Direct from the Big Island of Hawaii, and for the first time on the East Coast, Kahulanui (The Big Dance), a 9-piece Hawaiian swing orchestra, revives a sound when Hawaiian clubs were jumping to dance bands that blended Hawaiian songs, horns, and an unstoppable swinging beat.

During the ‘20s and ‘30s, the American swing syncopation was like a positive musical virus, infecting traditional forms around the world. In Texas and Oklahoma, it merged with old time fiddling to create Western Swing. In France, Django Reinhardt combined it with a Manoush Gyspy flavor to create Gypsy Jazz, and in Hawaii, musicians looked to Chicago, New Orleans, St. Louis, and New York and formed Big Bands that took a traditional sound and overlaid a swing beat propelled by drums and horns. These bands set dance floors on fire around the Islands.

Kahulanui is led by Hawaiian music legend Lena Naipo on lead vocals and guitar. Lena's grandfather was a member of one of these dance bands, the Royal Hawaiian Band, and passed down this style first to Lena's father and then to Lena himself. Kahulanui is guitar, bass and drums with the addition of 'ukulele, Hawaiian steel guitar, and a full horn section. Like the classic bands of the ‘20s and ‘30s, Kahulanui tours with a full bandstand. Limited seating. Dance floor is open!

- See more at: http://www.creativealliance.org/events/2014/kahulanui-hawaiian-swing-orc...