GOVERNOR HONORS HAWAI`I MUSIC LEGENDS

March 10 - "It is inspiring to sit in a room with legends who have succeeded in sharing Hawai`i's music with the world for decades," Governor Lingle said as she thanked Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award recipients for "carrying the torch of Hawai`i's culture."  The Governor also emphasized the importance of the Music Enterprise Learning Experience (MELE), a key component of her Hawai`i Innovation Initiative.  MELE is intended to develop the business and technical production skills required by Hawai`i's musical artists to accelerate the growth of Hawai`i's music industry worldwide.

Presented by the Hawai`i Academy of Recording Arts, this year's honorees included: jazz pioneer Gabe Baltazar, the "Lady of Love" recording artist and entertainer the late Loyal Garner, virtuoso pianist and recording artist Rene Paulo, long-time Waikiki and Las Vegas entertainers the Society of Seven, and Waikiki entertainers and recording artists The Surfers.