Meet NUE
NUE - Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu is Bryan Tolentino on tenor ‘ukulele, Halehaku Seabury on baritone ‘ukulele and Kama Hopkins on bass 'ukulele.
These three Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winners, rooted in Hawai’i’s rich ‘Ukulele and Hawaiian music culture, come together to showcase their ‘ukulele artistry and vocal stylings creating a unique sound!
Bryan Tolentino
‘Ukulele player, Bryan Tolentino has been known, for the past forty plus years, as an accompanist who performed and continues to perform, locally and abroad with some of Hawaiʻi’s most well known and accomplished Hawaiian music artists.
Bryan’s recorded on over sixty CD’s for other artists as well as compilations adding his unique “fairy dusting”, as he calls it. He says, “You must feel Hawaiian Music,” evident in his award winning recordings featured on Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy nominated CD’s which have also garnered many awards. He blends all that he’s learned, as an accompanist, into his own unique sound.
Bryan has performed and recorded with notable Hawaiian entertainers such as: Raiatea Helm, Jake Shimabukuro, Herb Ohta, Jr., Aunty Genoa Keawe, Pomaika‘i Lyman, Karen Keawehawai‘i, Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, Marlene Sai, Jerry Santos and Olomana, O’Brian Eselu, Nathan Aweau, Frank Hewett, Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Sonny Lim, Jeff Peterson, Wailau Ryder, Kalei Gamiao, ‘Elua Kane, Owana Salazar, Weldon Kekauoha, Natalie Ai, ‘Iolani Kamau‘u, Napua Greig, Kuana Torres Kahele, Aaron Salā, Keao Costa, Blaine Kamalani Kia, NUE - Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu - Bryan, Kama Hopkins and Halehaku Seabury, The Side Order Band – with Del Beazley, Chris Kamaka and Asa Young, and more!
Bryan also worked with award winning hula hālau, engineers and producers. The noted halau includes: Nā Wai ‘Eha O Puna, Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Hālau Maoli Pua, Ka Pā Hula O Kauanoe O Wa‘ahila, Keali‘ika’apunihonua Ke‘ena A‘o Hula, Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea and Kuhai Hālau O Kawaikapuokalani Pa Olapa Kahiko. Engineers and producers: Imua Garza, Dave Tucciarone, Milan Bertosa, Steve Kramer, Gaylord Holomalia, Flip McDiarmid, Shawn Pimental, Michael Grande, Kip and Max Ebersbach, all among the best in the music business.
In May 2005, Bryan opened another musical chapter by releasing his solo CD “Ka ‘Ukulele Lele” that became a Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalist for Instrumental Album of the year.
Ten years later in April 2015, he released a duet CD, “Ukulele Friends”, with Herb Ohta Jr. that received a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for 2016 ‘Ukulele Album of the Year. In the Summer of 2016, he expanded his role by joining the Performing Arts Academy at Kamehameha Schools – Kapalama campus, educating young adults interested in learning and performing the ‘ukulele. He released a second duet CD with Herb Ohta Jr. ‘Ukulele Friends: The Sequel In December 2017, also winning a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award! NUE - Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu with Kama Hopkins and Halehaku Seabury released their CD “In the Heart of Paradise” on Dec. 30, 2021.
Bryan Tolentino continues to teach in person and online, sharing his love for the ‘ukulele through performances and workshops.
Halehaku Seabury
Landon Halehaku Seabury is a Grammy nominated and multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning guitarist/multi instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and vocalist from Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. Halehaku developed an early passion for music from his parents growing up in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. His formative musical education began assisting his father in the KCCN 1420 AM Radio station studios as a young child. Being exposed early on to musicians like Aunty Genoa Keawe, Kealiʻi Joy, Kahauanu Lake Trio, Emperor Hanapī, Richard Kauhi, etc. set a precedent for excellence in Hawaiian music.
Hale began formal study of music early on, starting with the Hawaiian steel guitar under the tutelage of his uncle, steel guitar master Alan L. Akaka. He continued to play steel guitar as his primary instrument throughout high school studying the styles of Jules Ah See, Jake Keliʻikoa, Barney Isaacs, and his great grandfather Joseph “Steppy” De Rego.
Building a dual-fold music career as a studio session ace and independent artist, Halehaku’s musical contributions can be found on albums by Kainani Kahaunaele, Josh Tatofi, Keauhou, Keao Costa and Kekuhi Kanaka’ole, and others uncredited. As an artist with his group Nā Hoa, recording and preserving songs like Kolopā, Pili Me ʻOe, and Pua Mae ʻOle.
It has since been a goal of his to combine the elegance of Hawaiian music and the bold, daring improvisation of jazz into a beautiful musical form that can and will be appreciated by both Hawaiians and Non-Hawaiian music fans alike.
Kama Hopkins
Kama Hopkins grew up in a family filled with Hawaiian music and hula. By day, he is the Trust Services Manager for the King Lunalilo Trust and Home. By night, he is a musician. He has been playing music professionally since 2001. He is a multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano award recipient with the group Holunape. He is also a member of other talented Hawaiian music groups Māhiehie IV and Kāneʻohe as the ‘ukulele bass player. He enjoys teaching music and the Hawaiian Language to all who are interested.
NUE (Nā ‘Ukulele ‘Ekolu) is Kama’s current musical focus. NUE is Bryan Tolentino on tenor ‘ukulele, Halehaku Seabury on baritone ‘ukulele and Kama Hopkins on bass ʻukulele.
These three Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winners, rooted in Hawai’i’s rich ‘ukulele and Hawaiian music culture, come together to showcase their ‘ukulele artistry and vocal stylings creating a unique sound! Be on the lookout for their new recording project.
Kama completed his daily Mid-Day Mana'o series on his Youtube Channel earlier in 2021. Through this platform he created a warm and inviting environment for some social distance "socializing". He always started with a question, a thought or a joke and ended with a song. At the end of the week (Sunday), he shared these songs via Facebook Live and Instagram Live for his Sunday Sing-Along, Please go to the Mid-Day Mana’o page to view these segments. Enjoy!