March Madness …

Aloha, everyone!  It’s the start of the NCAA championship basketball tournament – also known as “March Madness”!  I’m not a basketball fan, but I do enjoy watching the college playoffs even though I can’t stand the NBA.  Also heard that the UH men’s basketball team was invited to the post-season CIT – CollegeInsider.com Tournament – and will be hosting the Air Force Academy in the 1st round here in Manoa – ‘way to go Warriors!

We had a great time performing at the Keck Observatory Anniversary Celebration over at the Four Seasons at Hualalai this past weekend.  It was the observatory’s 20th anniversary and scientists and donors from all over were gathered to celebrate this great event.  At the airport we ran into fellow musician friends Kale Hannahs, Matt Sproat, and David Kamakahi of Waipuna, Mike Kaawa, and Senator Brickwood Galuteria, who were also on their way to Kona to perform for a couple of other events there.  You should’ve seen all the instruments and stuff in the baggage claim area … looked like a music convention!  We drove over to the Four Seasons to drop off our gear and then headed over to the Lava Lava Beach Club in Waikoloa to grab some lunch before checking in to our hotel.  Later that afternoon we did our sound check and then had an early dinner at Ippy’s in the Queen’s Marketplace food court.  Owned and operated by celebrity chef and local boy, “Ippy” Aiona, Ippy’s has some great grinds … rotisserie chicken, loco mocos, fresh fried opelu, and even some interesting stuff like the chocolate, peanut butter, and bacon shake that Alex ordered.  So if you’re looking for good places to eat in Waikoloa, I would definitely recommend both these places.  Then after we returned to Honolulu yesterday, I stopped in at Andy’s, one of our Manoa favorites, to pick up a couple of their smoked ahi and avocado sandwiches … what a great weekend of eating (and music!)!

Aloha, “D”