Huna Wai Hawaiian Band Hawaiian Band from Santa Cruz, CA

Huna Wai performs traditional Hawaiian music for your listening pleasure - Falsetto, Hawaiian Swing, and Kiho'alu Slack Key Guitar for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, corporate parties, and lu'aus. The name Huna Wai (a drop of water in a spray or mist) signifies this band's connection to traditional Hawaiian music and culture while being on the mainland. Though a drop is separated from a larger source of water, it always comes home and is made of the same mana, or divine energy, from which it originated. Huna Wai is dedicated to perpetuating and sharing the music of Hawai'i. Brothers Vern and Vince Fernandez, with a growing repertoire of over 200 songs, have performed at hundreds of Hawaiian lu'aus and events since 1997, touring exclusively with the Kapalakiko Hawaiian Band based in San Francisco for 6 years. The Brothers Fernandez have performed with hula dancers for crowds in Hawai'i, Las Vegas, Utah, Washington and all over Northern California under the wing of Saichi Kawahara; whose focus is to share the history and aloha of Hawai'i through its music. As a result of these ties, Vern and Vince have opened for and shared the stage with living legends in Hawaiian music including: Eddie Kamae, Ocean Kaowili, Makaha Sons, the Lim Family, Ledward Ka'apana, the Ka'apana Family, Dennis Kamakahi, Gary Haleamau, Uncle Rick Ho'opi'i, Ata Damasco, Uluwehi Guerrero, Aunty Genoa Keawe, Moe Keale, The Cazimero Brothers, Natalie Kamauu, Hoku Zuttermeister, Ohta-San, Herb Ohta Jr., and Keoki Kahumoku to name a few. Add to this mix the experience and skillful hands of Chris Weinress. Chris has the versatility and dexterity of an expert live or studio bassist with a rhythmic meter that fits into any style of music.A graduate of the Dick Grove School of music,Chris has worked in San Francisco and Los Angeles with the likes of Keith Olsen,Gary Burr, and Alex Ligertwood as well as played with Ted 302 and Faldos Toy.Currently working as a firefighter full time, Chris still plays his bass all the time staying true to his musical roots. Put it all together and Huna Wai delivers Hawaiian style music that is welcoming, reminiscent, and filled with aloha. The poetry of Hawaiian mele speaks of places, people, kings, queens and of enduring love between friends and lovers. The interplay between the bass, ukulele, and slack-key guitar makes the stories that much more fun to hear. We invite you to enjoy the music of Hawai'i and of Huna Wai. This is how we have fun and we'd love to share it with you.