STERN GROVE FESTIVAL CELEBRATES THE SOUNDS OF HAWAII WITH AN ALL-STAR LINEUP FEATURING NA LEO, ERNIE CRUZ JR., KAUKAHI, AND ONE RIGHT TURN

SAN FRANCISCO, July 3, 2008 — Stern Grove Festival presents “One Hawaii,”an afternoon of the best contemporary artists from Hawaii performing together for the first time on Sunday, August 10th at 2:00 p.m. Performers include best-selling Hawaiian female group Na Leo, multiple Hoku award winner Ernie Cruz, Jr., male vocal group Kaukahi (fresh from a Japan tour with Jack Johnson), and up-and-coming Cruz family group One Right Turn. The admission-free concert will take place at Sigmund Stern Grove, located at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard in San Francisco. A pre-concert Troc Talk with the performers will take place in Stern Grove’s Trocadero Clubhouse.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Na Leo

Na Leo, formerly Na Leo Pilimehana were the first female Hawaiian group to make national charts in contemporary music, headline at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, and release albums in Japan as a pop group. Veterans of the Hawaiian music scene, Na Leo celebrates their 25th anniversary this year. Na Leo consists of Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima-Heine, and Angela Morales. Their debut album, Local Boys, garnered a Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaiian Music Award, “Hoku”) for Single of the Year. Nine years later in 1994, Na Leo released their second album Friends and the title song garnered another Hoku Award. Na Leo formed their own record label, NLP Music, and released Flying with Angels in 1995, which won four Hoku Awards. Na Leo have released 18 CDs, won over 20 Hoku Awards, and have consistently risen to the top of the Billboards.

Ernie Cruz Jr.

Hawaiian musician Ernie Cruz, Jr. is the oldest brother in a musical family; his father, Ernie Cruz, was a popular singer and guitarist on the Islands throughout the 1970s. Ernie Cruz, Jr. was a member of the Ka’au Crater Boys, one of the most popular groups on the Islands. In 1997, Cruz released his first solo album, Time and a Season. His 2001 release, Portraits, was met with critical acclaim, and demonstrates his soulful vocal style and dexterous guitar and ukulele work. Cruz, Jr. picked up two Hoku awards for the album including Male Vocalist of the Year. In April 2007, he appeared with Eddie Vedder and Jack Johnson at Honolulu's Kokua Music Festival.

Kaukahi

Kaukahi is a blend of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian sounds: acoustic guitar, ukulele kani, Hawaiian Slack Key, and nahenahe four-part male harmonies. Barrett Awai and Dean Wilhelm are former members of Pai’ea, a Hoku Award finalist. Kawika Kahiapo has worked with Na Leo and Slack key Masters, and has contributed to more than 55 recordings. Walt Keale is nephew to well-known Hawaiian artist Uncle Moe Keale and a cousin to Brother IZ.  Kaukahi’s 2004 debut album, Life in These Islands, won three Hoku Awards including Group of the Year. In April of this year, the group toured with Jack Johnson in Japan.

One Right Turn

One Right Turn is Hawaii’s latest musical debut consisting of Cruz sisters Tiffany (of The Girlas) and Connie, and Tiffany’s husband and former lead singer of the famous Opihi Pickers, Imua Garza. One Right Turn sat in with John Cruz and Jack Johnson at the 2007 Kokua Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii, and is currently in the studio, set to release their debut album in September.

ABOUT STERN GROVE FESTIVAL

Stern Grove Festival’s 71st Season of 10 admission-free concerts runs every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. from June 15 through August 17, 2008 at Sigmund Stern Grove in San Francisco. Stern Grove Festival also provides outreach programs at each concert this season and on some weekdays at Stern Grove.  Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis and the concert meadow may be closed when capacity is reached. There is no public parking at Stern Grove and Festival patrons are encouraged to use public transportation to Stern Grove. MUNI metro lines K and M and MUNI bus lines 23 and 28 provide service to Stern Grove. A free bike valet service is provided at the 19th and Sloat entrance to the park. Free shuttle service from the entrance at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard into the Grove is provided to seniors and disabled patrons.

Stern Grove Festival’s 71st Season is made possible with support from Season Sponsor Parkmerced. Additional support provided by Grants for the Arts/San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and media sponsor KPIX - CBS 5, KBCW - The CW 44 Cable 12, and SF Weekly. Concert Media Sponsor is SFStation.com. Hotel Sponsor is San Francisco Marriott. Radio Sponsor is KALW 91.7 FM.

PHOTO EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE: Photos are available to the media. Please call Monica Ware at (415) 252-6253 or send an e-mail to mware@sterngrove.org.