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Party time
The Ho`olaule`a is here again
By Lisa Malakaua
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 3:53 PM HST
It's that time again, to rock Hilo-style. For the past 13 years, Hawai`i Islanders have closed Kam Avenue to enjoy local grinds and dance enmasse -- we're talkin 15,000 in '06-- before live bands who keep them hot even if the rain pours.
Chris Leonard, General Manager of KWXX and his staff are set to make this, the 14th Annual KWXX Ho`olaule`a, the party event of the year. On Saturday, September 29th from 4:30 to 10pm in Downtown Hilo the free block party features Lukie D, Mana`o Company, John Cruz, Nuff Sedd, `Ekolu, Opihi Pickers, Keahiwai, Sudden Rush, Mighty J, `Ai Pohaku,, Mixjah, Beach 5, Ho`okoa, Downstar, Moemoe`a, Keawe Trio, Island Harmony, Tropical Blend, K-Pana Boyz, and Ken Makuakane.
With a party that has been going on this long and gotten this big, it's easy to get caught up in details about the entertainers, but did you ever wonder how the event got started? BIW got the scoops from Leonard himself:
"The KWXX Ho`olaule`a was started by my father (John) who was a concert promoter from 1969 actively until about 1984. My dad had a company called JFL Concerts and he promoted everybody from Janice Joplin to the Jacksons, to Aerosmith, Journey, Santana, to Rod Stewart . . . before getting into radio and television. When we worked in radio in Honolulu, we worked with the Aloha Festival with their downtown Ho`olaule`a. When we moved to Hilo, they approached my father about doing an event here. They said, 'We don't have the resources, we don't have the people, but . . . would you be interested in working or partnering up with us for an event in Hilo?' and we did.
In 1996, the Aloha Festival was having financial challenges so KWXX decided to postpone that year. "At that point the event was really building into something special and we would rather skip a year and come back and do it right." Unfortunately, Leonard's father would not live to see the next Ho`olaule`a. "With my wife's help that year," said Leonard, "we scrambled to put this event together . . . it has always been in honor of JFL as he was known.
"The sponsors, volunteers and the companies that come together to do this, really deserve recognition for their hand in this. Unfortunately, there are probably too many to mention by name . . .you'd be amazed at how many people have their hands in this event. "
Oh, and we got some more inside scoops for you . . . B97 will soon have a Kona signal as well that will be called B93, which will make this New West Broadcasting's 5th Hawai`i Island signal. Congrats to the team at KWXX!
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