Paliku Theater) with guitarist Ian O’Sullivan March 2 with the UH Manoa Chamber Singers, Co-Cathedral of St. Theresa The Honolulu Brass Quintet Bach and the Renaissance April 9 […]
President’s Message Aloha kākou, I want to take this time to wish you and your ohana all the best for 2018. While 2017 has been chaotic on many national fronts, we must continue to work for progress where we can for our local professional musicians. At our last membership meeting on December 11, new changes […]
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT DeShannon Higa: The last Democratic Jazz Artist Throw any style at trumpeter DeShannon Higa, and he’ll run with it. More than likely, the Hilo native has already led the charge. A union member since 1994, the Honolulu-based Higa has mastered his own style of Democratic jazz, enveloping the traditional with the modern, EDM, […]
Building Updates We welcome new building tenants, ALTRES! This past April, the Hawaii Nurses Association left our building to relocate to larger premises. There was concern about losing rental income, but beginning May 1, 2017, ALTRES entered into a new lease with us to take over all available office space at our 949 building. ALTRES […]