2017 Five Star Aloha Gala

The Hawai’i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California (HCCNC) proudly presented our 15th Annual Five Star Aloha Gala on May 31, 2017 at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco.

At the Gala, we honored the Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association (PICA) for their many contributions in encouraging and perpetuating the cultures of the Pacific Islanders in Northern California. For over 20 years, PICA has showcased Pacific Islander culture through their Bay Area Aloha Festival, a two-day ethnic arts festival held in San Mateo. This popular event has brought thousands of people together to celebrate Pacific Islander culture through music and dance, authentic food and educational workshops. PICA also provides scholarships to Pacific Islander students residing in California who are either starting or continuing college or professional/trade school studies.

2017 RECIPIENTS OF THE HCCNC'S KŪLIA I KA NUʻU AWARD: PACIFIC ISLANDERS’ CULTURAL ASSOCIATION (PICA)

The HCCNC we will be honoring the Pacific Islanders’ Cultural Association (PICA) for their many contributions in encouraging and perpetuating the cultures of the Pacific Islanders in Northern California. For over 20 years, PICA has showcased Pacific Islander culture through their Bay Area Aloha Festival, a two-day ethnic arts festival held in San Mateo. This popular event has brought thousands of people together to celebrate Pacific Islander culture through music and dance, authentic food and educational workshops. PICA also provides scholarships to Pacific Islander students residing in California who are either starting or continuing college or professional/trade school studies. (www.pica-org.org)

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: RICK QUAN

Rick Quan is a two time Emmy award winner. He currently works at ABC7 TV as a fill in sports anchor and as the field reporter for it’s “After the Game” college football show. Before coming to San Francisco, he was a sports anchor for the ABC affiliate in Honolulu. Rick also runs his own video production company and recently produced an award winning documentary on legendary dancer Dorothy Toy.

INTRODUCING PICA: PATRICK LANDEZA

When Patrick Landeza became the first mainland-based artist to win the Nā Hōkū Hanohano award in 2013, he told the audience, “Being born and raised on the mainland never made me any less Hawaiian.” Landeza is a well-respected slack key instructor and has taught classes and at music camps nationwide, as well as had his lessons published in Acoustic Guitar Magazine. After successful forays into radio, catering, and concert production, his path leads him to writing. In 2013 he authored a children’s book, “Danny’s Hawaiian Journey,” and this month released "From the Island of Berkeley: Memoirs of a California-Born Hawaiian." Patrick is a 2015 recipient of the HCCNC’s Kūlia I Ka Nu’u Award. Patrick also has a clothing line called "Aloha Everywhere" along with his fruit jam company, "Kanikapila Jams," and jewelry line, "Patrick Landeza Designs.” He is in his 19th year of education and teaches at Moreau Catholic High School and lives in Hayward with his wife Jennifer and five children.

HAWAIIAN MUSIC ARTIST: STEVEN ESPANIOLA

It’s rare when an artist arrives on the scene offering a refreshing new spin on a traditional genre of music. Steven Espaniola is that artist. Raised in Aliamanu, Hawai‘i and now residing in the California Bay Area, Steven is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in kī hōʻalu (Hawaiian slack key guitar), ‘ukulele, upright bass, and leo kiʻekiʻe (traditional Hawaiian falsetto). Of Hawaiian, Filipino, and Spanish decent, his ethnicity is as diverse as his unique sound which preserves the integrity of the traditional with a flourish of the modern. His debut recording entitled Ho‘omaka, “to begin”, features a mesmerizing collection of traditional and original Hawaiian mele recorded by Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning producer Dave Tucciarone. Ho‘omaka will be sure to transport the listener to the Hawai‘i of yesterday with soaring falsetto vocals, nahenahe slack key guitar and rhythmic ‘ukulele. Steven Espaniola’s highly anticipated debut album will carry you on a musical journey you won’t soon forget. In 2007, Steven's musical efforts earned him the recognition of "New Artist of the Year" at the Hawai'i Music Awards. (www.stevenespaniola.com)

HAWAIIAN MUSIC ARTIST: FAITH AKO

As the Bay Area’s premier female artist in Traditional/Contemporary Hawaiian music for over two decades, Faith Ako has long graced the West Coast with her versatile voice. With two Hawaiian Music Awards for her first album Kukahi, while her second album Papaku Bring It Home, earned Faith a Hawaiian genre Grammy entry. Faith’s third album Kulaiwi, My Beloved Homeland was performed to sold out crowds and venues here in the Bay Area and Honolulu. Over the years, Faith has made special guest appearances at Pakele Live in Honolulu, Summer July Jam on North Shore Lai’e, The Maui Prince Hotel Kihei, HI sessions at Koolau and Hawaiian Airlines PauHana Premier Lounge on Oahu. She has also performed in various Hawaiian Festivals, Ukelele Retreat Workshops and has given live radio interviews on local stations in California, Hawaii and Japan as well. (www.faithako.com)

MUSIC ARTIST: MR MEGO

As Shawn Megofna, otherwise known as Mr Mego, has been playing music for many years, you will see variations names across the web, Smegofna, TheShawnMegofnaBand, TSMB are all products of Shawn Megofna's music. However, Mr Mego is the reemergence of Shawn Megofna's musical efforts. Mr Mego has physical roots in the Bay Area, but his cultural perspective and values are that of island influences from Guam, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Mr Mego is changing the face of Reggae by twisting it with Pop, RnB, Rock, and other popular genres. The songs that he brings to life, clearly have their own identities and always have a different groove every time to capture all different tastes in music.