Hawaii star Kimie Miner headlines free Gift of Mele concert

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Music lovers listen up, the free Fifth Annual Gift of Mele concert is going down this weekend at International Market Place.

“Our Gift of Mele program is actually in its fifth year,” International Market Place marketing and sponsorship director Malia Zannoni said. “The first year that it launched, it was in 2020, was the pandemic and we wanted to support local artists who hadn’t been able to perform all year. And we partnered with the amazing team at Haku Collective, to bring virtual concerts into the center and play through social media. At the end of the year, we purchased a whole bunch of music from these artists and we just gave it out for free, the Gift of Mele. The following year, concerts were back online and it perfectly aligned with the launch of Kimie’s Christmas in Hawaii album. So what better way to kind of bring those two projects together than during the holiday season?”

The goal is for the concert to be a celebration of music that cultivates culture.

“Don Ho, when you think about the nostalgia of the heart of Waikiki, we are trying to continue that tradition with a new tradition,” Miner said. “I always say we’re the way finders of a new generation, but our songs carry the echo of our kupuna. And so that’s what we’re gonna do, continue doing this Friday.”

There will be an hour and a half of music with special guests and hula dancing. The concert runs from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Friday. International Market Place recommends accessing the center from Kapahulu Avenue to avoid parade traffic. Take Kapahulu Avenue to Ala Wai Blvd and turn left onto Walina Street directly into the parking garage.