kalabio

I guess I came last so I'll have to finish.... uh the bio sections that is.....umm, anyway, I'm the runt in the group, standing a foot below the other three, AT LEAST 50 - 60 lbs lighter and something like four or five years later in birth; not really, Steve's only 2 years older, but you wouldn't have guessed if I didn't say anything; I look like I'm 19. So...I was born and raised in San Jose, California and ironically didn't have much of a musical influence. All four of the children in my family grew up in the realm of sports, ( baseball, basketball to be more precise) and martial arts. I enjoyed basketball and Wing Chun (Chinese Kung Fu) as a kid, never really thinking much about music other than learning the lyrics to early 90's pop songs and annoying my brother by singing them - I was sort of a wannabe musician (hrmm....guess not much has changed.....DAMMIT!). Anyway, in elementary school I remember riding the bus home from school with one of my best friends (Phillip Dobashi) and we would sing those pop songs, turning it into a game trading off verses and harmonies. Other than that, I would frequently pretend to play the piano, (which I still don't know why we have at my parents' house) until someone in the household told me to shut up. At Hacienda Science Magnet (my grade school) all the kids had to go to music class for one period, I think it was in this class that I gained most of my interest in music. We learned songs like "Fifty, Nifty United States", "Inch by Inch", "Tis A Gift", and others. We got exposed to exotic and domestic instruments like the glockeinspiel, the xylaphone, drums, guitars, ukuleles, etc. However, not long after elementary school I got caught up in the "Kulture" that is Hip Hop, removing all musicality from my bones, well... with the exception of rhythm. Actually, my mother tells me that she used to take me, as an infant, to Taiko (Japanese Drumming) practices; she was a part of the then new group of San Jose Taiko. I personally don't remember much about it, but I'm told that I used to play along with the group in my lil' corner, copying the cadences and excitement of the "matsuri" (festival) drums, and the "WHOOP's!" and "SOREE's!" of the ever enthusiastic group. I guess that explains the congas..... But honestly, that's the really the extent of my musical exposure, up until high school. From sixth grade up until my junior year in high school, hip hop crowded my cd collection. Around this same time I got into break dancing and "old skool" rap; I'd have to say this genre heavily influenced my interest in dancing, which many years later indirectly got me involved with Hula and eventually Na Kolohe Kane. Another huge influence on my life in general, but music more specifically, was my exposure to the United Methodist Faith. My sister convinced me to go to a summer camp (Junior High Camp - JHC) with her and it was there that I first learned that the guitar wasn't just for singing songs about nifty states and little gardens. Thus, started my practicing the "strum and hum" on the six stringed wooden peanut shaped instrument... oh, and I started believing in God too. Somewhere in between basketball, work, school, church, and break dancing, I picked up a guitar and started to learn from a chord book; I think it was 10th grade or something. I remember watching my dad attempt to learn to play the blues with a few of his Wing Chun buddies on early saturday mornings. Having loved to sing the worship songs at camp, and feeling a little ashamed of my father's musical ability I thought I'd give it a shot, after all, "no can talk stink if neva do 'em yo'self". So, I grabbed a chord book, some worship songs and began the ever popular three chord progression, a simple strum, and some vocals to accompany, three years later I was leading a new worship service at my home church (Wesley UMC)... funny being that God is.... Incidentally, most of the musical training I received was in high school. I went to one of the best performing arts schools in the San Jose Unified School District: Abraham Lincoln High School. I am actually more proud to say that I was a member of the choral and vocal jazz program than a 3 year varsity basketball player, sad eh? Anyway I sang in choir under the direction of Mr. Lou De La Rosa and Anne Marie Katemopolis (Sp? Sorry Ms. K!) I think without participation in Mr. D's choirs (Choral Union, Concert Choir, Chamber Chorale) I think my development in music would have died and I would still be playing those same three damned chords! So, Mr. D if you ever read this, Thank you, thank you for being my savior for music in my life. From Hip-Hop to Worship songs, I somehow acquired a taste for all music which brings me to the present. Having minimal exposure to Hawaiian music especially, (I literally only listened to three songs!) I some how got embraced by the culture and it's impossible to have one without the other. (Hawaiian music and culture). Since last year, beginning with learning the ukulele from Uncle Saichi, Hula from Kumu Kaui at Halau Na Wai Ola, and getting involved with what's now known as NKK, I realize...I have A LOT to learn, but I know I'm gonna have best time of my life in the process. That being said, I just want to say that it is such an honor to play with the talented musicians of Na Kolohe Kane (A RARE COMPLIMENT!!) It has always been my dream to be involved with this type of performing group, uhh... attitude wise....I just never thought I'd end up in a genre of music that I know virtually nothing about! Fortunately, being the "runt" and most inexperienced in Hawaiian Culture, NKK has been a great place for me to learn, experience, and grow; thanks guys (sorry to get mushy) - although, you all didn't do much for me in the "growing part" - thanks jerks. Ait...mahalo for reading! all pau!!