Tag Archive | join us

If you like piña coladas . . .

Yesterday’s rehearsal was a cocktail of pineapple and coconut-themed hijinks as we celebrated National Piña Colada Day. (Apparently there really is a day for everything.)

It so happens our fruity festive fun (light on the rum) came just a couple of days after the annual Lānaʻi Pineapple Festival, which began in 1993. The state of Hawaiʻi has lots of pineapple-related celebrations, but few events are as sweet as our weekly rehearsals. If you like singing in juicy four-part harmony, then come check us out! We rehearse weekly on Wednesdays from 6 to 9 PM. You can find location info and others details about Na Leo Lani HERE. Or come to our upcoming ASP (Amazing Summer Program) concert on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 2 p.m. to hear what we learned in just a few short weeks over the summer! We hope to see you there!

We’re coconuts for barbershop a cappella singing!

Roses are red. . . and rosé is pink!

Everything came up roses at last week’s rehearsal as we celebrated National Red Rose Day on June 12. For chorus members who love our weekly themes, it was a perfect opportunity to dress in our favorite chintz prints. As it turns out, it was also National Rosé Day on June 8! Who knew??

Whether you’re a person who always stops and smells the roses, or a woman who loves sharing a glass of wine with friends, every occasion is more festive with song, and don’t we know it! Here’s to raising a glass and gifting a rose — and doing so in four part harmony!

A rose by any other name is 🎶

Get in the SING with Na Leo Lani’s Amazing Summer Program!

Our Amazing Summer Program is back for the second year in a row, and we couldn’t be more excited!

Whether you’re an experienced choral singer or a car-commute crooner, we invite you to join us for our easy breezy seven-week Summer Program. You will learn two songs in a cappella barbershop arrangements, experience the fun of our weekly rehearsals, and take part in a summer performance for friends and family.

When? Weekly on Wednesday evenings 6-8:30 p.m., June 5 – July 17, concert on July 20

Where? We rehearse in the Mo’ili’ili Hongwanji Social Hall Annex, 902 University Avenue, Honolulu

How much? $35 (includes sheet music, learning tracks, and seven weeks of vocal instruction with the chorus). Please register HERE and remit payment via cash or check at first rehearsal.

For driving and parking directions, see: https://naleolani.org/join-us/

Register now at: NLL ASP 2024 form or simply come check us out on the first night of the program on June 5.

Questions? email naleolanichorus@gmail.com 

Join us this Sunday for Ke Kani O Ke Kaiāulu Community Choral Festival!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to hear Oahu’s wide range of vocal talent, featuring performances by Na Leo Lani, the Honolulu Chorale, La Sorellanza, the Gay Menʻs Chorus of Honolulu, the Windward Choral Society, Sounds of Aloha, the Kawaiaha‘o Choir and UH Concert Choir!

WHEN: 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 5, 2024

WHERE: Kawaiaha’o Church, 957 Punchbowl St in Honolulu (note: street parking only; carpooling is encouraged)

The concert is FREE & open to the public. Come enjoy a beautiful afternoon of music and harmony!

In the swim of things!

This week’s rehearsal theme was “World Aquatic Animal Day” and, true to form, we ladies sang with the allure of Sirens and the harmonic trills of Ariel the mermaid. Mostly, though, we celebrated fish, whales, and other species of the sea as we continued working on our contest set for Reno and our upcoming Friends and Family concert this weekend. ‘Hope to see you all there!

Nothing fishy about vocal fun!

Join us for our Friends and Family concert!

Saturday April 6, 2 p.m.

Harris United Methodist Church, 20 South Vineyard Blvd, Honolulu

Please join us for a special concert celebrating life in our islands, featuring Na Leo Lani and friends!

We have been working hard all spring and can’t wait to share our contest songs (and more!) as we prepare for our Region 12 contest performance in Reno in mid-April.

Admission free. Donations gladly accepted and will support our contest expenses.

St. Patty’s Day spirit

Irish eyes were smiling this week as we sported many shades of green and welcomed a new tenor, Terry, to the chorus. Our tenor section is growing, and we couldn’t be happier! 🍀

Whether it’s 9 a.m. or 9 p.m., singing always puts us in a “Top o’the morning” mood
Our newest tenor, Terry, with NLL Director, Chris, and NLL President, Deb.

An energetic evening of music and games

We were thrilled to welcome seven guests, including new faces and old friends, at this week’s Membership Night. From the ribbon twirling warmups to a spirited round of tags, it was a nonstop evening of singing, laughter, and fun.

In an interlude between working on our contest songs and a hilarious round-robin game of Betty Boop (and Popeye and Wolf!) (see pic below), members shared how they came to Na Leo Lani and what they love about it.

Rosie spoke of how singing with the chorus had been a source of solace and uplift after her mother’s passing and a long stint volunteering at Hospice Hawaii. Summer, April, and others said they loved the sense of community they have found at NLL. JoAnne — hands down our most radiant and glamorous member — described how singing with Na Leo Lani has kept her young. She is now 88, and her daughter tells her she should never quit! And proving that we are never too old to expand our skill set and build our résumés, Ruth, now in her nineties, imparted how being a part of Na Leo Lani for so many years had put her in line for a leadership position at her assisted living facility, where she now heads the hymn-singing group.

Young or old, singing in harmony is our secret to feeling connected and finding joy!

Thanks so much, ladies, for making our January membership night a success. Let’s continue to grow!

Kinetic warmups with ribbon dancing
Our Membership Night guests!
Playing “Betty Boop” takes stamina and attention! 😅

Mahalo, Lanakila Senior Center!

We had a great time this week performing at the Lanakila Senior Center. Like the expression “Imua a loaʻa ka lei o ka lanakila” (Go forth and win the lei of victory), singing for the public always feels like a win.

Mahalo nui loa to the Lanakila Senior Center for being a great audience and inviting us to lunch afterward.

If you like singing and performing, come check us out — visit our “Join Us” page for information on our weekly rehearsals or contact naleolanichorus[at]gmail.com

Photo credit: Suzanne. Thank you!