‘Ukulele player, Bryan Tolentino has been known, for the past forty plus years, as an accompanist and soloist who has performed and continues to perform, locally and abroad with some of Hawaiʻi’s most well known and accomplished Hawaiian music artists.

Bryan’s recorded on over 65+ CD’s for other artists as well as compilations adding his unique “fairy dusting”, as he calls it. He says, “You must feel Hawaiian Music,” evident in his award winning recordings featured on Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy nominated CD’s which have also garnered many awards. He blends all that he’s learned, as an accompanist, into his own unique sound.

Bryan has performed and recorded with notable Hawaiian entertainers such as: Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Herb Ohta, Jr., Aunty Genoa Keawe, Pomaika‘i Lyman, Karen Keawehawai‘i, Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, Marlene Sai, Jerry Santos and Olomana, O’Brian Eselu, Nathan Aweau, Frank Hewett, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Sonny Lim, Jeff Peterson, Wailau Ryder, Kalei Gamiao, ‘Elua Kane, Owana Salazar, Weldon Kekauoha, Natalie Ai, ‘Iolani Kamau‘u, Napua Silva, Kuana Torres Kahele, Aaron Salā, Keao Costa, Blaine Kamalani Kia, NUE - Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu - Bryan, Kama Hopkins and Halehaku Seabury, The Side Order Band – with Del Beazley, Chris Kamaka and Asa Young, and more!

Bryan also worked with award winning hula hālau, engineers and producers. The noted halau includes: Nā Wai ‘Eha O Puna, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Hālau Maoli Pua, Ka Pā Hula O Kauanoe O Wa‘ahila, Keali‘ika’apunihonuaKe‘ena A‘o Hula, Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea and Kuhai Hālau O Kawaikapuokalani Pa Olapa Kahiko. Engineers and producers: Imua Garza, Dave Tucciaron e, Milan Bertosa, Steve Kramer, Gaylord Holomalia, Flip McDiarmid, Shawn Pimental, Kip Ebersbach, all among the best in the Hawaiian music business.

In May 2005, Bryan opened another musical chapter by releasing his solo CD “Ka ‘Ukulele Lele” that became a Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalist for Instrumental Album of the year!

Ten years later in April 2015, he released a duet CD, “Ukulele Friends”, with Herb Ohta Jr. that received a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for 2016 ‘Ukulele Album of the Year. “Ukulele Friends: The Sequel” also garnered a Hōkū award in 2018!

In the Summer of 2016, he expanded his role by joining the Performing Arts Academy at Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama campus, educating young interested in learning and performing the ‘ukulele. He released a second duet CD with Herb Ohta Jr. ‘Ukulele Friends: The Sequel In December 2017, also winning a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award! NUE - Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu with Kama Hopkins and Halehaku Seabury released their CD “In the Heart of Paradise” on Dec. 30, 2021, a Hōkū finalist in 2022!

Bryan Tolentino continues to teach in person and online, sharing his love for the ‘ukulele through performances, festivals and workshops around the world.

Bryan Tolentino
HAWAII

Landon Halehaku Seabury is a Grammy nominated and multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning guitarist/multi instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and vocalist from Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. Halehaku developed an early passion for music from his parents growing up in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. His formative musical education began assisting his father in the KCCN 1420 AM Radio station studios as a young child. Being exposed early on to musicians like Aunty Genoa Keawe, Kealiʻi Joy, Kahauanu Lake Trio, Emperor Hanapī, Richard Kauhi, etc. set a precedent for excellence in Hawaiian music.

Hale began formal study of music early on, starting with the Hawaiian steel guitar under the tutelage of his uncle, steel guitar master Alan L. Akaka. He continued to play steel guitar as his primary instrument throughout high school studying the styles of Jules Ah See, Jake Keliʻikoa, Barney Isaacs, and his great grandfather Joseph “Steppy” De Rego.

Building a dual-fold music career as a studio session ace and independent artist, Halehaku’s musical contributions can be found on albums by Kainani Kahaunaele, Josh Tatofi, Keauhou, Keao Costa and Kekuhi Kanaka’ole, and others uncredited. As an artist with his group Nā Hoa, recording and preserving songs like Kolopā, Pili Me ʻOe, and Pua Mae ʻOle.

It has since been a goal of his to combine the elegance of Hawaiian music and the bold, daring improvisation of jazz into a beautiful musical form that can and will be appreciated by both Hawaiians and Non-Hawaiian music fans alike.

Halehaku Seabury
HAWAII

Award winning artist and Maui, HI native Neal Chin, has been both an ‘ukulele educator and performer over the course of his musical career of 19 years. His clear and direct enthusiasm for music has come to life in countless workshops, concerts, and private instruction. While his heart is in jazz, Neal has played with many musicians of different genres including Hawaiian, folk, rock, and hip-hop. His contribution to the collective The Akira Project, won his first Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award in 2014 before moving up to the Pacific Northwest. Since then he has been nominated for the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for ‘Ukulele Album of the Year two years consecutively for ‘Ukulele Paintings and The Spotless Mind in 2017 & 2018, started his own ‘ukulele practice in the Pacific Northwest, and has toured from Vancouver BC to New York to his home state, Hawai’i . Neal currently lives, teaches, and performs in Seattle, WA.

NEAL CHIN
HAWAII / SEATTLE

Hawaii based ukulele virtuoso Andrew Molina proves that the ukulele has no limits. His electrifying performances have captivated audiences around the world including

Austria, China, England, Scotland, Ireland, Thailand, Singapore,Tahiti and the U.S.A.

He performs along with his dad Jay who is a lifelong musician and has performed and recorded with many of Hawaii’s top musical artists. Jay accompanies Andrew on guitar and bass guitar.

Andrew’s 4 albums have all been nominated for “Ukulele Album of the Year” at the prestigious “Na Hoku Hanohano” music awards, ( Hawaii’s version of the Grammys) and he has also been featured on the cover of England’s Uke Magazine.

His music has also been featured in video promotions for Hawaiian Airlines and Ocean Organic Farm & Distillery. His music is also featured on Hawaiian Airlines flights.

From sweet Hawaiian sounds and his beautifully written original compositions to Aerosmith’s “Dream On,” Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” to Led Zeppelin’s

“Stairway To Heaven” and even the “Game of Thrones” theme. He is always looking to take the ukulele to the next level and inspire people of all ages by showing them what is possible on this humble 4 string instrument.

Andrew has also launched the Andrew Molina Ukulele Academy, an online video based instructional course where students can learn how to become much more proficient on the ukulele while working at their own pace.

ANDREW AND JAY MOLINA
HAWAII

Craig and Sarah are world traveling performing artists, teachers, and event organizers. They have spent the past 15 years headlining Ukulele Festivals and events world wide, including Australia, The United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, China, and more! Utilizing their experiences abroad and across the United States, they have hosted multiple Ukulele Cruises and Ukulele Retreats. Their commitment to the Global Ukulele Community is unparalleled, with the creation of the first free Online Ukulele Festivals (“Not so Mini Fests”) and free Livestream workshops.

Their Online Ukulele School with Artistworks is one of their many joys, allowing them the opportunity to help students one on one with their Video Exchange program. Each year they continue to add content and musical challenges for their students in a continuation of their musical journey.

Their newest venture has lead them to founding the nonprofit Four Strings at a Time; Engaging, educating, and enriching all ages around the world through music and the ‘ukulele.

CRAIG CHEE & SARAH MAISEL
HAWAII

Peter Luongo is the founder of The Langley Ukulele Ensemble. The ensemble became internationally renowned under his tutelage and performed throughout North America, in Japan, and annually at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort in Hawaii. Peter's work was featured as the focal point of the award-winning documentary film, The Mighty Uke.

After retirement from his role as a teacher and administrator in the Langley School District, Peter turned his passion for teaching ukulele to working with adult learners. He shares his 40-years of experience and expertise as a professional ukulele teacher at festivals around the world. He also continues to lead adult performing ensembles. He is the leader of The Legacy Ukulele Ensemble, a performance-oriented adult ukulele group that has toured along the west coast of America and performed at ukulele festivals in Palm Springs (2017-18), Reno (2017-19), and Hawaii (2018, 2020), and at the 2019 & 2020 Winter NAMM Shows in Anaheim, California.

Peter Luongo
CANADA

Eduardo Garcia is a multi-instrumentalist originally from Mexico that arrived in Vancouver in April 2017. Being both classically and traditionally trained, he soon got active in a wide diversity of music projects in Mexico, teaching, performing and writing music. During 2017, he collaborated on the book ‘Tsenten Ajab’, a book of studies and arrangements of both traditional and modern music for the Jarana Huasteca, a traditional folk instrument from Mexico’s Huasteco region that was published in 2018.

He was the founder/director of the Academia de Ukuleles de la Ribera (Lakeside Ukulele Academy), a self-financed music school that provides instruments and free music lessons to all children in his community.

He has participated at in person and virtual Ukulele Festivals around the world, including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Japan, and Brazil.

Eduardo Garcia
MEXICO / CANADA

Under the direction of Paul Luongo, The Langley Senior A Ukulele Ensemble, is the top performing group at the Langley Ukulele Association. They perform as many as 80 times in a calendar year.

Established over 44 years ago, by Paul's father Peter, versions of this Ensemble have performed at ukulele festivals in Nevada, Oregon, Nova Scotia, Japan, and Hawaii and at local community events within the province of British Columbia, Lower Mainland, and Greater Vancouver regions.

In recent years, the ensemble has performed alongside Juno, Na Hoku Hanohano, and Grammy-nominated or winning musicians and artists. In January 2020, the ensemble opened up for Grammy Award Winner Bobby McFerrin as a part of the Grand Rally for Music Education within the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Convention.

Prior to our festival the ensemble will be participating in the International Ukulele Festival of Hawaii in July 2025, while continuing its annual residency, performing nightly at the Sheraton Waikiki for the 28th year

Langley Ukulele Ensemble
CANADA

Hālau Hula KaʻUhane O Ka Pākīpika is an esteemed Polynesian dance school that has been guided since 1999 by the respected vision of Kumu Paddy Kauhane.

For 25 years, Kumu Paddy Kauhane has taught hundreds of students in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Collaborating with world-renowned Kumu Hula, and under the mentorship of Blaine Kamalani Kia, Kumu Hula and Director of the Lauakea Foundation, our students learn from some of the top teachers in the world.

In 2009 Paddy Kauhane moved back home, to Hawaiʻi, but she continues to mentor and teach our leaders and haumana, and govern the society as a Board Director. Our lineage carries on through Paddy’s family and our Poʻo, Hoʻopaʻa & Alakaʻi who remain in Maple Ridge and run the society & hālau today.

As a Canadian Non-Profit Organization with strong, familial ties to Hawaiʻi, the Spirit of the Pacific Cultural Society (SPCS) is proud to run a variety of programs and events that promote and preserve the unique traditions and cultural heritage of Hawaiʻi and other Polynesian nations.

From our hālau (hula school) to workshops, performances, school presentations, and camps, the SPCS is a great resource for anyone interested in learning more about Polynesian traditions, particularly those of Hawaiʻi.

Hālau Hula Ka'Uhane O Ka Pākīpika
CANADA