<\/p>\n<\/article>\n <\/p>\n<\/article>\n <\/p>\n In the two years since the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the Maui Strong Fund has received more than $209 million in …<\/p>\n<\/article>\n <\/p>\n<\/article>\n
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Acclaimed aerialist Andrea Torres will perform with Makana at the Maui Calls Benefit Gala. Courtesy photo<\/p>\n
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Steel guitarist Joel Katz was among the musicians contributing to the unique recording, \u201cHa\u2019ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele,\u201d which won the 2025 N\u0101 H\u014dk\u016b Hanohano award for Compilation Album of the Year.<\/p>\n
The album featured students from the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawai\u2019i Maui College, with songs about Lahaina, its history and their hopes for its post-fire future.<\/p>\n
Playing on some of the tracks, Katz is among the artists performing at the 27th annual Maui Calls Benefit Gala on Aug. 16 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve played the gala for at least 12 years,\u201d Katz said. \u201cI will play what I call classical Hawaiian repertoire, some of the jazzier Waikiki style, and then some pop songs and smooth jazz.\u201d<\/p>\n
A producer on \u201cHa\u2019ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele,\u201d Katz said he mixed and mastered and edited every song except one, and on two songs, he developed layers of sound with steel guitar, percussion, ipu and shakers.<\/p>\n
An instructor in the guitar, ukulele and audio technology programs at the college, he has released several solo albums and collaborations with guitarist Greg diPiazza, which have all received H\u014dk\u016b nominations.<\/p>\n
One of his nominated albums, \u201cA Beautiful Sound of Hawaiian Steel Guitar,\u201d ranged from Hawaiian standards like \u201cSweet Leilani\u201d and \u201cLovely Hula Girl,\u201d to interpretations of popular tunes such as \u201cKilling Me Softly\u201d and \u201cDesperado.\u201d<\/p>\n
The steel guitarist at the Old Lahaina Luau for 11 years, he has played Sunday mornings at the Kula Lodge & Restaurant, which was damaged by a fire on Monday.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nJoel Katz is helping preserve the art of Hawaiian steel guitar. Katz will be among the performers at the 27th annual Maui Calls Benefit Gala on Aug. 16 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Photo courtesy Bruce Forrester<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Helping preserve the art of Hawaiian steel guitar, he said, \u201cIt\u2019s just such an incredibly expressive instrument. There\u2019s just so much that can go into playing one note or several notes in intonation and sliding tone. It\u2019s a unique sound. There\u2019s just nothing like it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Maui Calls Benefit Gala features an array of artists around the MACC\u2019s A&B Amphitheater and Yokouchi Pavilion from 6 to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n
Other performers include Benny Uyetake, Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero and H\u0101lau Hula Kauluokal\u0101, The Hula Honeys, JD & the On The Rocks Band, and Makana joined by aerialist Andrea Torres.<\/p>\n
Makana and Torres will pay tribute to Lahaina in a special performance of his song \u201cLahainalalo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wrote the song after the Lahaina fires,\u201d Torres explained. \u201cThe song is special. I used to live in Lahaina in three different places, and all my houses burned.\u201d<\/p>\n
While living in the town, Torres played Hina the moon goddess, in the acclaimed \u201c\u2018Ulalena\u201d production at the Maui Myth & Magic Theatre. \u201cI was in the original cast and trained in Montreal for the show,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was my favorite memory that I have of creating a show in Hawaii. That was the first time I had to learn aerials to be in the show, because I was a ballerina, a dancer.\u201d<\/p>\n
A leading figure in aerial dance, pioneering the art form in Hawaii, Torres is the co-founder and director of Samadhi Hawai\u2019i School of Aerial Arts. She was a choreographer and aerialist at the Honua\u2019ula Luau at the Maui Marriott Wailea, and danced with the Tau Dance Theatre for nine years. In 2023, she was the featured aerialist at Taimane\u2019s \u201cHawaiki\u201d show at the Hawaii Theatre. \u201cTaimani and I have been playing together for the past 18 years,\u201d Torres said. \u201cShe plays for my shows, and I perform for her shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking forward to returning to Maui for the gala show, she has a long connection with Makana. \u201cHe\u2019s like my brother,\u201d she said. \u201cWe have done a lot of First Fridays in Honolulu back in the early 2000s. So it\u2019s special because we are coming back together after we haven\u2019t done anything in at least 10 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emceed by Deidre Tegarden and Tony Takatani, the MACC\u2019s food and wine celebration includes gourmet pupu created by Maui\u2019s award-winning chefs, fine wines from around the world, and the signature silent and live auctions.<\/p>\n
The 27th Annual Maui Calls Benefit Gala will be presented Aug. 16 at the MACC. Table and individual ticket pricing is available at MauiArts.ejoinme.org\/AttendMauiCalls2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n