Tag Archives: kaimuki

Monsarrat Ave (Kamaka HF-3D)

Here’s a recent recording of “Monsarrat Avenue.”  This original solo ukulele piece pays tribute to the mellow vibes of the area around Monsarrat Avenue, which runs near Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head towards Kapiolani Community College.  There are so many little things to love on (or just off) Monsarrat: the Honolulu Zoo and its fence with local artists selling their wares, the wafting of music from the Kapiolani Bandstand or the Waikiki Shell, Kapiolani Park itself with the powerful beauty of Leahi, Diamond Head, in the background; nearby is a lovely little district of restaurants and shops.  After that, you pass rows of Kaimuki homes with people riding their bikes on quiet side streets as Monsarrat Avenue meanders and changes name to Diamond Head Road; it then passes by Kapiolani Community College – home of a popular (crowded) weekly Farmer’s Market – and curls around the back side of Diamond Head.

Monsarrat Avenue (Solo Ukulele)

This solo ukulele piece pays tribute to the mellow vibes of one of the best little neighborhoods in Hawai’i, that area between Waikiki and Kapiolani Park, Kapahulu and Diamond Head, running from the Honolulu Zoo to Kapiolani Community College and the back side of Diamond Head (where it turns into Diamond Head Road) is Monsarrat Avenue.  There are so many little things to love on (or just off) Monsarrat: the Honolulu Zoo and its fence with local artists selling their wares, the wafting of music from the Kapiolani Bandstand or the Waikiki Shell, Kapiolani Park itself with the powerful beauty of Leahi, Diamond Head, in the background, nearby is the peaceful enclave of Diamond Head Community Garden with its rectangular patches of lovingly tended vegetables and plants… Next is a lovely little district of restaurants and shops – Bogart’s (Breakfast Potatoes!), South Shore Grill (Fish Tacos!), Da Cove (Acai Bowls!), and several other places to get Sushi and other grinds, Open Space Yoga, Paul’s Barber Shop, Diamond Head Market and Grill, the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.  After that, rows of Kaimuki homes with people riding their bikes on the side streets as Monsarrat Avenue meanders and changes name to Diamond Head Road; it then passes by Kapiolani Community College – home of a popular (crowded) weekly Farmer’s Market – and curls around the back side of Diamond Head.

 

Fronds in the Wind Wai’alae Beach Park in Kahala

Here’s a recording of my slack key song Fronds in the Wind at Wai’alae Beach Park in Kahala.  Appropriately, it was a windy day, but nice and the park was not super crowded.  Hope you enjoy.

Recorded with a Taylor 412ce LTD (Rosewood/Spruce, with Elixir strings, ES1) direct through a Boss DD-2 delay pedal, in Honolulu, Hawaii.