Festival Showcases Area Talent

Singers, dancers and musicians will take to the stage April 20 at the third annual Leeward Music Festival.

Sponsored by the Kapolei Chorale, the event features a lively entertainment lineup. This year’s special guest performance is by the Royal Hawaiian Band, which will give attendees a musical welcome to the Kroc Performing Arts Center starting at 6:45 p.m. At 7, the Kapolei Chorale will join the band to officially kick off the show.

Evening highlights include performances by Ballet Hawaii dancers, a chorus and ukulele group from Waiau Elementary School, the adult handbell players of Mele Mai Paki Lima, Kapolei High School’s Hurricane Taiko Club, recorder players from Kanoelani Elementary School and the men singers of The Samoan Gospel Heralds. Solo numbers include a song by Megan DeBoard and a hula dance by Lydia Fontes. Recording artist Peter Apo will act as the festival emcee.

The show is an effort by the Kapolei Chorale to bring the community together while showcasing area talent of all ages: “Before the electronic age, the people of a community often came together to enjoy live performances by talented people of the area,” noted chorale member Mina Trullinger. “Our chorale is sponsoring the Leeward Music Festival to provide this kind of entertainment.”

Admission is $5. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Kapolei Chorale director Doris Dudley at 672-8888.