Haopinaka - Hawaiian Music and Dance

HAOPINAKA provides live Hawaiian music with hula dancers. We play a range of Hawaiian music from traditional hula classics to contemporary IZ songs. We perform as a full 7 piece band, a solo musician, and everything in between. We also can perform with our hula dancers, anything from a full Polynesian review with up to 10 dancers, to a solo dancer.

HAOPINAKA was formed in 1998 when three friends from different backgrounds came together to share their love of Hawaiian music. The name “HAOPINAKA” is a combination of the words HAO-le (white guy), PI-noy (Filipino guy), and ka-NAKA (Hawaiian guy). And it is this unique friendship of cultures and styles that creates the sweet and lively sound of HAOPINAKA.

Peter Garellick, our haole, plays Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele and bass. He also performs with the country band Crying Time, and the Javanese Gamelan Ensemble Sari Raras. Sil Castillo, our pinoy, plays guitar and ukulele. He plays with Tennyson Lum and many other well known Hawaiian artists. Rod Valdez, our kanaka, plays bass, guitar, and ukulele. Hailing from Waianae, Oahu, Rod has been playing all his life with musicians in Hawaii and here on the mainland.

We often perform with the wonderful hula dancers of Hui Hula O Na Pu’u I Ka Noe, a Polynesian cultural dance group established in 1988 by kumu Kalena Gregory. They dance at Aloha festivals, ethnic dance festivals, parties, and lu'aus, and have won awards at dance competitions around the world, including China, Germany, and Poland.

HAOPINAKA is available to bring the sound, sights, and spirit of aloha to your next party, lu’au, wedding, or special event. We can perform as a solo musician, or all the way up to a full 7 piece band, and with or without hula dancers. Mahalo!