WE ARE FRIENDS: A LIFETIME PARTY OF ’70S HAWAIIAN MUSIC

The GRAMMY Museum, in cooperation with Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Outrigger Enterprises Group and Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts, is pleased to present We Are Friends: A Lifetime Party of ’70s Hawaiian Music, an exhibit that explores the period of renewed Hawaiian cultural awareness and the enormous impact of Hawaiian music and recording industry in the ’70s From the ‘ukulele to the steel string guitar, folk music to modern rock and even hip-hop, the music of Hawai‘i continues to hold a singular place in popular culture. The artifacts that will be on display in the exhibit really place a much-deserved spotlight on the music of the ‘Hawaiian Renaissance’ of the 1970s. I’m confident that even the most seasoned Hawai‘i music fans will learn something new. – Scott Goldman, Vice President of the GRAMMY Foundation, who also played a large role in developing the exhibit through writing and research. On display on the Museum’s fourth floor through April 2, 2017, We Are Friends: A Lifetime Party of ’70s Hawaiian Music explores the period of renewed Hawaiian cultural awareness and the enormous impact of Hawaiian music and recording industry in the ’70s. The leading artists in this renaissance of Hawaiian music included Cecilio and Kapono, Kalapana, Country Comfort, Olomana, Sunday Manoa, Hui Ohana, Gabby, Sons of Hawaii, and Keola and Kapono Beamer. The second GRAMMY Museum exhibit to celebrate Hawai’i’s musical history, We Are Friends serves as the official kickoff of the Mele Mei 2017 celebration in Hawai’i. Mele Mei and the GRAMMY Museum are celebrating a golden era of Hawaiian music and the influential artists who helped inspire the renaissance of Hawaiian culture during that period. Anyone who enjoys Hawaiian music will appreciate seeing this exhibit in Los Angeles and learning about the proud legacy of artists who have touched the hearts of people for generations. – George D. Szigeti, President and CEO of the Hawai’i Tourism Authority Hawaiian music and culture are the heartbeat of Outrigger Resorts. As the presenting sponsor of Mele Mei in L.A., Outrigger is proud to partner with the GRAMMY Museum, AEG, HARA and HTA among many others, to bring this event to life. This event is one note in our ongoing track to help perpetuate Hawaiian music and a fun way to display our appreciation for the talents of all of the world-class musicians participating this year. – Sean Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Outrigger Enterprises Group The Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) is thrilled to return to such a special place in the music world — the GRAMMY Museum — to celebrate the launch of Mele Mei with Mele Mei in LA. We look forward to sharing the beautiful tradition of Hawaiian music with music lovers from Los Angeles and around the world. – Pali Ka’aihue, Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts President