Third Annual Kauai Music Festival
…great for visitors and gaining strong support from music industry
Story and photos by: Ed Stone

In 2001, Rich McSheehy attended the Maui Writers Conference to learn about fiction writing and to pitch a novel he had written.  During the confab, Rich met Carolyn Bryant, wife of BMI’s then vice president, Del Bryant.  Upon his return to Kauai, he

Rich McSheehy Founder of the Kauai Music Festival

realized that songwriters needed a gathering and consortium like the one he had attended in Maui, but with the slant of writing lyrics and music for all kinds of songs .  A phone call to this newfound friend in New York connected him with the right person…Del, who is now the president of BMI.  This music event has become a win-win program for both BMI and the island of Kauai.

That phone call developed into a very important annual musical gathering.  Why, because without the right notes and lyrics and the right delivery of words written in a song, we would not be enjoying the music we hear today. 

With the total support of BMI, Rich began to develop the Kauai Music Festival.  Today it is a product the casual tourist or the diehard music professional will enjoy while visiting the “Island of

Kamokila Hawaiian Village, movie set for "Outbreak"

Discovery.”  This festival has been created for the aspiring songwriter and/or performer to hone their skills and to experience a live audience response.  Kauai is where the visitor comes in to play…golf, hiking, touring, luau’s, swimming, etc., etc.   I must warn you…when you visit the Kauai Music Festival; you are in for some outstanding entertainment

Although the Kauai Music Festival is only three years old…going on four, the event is gaining popularity and stirring an interest in all genres of music circles.  Professional and novice songwriters are attending and supporting this annual songfest on one Hawaii’s most beautiful islands.  Kauai is where Hollywood comes to make movies.  Movies like “South Pacific,” “Jurassic Park,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “Outbreak” and many, many others.  Bringing the writers and potential writers for future hit flicks, music productions, radio, television, etc. to a most conducive environment for creativity makes sense.

Opaeka'a Falls

Creating and producing a major musical event on the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii can be a challenge because of the location.  With limited access and distance from any major metropolitan area, success of any festival is not a guarantee. 

Gibson Guitar & BMI are major sponsors

The strong support of the appropriate individuals, the State’s music community and the right venues, is an advantage.  For instance, having Harry Witz, CEO/Founder of db Sound Image and David Tickle as producers is a real plus.  Having Del Bryant, president/CEO of BMI and Henry Juszkiewicz, chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitars as two major supporters and sponsors greatly enhances this undertaking.  Add Rich McSheehy, a strong individual with organizational skills, as the “man behind the scenes” and the result is a very successful Kauai Music Festival.  Place all of this talent and energy at the luxurious Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa at Poipu and you have created a real winner.

Rich (right) moderates a songwriters panel

Rich McSheehy is the person credited with making this event a reality.  Before moving to Kauai eleven years ago, Rich was a physics researcher  at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).  Rich enjoys all kinds of music but says, he especially likes rock music, Opera to Polynesian to John Phillip Sousa marches.

His desire is to promote an event helping all aspiring songwriters, musicians and performers.  This very unassuming and soft-spoken gentleman from Boston is causing the music industry to sit up and take notice at the Annual Kauai Music Festival.  This past Memorial Day Weekend was the third edition.  The event attracted some 112 registered participants coming from most all the Islands of Hawaii, California, New York, Tennessee, Australia, Japan plus other states and foreign counties.  This may not seem like a large attendance, but the quality and

John Cruz teaches some hot licks at the Kauai Music Festival

long-term affect holds sway for this event.  When BMI brings in some of its biggest songwriters and talent scouts to the four-day festival, rest assured this program has potential.

GREAT FOR SONGWRITERS & PERFORMERS...GREAT FOR TOURISM
In addition to offering songwriters and performers a place to improve their craft, the Kauai Music Festival is a perfect match for the tourism industry of the Islands of Hawaii.  Where else can you find the best of beach activities, golf, scenic beauty, famous movie locations and perfect weather with concerts by some of the best entertainers in Hawaii, the U.S. Mainland and hear the songs by the writers themselves?  For instance, Jeff Cohen who penned the current hit song by county artists, Big & Rich sings “Holy Water” better than the

Hugh Prestwood gives lyric instructions

relatively new duo.  And, there is Hugh Prestwood who has written hundreds of songs such as “The Song Remembers When” recorded by Trisha Yearwood.  Or, hearing Jeffery Steele sing “My Town,” a recent hit by Montgomery Gentry.  Steele puts as much or more energy into the composition as the country music’s recording artists.

This year’s attendee songwriting award winner is Scott Krippayne of Seattle with his original song entitled, “Why do we do what we do to the ones we love?”  Scott is an outstanding keyboard player and

Scott Krippayne is winner of the 2005 Kauai Music Festival being congratulated by Rich McSheehy

has spent the past ten years in Nashville writing for BMG and performing in the contemporary Christian music segment of the business.  He plans to continue writing with more emphasis in the fields of rock and popular music.

The festival attracts some of pop, rock and country music’s best performers.  Last year, Kris Kristofferson made appearances.  This year, pop singer and pianist, Vanessa Carlton along with Stephan

Jake Shimabukuro is outstanding on the ukulele

Jenkins, the lead vocalist for the alternative rock band, Third Eye Blind sang many of their favorites to the full-house audience.  Of course, having some of the Island’s favorite performers such as Willie K, John Cruz and Jake Shimabukuro on hand encouraged attendance to the show.  Any of these three individuals are worth the price of admission…especially Willie K…what a unique entertainer!  Jake Shimabukuro can create more sounds out of a four-string ukulele than Chet Adkins could get out of a 12-string guitar…and I knew Chet quite well.

The high point of the Kauai Music Festival is when the “students” perform with the seasoned professionals on Saturday and Sunday nights for the general public.  This experience is priceless and rewarding to the student, professional and audience.  This is the right combination. The 560-seat performing arts center of the Kauai Community College is a perfect venue for showcasing all this talent.

Hawaii's finest perform at the Saturday & Sunday's showcase	Scott Krippayne performs his winning song	Venessa Carlton  renders a song for the audience	Jeff Cohen sings one of his big hits

The local performers are enthusiastic and very supportive of the International event.  They see the festival as a way to call attention to the variety of music and performers of Hawaii, which are not all Don Ho.  “Jawaiian” music is becoming very popular on the Islands with a reggae style using Hawaiian instruments.  Willie K says, “this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone wanting to

Jeffery Steele, Willie K and Eric Gilliom are very strong supporters of the Kauai Music Festival

become a songwriter or performer.  I will do whatever I can to make this event a success.”   Charles Michael Brotman, the first ever Grammy winner of a Hawaii album this year said, “Having local songwriters interact with music industry professionals is fantastic exposure.”  For any performer or person involved in the music community, albeit Hawaii, New York, Nashville or Australia, there is a ground swell of support to make the Annual Kauai Music Festival a long-term success.

Harry Witz of Chicago founded db Sound Image some twenty-five years ago.  He spends most of his time on Kauai and enjoys supporting the Music Festival.  His company is a world-renowned

Winners of the Festival receives Gibson Guitars

touring sound company.  To give you an idea of some of his clients,  they include: The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and The Allman Brothers Band.  In the 80’s, Witz engineered hundreds of shows on tours with Heart, Kansas, REO Speedwagon, Kiss, Triumph, Richard Marx, Survivor and Cheap Trick.

With the involvement and hard work of Rich McSheehy, Harry Witz, Henry Juszkiewicz, David Tickle plus lots of other music industry professionals and local volunteers, this is a festival destined to become an important event in the area of entertainment and tourism.

When you visit Kauai...the Island of Discovery:

Access to the island is through Los Angeles and San Francisco from the mainland and through Honolulu from all other destinations to the Lihue Airport.  Rental car is certainly the best mode for getting around the 549 square mile island.  The population is just over 58,000.  The four most popular areas for visitors are Princeville to the north, Kapa’a on the eastern side, Lihue, the largest city on the island (5,600), offering several nice hotels and resorts and Poipu located on the southern most tip of the island. 

In Princeville, the Princeville Hotel is one of the most elegant properties I have visited…worth the trip just to see the lobby and views from the bluff where it is built.  This is one of the areas where “South Pacific” and “Jurassic Park” was filmed.  If you are a golfer, the Prince Course is a

The Poipu Bay Golf Course is part of the Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort & Spa	The Prince Golf Course in Princeville...rated #1 in Hawaii

must...beautiful views from every tee, fairway and green.  The 6,960 yard, par 72 course has been ranked as Hawaii's #1 by several golf publications.  The Marriott Courtyard was recently opened on Waipouli beach and is most reasonable in price and great on amenities.  In Poipu, there are two properties worth considering and one outstanding golf course.  They are the Castle Kiahuna Plantation and the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa.  All of these properties offer some of the most elegant accommodations.  Poipu Bay Golf Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and is a unique golfing adventure.  The views are spectacular and the challenge is such that this is where the annual PGA Grand Slam of golf is played.  Don't miss it!  All are great examples of what make Hawaii one of the worlds most sought after destination.

These are just a few of the hundreds of movies and television features.  Check out the tour company that will take you to many of the locations and plays a clip from the scene of that location.  You can check out the tours at: www.hawaiimovietour.com

Hawaii is known for luau’s where the native dances, leis and music is true to traditions.  One of

Entrance to Smith's Tropical Paradise

the best to experience is Smith’s Tropical Paradise “Garden Luau.”   As the sun sets at each event, the torches are lit, the darkness is replaced with the sounds of ukuleles, guitars and the Smith family members present a most relaxing and romantic dining experience starting with the Imu Ceremony…the unearthing of the traditional pig,

The Imu Ceremony	A true "family" show

cooked to perfection in an underground oven.  The evening is concluded with an outstanding International Pageant presentation featuring some of the best Hawaiian dances, music and costumes.  This is well worth your time and expense.

Water falls and deep canyons are other attractions for this island.  Don’t miss Waimea Canyon State Park, dubbed as the Grand Canyon

Waimea Canyon on the west side of Kauai

of the Pacific, located on the western side of the island.  The Wailua and Opaeka'a Falls are very easy to find and are just off the main roads.  Both are very picturesque and used in various movies, such as Fantasy Island,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and many others.

For more information:

Kauai Music Festival
www.kauaimusicfestival.com

Kaua'i Visitors Bureau
4334 Rice Street, Suite 101
Lihue, HI 96766
1-800-262-1400
Phone: (808) 245-3971
Fax: (808) 246-9235
www.kauaidiscovery.com

Courtyard by Marriott
Kauai at Waipouli Beach
4-484 Kuhio Highway
Kapa‘a, HI 96746
Phone: 808-822-3455
Fax: 808-822-0035
www.kcbresort.com

Castle Kiahuna Plantation
2253B Po‘ipu Road, Koloa, HI 96756
Toll Free: 800-222-5541
Fax: 808-742-1047
www.castleresorts.com/KIA

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
1571 Poipu Road
Koloa, Hawaii
96756 USA
Phone: 808 742 1234
Fax: 808 742 1557
http://kauai.hyatt.com

Smith’s Tropical Paradise
174 Wailua Road
Wailua State Park
Kapa’a, HI 96746
Phone: 808-821-6880
www.smithskauai.com

Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau
2270 Kalakaua Avenue, Suite 801
Honolulu, HI 96815
From U.S. And Canada: 1-800-GoHawaii (1-800-464-2924)
Email: info@hvcb.org
Website: www.gohawaii.com