East Hawai’i Jazz and Blues Festival to Benefit Veterans

A Hawai’i Jazz festival like no other!

The Second Annual East Hawai’i Jazz and Blues Festival will be held at the Nani Mau Gardens this weekend.

Spend your Sunday afternoon at the 20-acre botanical garden, located in Hilo, listening to some of the best Jazz musicians around from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The event, which will benefit the Hawai’i Island Veterans’ Memorial Capital Improvement Fund, will feature last year’s headliner, Keahi Conjugacion, Grammy-nominated Hawaiian swing band Kahulanui, and multiple Na Hoku Hanohano award-winner Brother Noland.

Music from Seattle jazz pianist Deems Tsutakawa, Bay Area guitar prodigy Dave Yamasaki, and the Eastside Jazz collective, among others are also scheduled.

As if the extensive and quality lineup is not enough, pupus and craft beer, as well as wine tasting, will be available at the event for goers’ enjoyment.

The Hawai’i Island Veterans Memorial was founded in 1997 and serves as a development entity for the Big Island’s more than 20,000 veterans.

Currently, the Hawai’i Island Memorial is working to establish a one-stop combined veteran’s center, clinic and senior independent living community on the 8-acre site along Kawili St., below the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. The facility will provide state-of-the-art outpatient services and will replace the current facility, which is located across from the Hilo Medical Center.

Tickets are tax-deductible and cost $60 per person in advance and $75 at the door.

Tickets can be purchased at CD Wizard, Basically Books, Kameula Liquor Store, Hawai’i Printing Corp or the East Hawai’i Cultural Center.

For additional information about the Festival or the Hawai’i Island Veteran Memorial, contact retired Colonel Bob Williams by phone at (808) 964-5764, by e-mail at bobwilliams63@msn.com, or visit their website.