Happy 15th Koaloha Ukulele!
July 20th, 2010
By World Wide Ed
By World Wide Ed
Last night, bruddah Alan Okami and Koaloha Ukulele Company celebrated their 15th year anniversary at the Willows Restaurant. I was one of the fortunate ones to get an invite to this special event that included live entertainment by Jon Yamasato, David Kamakahi, Herb Ohta, Jr., James Hill, Pali Ka`aihue, and others, and some ono kine grindz.
Be on the lookout for professional coverage of this event in the form of a real blog from sistah Melissa Chang. 
From what I hear, it will even include videos too! Dayum Melissa! Always makin' me look bad.
Big ups and congratulations to Bruddah Alan and the rest of the Koaloha Ukulele Company ohana! See you in another 15! 
World Wide Ed
July 20th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Ed,
In the last picture, is that Herb Ohta Jr the second person from the left?
July 20th, 2010 at 11:39 am
Looks delicious. Just in time for lunch (ideas)
.
Is this a "where in the world" before Wednesday, by the way? Uh . . . WILLOWS! No?
July 20th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
Aloha Ed,
Great to see you finally spreading out beyond "Where in the world".........
Yup, you're right, Melissa is the BLOG Food Master, right? But your photos should qualify you as a "Food Master" Wannabe!! Hahahaha!
Have a wonderful day!
July 20th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Yup yup. That be him cheche! You know him?
Haha, could be Ceeg. But it won't be for another few years!
I know! And two in a row no less! I'm in fiyah!
July 20th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I get one autographed CD from Herb Ohta Jr. He get some good music. I also got a KoAloha Uke for my wifey when I dropped in on Alan Last year. Choice cuz.
Nah nah.
Eh how come I neva get one invite?
July 20th, 2010 at 6:05 pm
My (then) fiancee and I used to live 3 blocks down from Willows. We went there every month for the beer and food tastings in 2004. Time flys!
July 20th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
When are we going to see YOU on stage jamming?!?!?!
July 20th, 2010 at 8:56 pm
Ed I used to help a friend coach the freshman team at UH Lab Schools way back when. He was on the team as a 7th and 8th grader. Man I feel old.
July 20th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Hoooo, lucky your wife!
Come back soon Scotty2Hotty!
Bahaha! They can put me on at the end when they want the crowd to disperse.
Hoooooo! Hahaha, nah, nah! What sport was that cheche? Hoops?
July 21st, 2010 at 6:34 am
Howzit Ed!
Lucky you! ono kine grinds and guud music!
July 21st, 2010 at 6:41 am
Ed, it was hoops.
July 21st, 2010 at 7:13 am
I went to visit Alan at the factory to say hello and Brian gave us the shop tour. The uke I bought was a factory blemish so was CHEAPER than retail. I look and look and no can see the blemish until Brian showed me some indentation in the Koa. WEA? I no can see
But hey, I bought one and our friend also bought one for herself. 
That's when Herb Jr came in and we got to meet him take picture and Alan gave us his CD.
Oh yeah, you gotta go listen to Pop's CD too.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:23 am
Yeah, wuz just luck emmz. Was fun though!
MY boy!
You mean H.O. Sr.?
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:44 am
Ohta Jr. ... I took uke lessons from him in the late 90s. Every Saturday afternoon he was on the island, I met him at Sonny D's in Waipahu. Well, at least he tried to teach me, those times turned more into jam sessions where we would just sing and talk story.
Cool guy ... Really tall (haha!)
July 26th, 2010 at 12:19 am
[...] Kalihi and his family had their 15th Anniversary party at the Willows. (pictured here with me and Ed Sugimoto, who already blogged about [...]