A Prayer For Japan: A Music & Yoga Fundraiser

HONOLULU, HI (March 31, 2011) – Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro is set to perform at “A Prayer For Japan,” a benefit concert and yoga event to raise funds for the Japan Red Cross to assist tsunami victims. Shimabukuro will join yoga enthusiasts from studios across Oahu and internationally acclaimed taiko artist Kenny Endo for the fundraiser, which is being held on Friday, April 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Unity Church of Hawaii on Diamond Head Circle.

The event will start with an invigorating 108 sun salutations performed to the beat of Kenny Endo’s taiko drums. The 108 sun salutations will be lead by yoga instructors Cathy Louise Broda of Purple Yoga, Mary Bastien, owner of Open Space Yoga, Brigitte Snyder of Aloha Yoga Kula and Sanghawai’s Yoko Fujiwara and Laura Dunn. 100% of the suggested donation of $20 will benefit the Japan Red Cross. After the yoga practice, food and beverages will be served, followed by performances from Shimabukuro and Endo.

About Jake Shimabukuro
In the hands of Shimabukuro, the traditional Hawaiian four-stringed ukulel becomes a bold new musical force. On his new album ‘Peace Love Ukulele’ (which hit #1 on the Billboard World Album Chart), Jake and his “uke” mix jazz, rock, classical, Hawaiian music and folk, creating a technically masterful and emotionally powerful sound.

For Shimabukuro, his life has always centered on the ukulele. By 4, his parents had enrolled him at Roy Sakum’s well-respected Ukulele Studios. Raised on Hawaiian music, Shimabukuro soon became entranced by the sounds of pop music, playing his uke along with the radio. 

The grown-up Shimabukuro performed around Honolulu and released a few solo records. But his career skyrocketed after a TV appearance in New York, where his cover of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” became an Internet sensation. Since the clip aired, Shimabukuro has played with an A-list of famous musicians (Les Paul, Jimmy Buffett, Bela Fleck, Bette Midler, Yo-Yo Ma, Cyndi Lauper, Ziggy Marley, among others), performed on national TV, appeared in the Adam Sandler movie “Just Go With It” and earned raves in Time magazine and The New York Times.

Despite his success, Jake gives full credit to the instrument he’s played with a passion since childhood. “The ukulele is the instrument of peace,” he says. “If everyone played one, the world would be a better place.”

About Kenny Endo

One of the leading personas in contemporary percussion and rhythm, Endo is the vanguard of the taiko genre, continuing to carve new territory in this Japanese style of drumming. A performer, composer and teacher of taiko, Endo was featured artist on the PBS special “Spirit of Taiko” in 2005. He has performed for such musicians as Michael Jackson, Prince, opened for The Who, performed a duet with singer Bobby McFerrin and is featured on the soundtrack for Kayo Hatta’s film “Picture Bride.”

The benefit event is being sponsored by Unity Church of Hawaii, Kenney Endo, Jake Shimabukuro, The Honolulu Club, Lululemon Athletica, The Kahala Resort and Hotel, Natsunoya Tea House, Purple Yoga, Open Space Yoga, Aloha Yoga Kula, Sanghawai, Yoga Hawaii, Lily Lotus Boutique, Waikiki Shopping Plaza and the Top of Waikiki, Peace Café, Hawaii Photo Rental, Head Arts, Inc. and the Still and Moving Center.

“A Prayer For Japan” benefit concert and yoga event is happening on Friday, April 8th at 6:00 p.m. at the Unity Church of Hawaii located at 3608 Diamond Head Circle. Please come early. No presale tickets will be sold and space is limited. For more information please email info@sanghawai.com or call (808) 292-8375.