HOʻOPONO WONG
Ho’opono is a rising Hawaiian Musical performer and blossoming songwriter. Very unassuming you would think — carpenter, cowboy, laborer, and a real “out there on the field” kinda guy and yes he is, all of the above. But the man is also a Hawaiian music prodigy and is very well-versed in his ability to integrate the “Hawaiian-ness” into the process. Fully loaded and well-versed in olelo Hawaii and immersed in mele aloha, his passion is teaching, archiving, documenting, and sharing many of the traditional Hawaiian ways with a modern mindset approach; ever so mindful of the future of his children and all the keiki of Hawaii.

Taking a break from teaching, this is the year of his first solo recording project and he is ready to make an “Impact.” It was a pleasure to sit down with him and share a little, give a little, and feel a little of his, “Hawaiian Style.”

RIC ROCKER
Upon first meeting Ric Rocker, I conjure up images to create a first impression of the man. A “rocker” from the 70’s. Somebody that can play Hendrix and recite the words to “Stairway to Heaven.” And yet, when you meet him and tour the perimeter of his home in beautiful Waimea, it is a “Stairway to Heaven” adventure into the secret life of plants — an incredible study of “All Along The Watchtower.”

You will be treated to a most brilliant man with decades of knowledge on both sustainability and aloha aina. Ricʻs story is “his story” and it equally needs to be told by him and only him. It is a fascinating world and I feel privileged and honored to walk within his “Fields of Gold” and call him my friend.

This is only a glimpse and I love the idea of, “Start small, grow small, you don’t need acres and acres...”