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HA Cafe Presents Kauaiʻs Poetry Slam
Showcasing Talent from the Beautiful Island of Kauai
Kapaa, CA – February 6, 2019 –Kauaiʻs Poetry Slam a New Open-Mic Series, Featured at HA Cafe in Lihue, HI Will Open The Doors March 9 at 5-PM. There will be a sign up sheet for performers will be available at the door. All are welcome at this event, there is no cover charge or age limit. Any donations are welcome and will go to help support Kauai’s first Pride Parade which will be happening summer, June 22 on Rice Street. Ha cafe is located on Rice Street behind Ace Hardware in Lihue. HA Cafe is known as one of the best coffee shops (Kauai Best of Kauai 2017), offering patrons espresso, cold-brew, pour-over and french press coffees, pastries and other sweet treats from local shops: Heartflame Bakery, Mailani Sweet Treats and Ya Quddus.
The Open-Mic will open their doors at 5-PM for poetry sign-ups and admission is free. The open-mic section will begin at 5:30 PM There will be a number of slots available and on a first come-first serve basis. Kauai’s Open Mic at HA Cafe will introduce one or two featured poets for the evening. Keep your radio handy and set to KONG Radio Station 93.5 KQNG to hear about featured artists every month. This March, Kauaiʻs Poetry SLAM will feature host, Son Da One whose self-titled album is to be released Spring ʻ19 and Thomas Lannucci, who is a recent Hip-Hop Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-Winner along with signed up poets.
Kauai’s Poetry Slam host and one of the special features for this first monthly series date, Son Da One has deep, local roots in poetry as he started the Spoken Word Poetry event on island in ʻ05. He has recited poetry and gave motivational speeches about the power of spoken-word to the youth in public schools on island. He also was a semi-finalist for Hawaii’s National Poetry Slam Team Competition in ʻ10 and won first place in Chicago, Il at the legendary Green Mill Uptown Poetry Slam. Son Da One still holds the championship for Kauai’s Iron Mic Poetry Competition since ʻ09 and wants to see what the island has to offer in ʻ19.
Thomas Iannucci is one of two special features for the evening. Lannucci is releasing an album Summer ʻ19 entitled, “Doubting Thomas” this year. Following up a successful ʻ19 by recently winning the official ʻ18 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for Best Hip-Hop Album Category. Iannucci reported, “I am pretty sure I’m the first Kauai rapper ever to win the Hip-Hop category.” to The Garden Island Newspaper.
“I will no longer be doing music as Illtalian (his previous moniker). But I am happy to report that I will be doing music from now on under my real name, Thomas Iannucci.” The performer, Iannucci announced his name change in October ʻ18 to Rapzilla Magazine.
Rhonda Moore has a background in poetry slams that stems from her time in Michigan, Illinois where she grew up. She competed in poetry slams in Muskegon, IL and won two different competitions. Moore also competed in California and Oregon, where she took first place for a slam. She has a deep love for spoken word and is very passionate about reviving this art form on the island. On Kauai, Moore put together three spoken word events at Portal Cafe in Kapaa, HI where Java Kai is now.
“My goal is to create an Open-Mic space for the community to come and perform Spoken-Word, live music as well as other types of art. People of all ages and backgrounds are welcome at this event.” Moore says.
Kauai muralist David Flores, will be showcasing live art as part of the entertainment. Flores, who is known island-wide for his murals, operates his own gallery out of Anahola, called “The Zoo.” Garden Isle DJ will be providing beats throughout the evening, closing out the evening at 8PM, allowing guests, poets and artists to mingle.
Kauai’s Poetry SLAM Series wants to spread awareness for the art of spoken-word to cross promote with independent, local business with a monthly event and eventually to create a Kauai SLAM team to help represent the state of Hawaii. Those involved with this series want to give youth and local adults a platform where they can express themselves through the art of spoken word.
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If you’d like to get involved, feature or receive more information about Kauai’s Poetry SLAM or to schedule an interview about this event, please contact Son Da One at (808) 720-7326 or zksondaone@gmail.com. For all other press inquiries (press passes, interviews with performers), please contact the author Aaris A. Schroeder of UBO P.R. & Marketing Services by dialing (808) 320-7111 or e-mailing ubohammer@gmail.com. Event information will be available online soon.
