Diamond Head Crater Festivals

[scrivener]

I'm toying with the idea of assembling in one place as much info about the old Diamond Head Crater Festivals as I can. There are a few anecdotes on the Web already, but I'm wondering: Is there anyone here who has memories of one or more of the festivals?

Unfortunately, I was below concert-going age when these shows took place (a pity--I was a HUGE Styx and Journey fan in high school), but part of me has always longed for some kind of return to the tradition. I realize that will likely never happen, so I'll have to experience it vicariously through your memories.

Please--any details at all, whether objective or subjective, would be most appreciated. If you don't want to go through this all online, I'd be happy to continue the discussion in email or via telephone.

Thanks a lot! Perhaps, in order to get people jump-started, I'll post links to other websites that make mention of the Festivals.

[bobcoia]

I attended the 1970, 1971 concerts, was a stage hand/electrician on the 1972 and was the original site manager for the 1973 event but resigned prior to returning to New York. Bob Peyton and Bruce "Buddha" Bickley were the main organizers for stage/site security and later the whole event.
I don't remember too many details, such as what musical groups played, but Peyton and Bickley, if you can find them, might prove to be very knowledgable. They hung out with a guy from the Honolulu newspaper who also had a role in organizing the events, sorry can't remember his name.
By the way, they organized security for a number of other concerts of the time, such as the Rolling Stones at the HIC in 1973, Loggin and Messina at the University of Hawaii, Manoa campus amphitheater, and I think they were involved in some Joni Mitchell, Jackson Brown and Jose Feliciano concerts at the Waikiki Shell.
If you have any more information or questions, let me know.

Good luck,
Bob Coia


dI'm toying with the idea of assembling in one place as much info about the old Diamond Head Crater Festivals as I can. There are a few anecdotes on the Web already, but I'm wondering: Is there anyone here who has memories of one or more of the festivals?

Unfortunately, I was below concert-going age when these shows took place (a pity--I was a HUGE Styx and Journey fan in high school), but part of me has always longed for some kind of return to the tradition. I realize that will likely never happen, so I'll have to experience it vicariously through your memories.

Please--any details at all, whether objective or subjective, would be most appreciated. If you don't want to go through this all online, I'd be happy to continue the discussion in email or via telephone.

Thanks a lot! Perhaps, in order to get people jump-started, I'll post links to other websites that make mention of the Festivals.

[pzarquon]

Hey, Bob, thanks for the insights! This thread was lost 'til you found it again.

Turns out Scrivener's post is now the third Google result for Diamond Head Crater Festivals (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Diamond+Head+Crater+Festivals%22), behind a mention (http://www.esotericbowl.com/archives/000208.html) in fellow blogger Kaneblues' site and this Star-Bulletin article from 1999 (http://starbulletin.com/1999/11/01/special/story7.html). Here's a thread on another forum (http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1524) on the festivals. Definitely sounds like a topic begging for an online historical resource.

[scrivener]

Definitely sounds like a topic begging for an online historical resource.

Yeah. That's what I'm thinking.

Bob: Thanks so much for the names and info; it definitely gives me a little more to go on. I have spent some time in the library and have a pretty good file now; all I need now are permissions.

And testimonies. These are what would be the heart and soul of whatever I put together. So Bob, if I were to recap for you who played during those years, do you think you'd be able to shoot back whatever memories you have?

Seriously, thanks a lot.

[mel]

I'm sure most of you folks know that a new Diamond Head crater concert has been approved for 2006.

Diamond Head Crater Concert Set for 2006 (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Oct/26/ln/ln21p.html)

The first concert inside Diamond Head crater in more than 25 years has been approved by the state, clearing the way for the Hawai'i International Music Festival and Conference to be held two years from now.

...

Gibson, who attended several neighborhood board meetings and met with the Diamond Head Citizen Advisory Committee, said he will continue to work with the community to overcome objections. Gibson has pledged the formation of a foundation using $50,000 in proceeds from the first concert to help implement the master plan for Diamond Head.

I am quite sure Kahala area residents and possibly environmentalists will do everything to try and not make this happen.

[kimo55]

I'm toying with the idea of assembling in one place as much info about the old Diamond Head Crater Festivals as I can. There are a few anecdotes on the Web already, but I'm wondering:

Is there anyone here who has memories of one or more of the festivals?


I did promo for the festivals back in those days in exchange for admittance to all the events..
Still have some of the posters. They are beautiful in a great ol kine hippie way.

Did construction on many of the stages. Saw firsthand many groups for the first time in public, groups who then went on to become household names.

Worked for Sunbums magazine to a small extent, too... some of my friends who i met up with lately in the past few years reminded me they ran Sunmbums mag and helped the Festival shows to become a reality.
(still have many back issues...)

Small world then.
Also did some stuff for the old Civic auditoirum for tix to the rock events there. ho da t'rills eh!?

[kimo55]

Diamond Head Crater Festivals

Definitely sounds like a topic begging for an online historical resource.


no. a book and a dvd.

[memorylane]

Just dont wake that sleepy girl up ya'll!! LOL ;)

[tvguy]

Clip from Journey's performance in 1977 here:

http://www.robertfleischman.com/FreeConcert.html

[kimo55]

Clip from Journey's performance in 1977




cool.
stage is bigger than i remember.

wish i could jump into a time machine and hand the cameraman a stedicam or tripod...

[zztype]

Worked for Sunbums magazine to a small extent, too... some of my friends who i met up with lately in the past few years reminded me they ran Sunmbums mag and helped the Festival shows to become a reality. (still have many back issues...) Small world then.

No way!!! After I got out of the Navy in 1976 I marched into Sunbums (http://www.google.com/search?q=sunbums+hawaii&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8) and up to John Leonard's office with a handful of political cartoons (http://www.zztype.com/gallery/cartoons) I was working on at the time. "How much are you going to pay me for my cartoons?"

Leonard replied, "I'll tell you what. I like you. You go downstairs and tell Hank McMonigle that I sent you. He'll teach you how this business works."

Hank taught me to run the stat camera and I learned a bit about paste-up and how a newspaper is produced. I worked there six months, for free. But learned a lot.

That was my introduction to graphics, print production and publishing. 30 years later I'm still working in graphics, print production, publishing and I added web design and production to the resume.

Still working at the Star-Bulletin are John Berger and Mark Coleman, both Sunbums alums. And Chris Leonard, John's son, runs buyhawaiianmusic.com (http://www.buyhawaiianmusic.com) on the Big Island.

Maybe Sunbums should be another thread here?!

[zztype]

I attended several Crater Festivals, beginning while I was still in high school. I was there for the Carlos Santana/Buddy Miles set which was turned into the Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles Live (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002ARQ/qid%3D1109105938/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-5915310-6963869) album. The interior gatefold of this double album contains a panorama of the crowd inside the crater, taken from behind Buddy's drum kit.

I worked for Tom Sellers for a while in the '80s. He was the guy who illustrated that glorious woman in a pareu rising from Diamond Head Crater at sunrise on my favorite Sunshine Festival poster (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28009&item=7302849514&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW).

I have several photos taken "on the grass" sitting in the common peoples' area down in front of the stage. :) They're not very good, but they are genuine. I'd be willing to scan a few and send them along for your effort.

Taro Patch (http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1524⟊) has a thread on the crater festivals.

I found this page with a photo (http://www.livingtravel.com/namerica/hawaii/hawaii1.htm) of the crater festival.

By the way, they were called "Sunshine Festival (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22sunshine+festival%22+%22diamond+head%22&btnG=Search)" so if you do a Google search, you'll find more hits that way.

[kimo55]

I have several photos taken "on the grass" sitting in the common peoples' area down in front of the stage. :) They're not very good, but they are genuine. I'd be willing to scan a few and send them along for your effort.



Cooo whul! I was one of those people on grass... ahem... prolly seen in yer pics!

[kimo55]

I worked for Tom Sellers


he was great in Magnum P.I.

[zztype]

Hey, I found ANOTHER Sunshine Festival poster (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2001&item=3955906802&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V) for sale on eBay. Scrivener, maybe you want to grab a screen shot of the item for your archive before it's gone.

The Sunshine Festival poster is not the Tom Sellers 1974 version, but also offered in the same auction is a small San Francisco Rag Shop poster which WAS illustrated by Sellers. (Rag Shop was one of his main early clients.) He obviously based this poster on his crater festival poster, or vice-versa.

[kimo55]

Hey, I found ANOTHER Sunshine Festival poster (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2001&item=3955906802&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V) for sale on eBay.

this is currently living at da antique shop in chinatown.
go there in person with a handful of green and pic it up. negotiate. Money talks.
the poster is original. The san fran rag shop "poster" is a new color photocopy.

[kimo55]

Hey, I found ANOTHER Sunshine Festival poster (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2001&item=3955906802&rd=1&ssPageName=WD1V) for sale on eBay.
The Sunshine Festival poster is not the Tom Sellers 1974 version,

The one in this ebay auction is a 1975 tom sellers creation.

The Wahine hovering above D.H. crater poster, an original, is available this weekend at a collector's show at da HIC. a vendor has one there in mint condition, looks like, for 3 hunnert clams.

[arcticbear]

I just happened to stumble across this site, what caught my attention was the mention of the crater festival. When I left Vietnam in February 1971, I was stationed at Kaneohe Bay Hawaii. Shortly after I arrived they were having what was called a Crater Festival, located inside Diamondhead. Not to be out done by the locals, a few of us Marines decided we would sneak in with them. This proved to be quite a climb and at times was about to give up. Six of us started out and four turned back about half way. We had left the main trail that snaked up the side and started a direct climb. Later we found out that at the last concert, some one had slipped and ended up being rescued off the same ridge we had climbed. Please take note that we were pretty high on wine and Mescaline. I neither condemn or condone such fool hardy attempts but it was at a stage of my life that I had to over come.

After making it to the top we watched lighters being flicked on and off all around the top and listened to people hollering across to one another. After sleeping for an hour or so inside one of the bunkers I was awakened by a young guy who said I had to see the sun rise. It was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever seen and when I turned to face the crater I could see people making there way down the inside. I’m not sure why we weren’t caught, it was almost like we were invisible as we descended the inner slope of the crater. We had gotten down to an area were there were several trucks being unloaded. Guys were scurrying around taking equipment up to the stage. One of them handed me a box of wiring and told me to take it to the backside of the stage and stay out of sight. We remained there until the people started showing up.

I can not remember who all was playing at the concert . For some reason I had always believed Jethro Tull may have been there but I really don’t remember for sure. What I do remember is it was unlike any concert I had been to. We sat on the ground in front of the stage about twenty yards back. I remember feeling the ground shake. To this day I’m uncertain if it was the reverberation of the music through floor of the crater or the mescaline or both.

I was just a few months away from completing my four year enlistment in the Marine Corps when I went to the concert and though it was not the first or last concert I ever attended it is one of my most memorable life events.

A couple of years ago I was trying to put some of my feelings and life experiences down on paper and I came up with the following poem. I’m just an amateur writer and this probably means more to me than anyone else. Except for a handful of locals that went over the top of Diamondhead that night without being caught.



Basalt and Mescaline
By Doug Sims 12/12/2000
I drank the nectar from the mescal. Just enough to wet my whistle,
Maybe a bit more.
At a two to one inclination one has to be sure of foot and of hand.
The climb was cluttered but once past the brush it became a barren land.
Half way to Diamondhead’s top the journey nearly took a stop
as every step forward, two slid back.
So I sat and stared with unobstructed view down upon moon lit waters.
I drank again the nectar from the mescal. Just enough to wet my whistle.
Maybe a bit more.
Now visions appeared on the sand like ink stains on a blotter.
My days of the ten thousand day war, washed out on the shore.
The gaunt blood stained bodies joining the patriots of folklore.
My mind whirled my head hurt now was the time to be done with that damn war.
I drank again the nectar from the mescal. Just enough to wet my whistle.
Maybe a bit more.
Now I could hear voices like angels from above only the songs were not of joy.
“If you don’t move you will never see the inside” it was not an angel just a boy.
Then I remembered it was a festival I had come to see,
So I drug myself to the top and left my war, to wash endlessly out to sea.
And I shared the last of nectar from the mescal, with a boy who had large aboriginal hair. It was just enough to wet our whistle. Maybe a bit more.

[Miulang]

Good news for the younger generations who were jealous of the recollections of the older generation about the good times that were had at Diamond Head Crater Festivals (http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Mar/20/il/il06p.html) in the 1970s.

The Diamond Head Crater Festival will return in 2006 (April 22). Only 7,500 tickets will be sold, so this will be one of those "scalp with impugnity" events unless everyone respects the spirit in which it is being held.

Miulang

[pzarquon]

I'm toying with the idea of assembling in one place as much info about the old Diamond Head Crater Festivals as I can. After seeing how easily and wonderfully a wiki solution (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/) worked for collaboratively and openly building a resource for the Hawaii Music Scene (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/index.php/Hawaii_Music_Scene), I thought I'd launch a project for the Diamond Head Crater Festivals (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/index.php/Diamond_Head_Crater_Festivals).

Know anything about the festivals? Remember any of the line-ups, the personalities behind it, or just have a remembrance to share? Check out the Wiki. Once you set up a free account, anyonecan edit, add to, or correct any page. Know a name or company but don't know anything about it? Just [[link]] it - and anyone else who sees it can fill in the blanks. Want to make a new section? Add it! Think the organization could be improved? Just do it (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/index.php/Diamond_Head_Crater_Festivals).

Working together as a group, the Diamond Head Crater Festivals wiki can grow easily and organically and help collect every last detail we can come up with. Then, after a huge chunk of information is collected, it can then be compiled into a more static and permanent online reference.

Psst, zztype and kimo55... You can start a Sunbums page.

Heck, I just did (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/index.php/Sunbums)! Have at it!

[kimo55]

Wow. too cool.
Next stop:
Video Documentary!

[pzarquon]

All right. I've used up all my Google-Fu. I've prepopulated the Diamond Head Festivals (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/index.php/Diamond_Head_Crater_Festivals) and Sunbums (http://www.leahi.net/wiki/index.php/Sunbums) wikis with all the information I could find in a few frantic hours of searching. I added a dozen or so artists to the festival line-ups (though I had a hard time finding specific dates), and added a few organizer/behind-the-scenes names that I could find (some from this thread, of course).

If you were involved, of course, add yourself! And if you just have an observation to share, add that, too, under "Remembrances & Anecdotes."

The rest is up to you. Really!

[kimo55]

Maybe Sunbums should be another thread here?!


from my stack of old Sunbums; a beer ad wit our friends Cecelio and Cuz Henry.
from 1977.


appropriately plastered on the garage beer reefer.



no, the original was not harmed.

[kimo55]

and if anyone's interested, I just saw at da collector's show, at least one or two booths/vendors that have original Diamond Head Crater Festivals posters in purdarn good condition. go HIC and check um out this sat and sun.

[Rick]

I worked all of the Crater Festivals from the early 1970s. My first involvement was as a volunteer with the Waikiki Drug Clinic manning the medical tent; lots of bizzare stories there.

From 1976-on I worked the sound stages as a member of the Audissey Sound crew. Worked the small Hawaiian stage, mixing audio from the back of a VW bus, then working up to the Rock stage and eventually the Main stage. The most memorable was the July 3 & 4, 1977 Festival, working with Elvin Bishop, Journey, Styx, Detective, Mackie Feary, Flash Cadillac and others.

Remember the year of the huge brush fire ?

I have an archived collection of most of the original Festival posters and a few other related items, plus lots of memories. I have jpegs of the posters if any one is interested in seeing them. The poster artwork is unique and captures the period. Many posters list the headliners, all the big names of the 70s.

Also did many memorable shows at UH Andrews Amphitheater.

rspaloha@pixi.com

[tlchawaii]

Where do I start... I started Audissey Sound Company in the early 70's, and my first Crater job was the small local music stage.. did that for two years and then made our (all those at Audissey) to the rock stage and the last three years of the crater did the main stage.. Lots of good times and great music... I just loved the freedom that we had in those days... I have some posters (most in good shape) and some old t-shirts as well as lots of pictures.. If anyone out there has any idea about the price the posters are going for, let me know I need some money for medical expences and would be willing to let them good (boo hoo)... Also have a large collection of 60's San Francisco rock and roll posters that is also up for grabs... Will close for now... Aloha Sam Holt

[YoungNeil]

Looks like they're beginning to name acts that will be playing at the Crater Festival...

http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?By=Venue&Content=BHIHODI&PSKey=Y&Date=04/01/06

[Pomai]

Looks like they're beginning to name acts that will be playing at the Crater Festival...

http://www.pollstar.com/tour/searchall.pl?By=Venue&Content=BHIHODI&PSKey=Y&Date=04/01/06

Wow.. Steve Miller Band. Looks like it's gonna' have some big names. Perhaps Journey and Styxx will show up as well to relive the experience! Wishful thinking, I know.

Just curious... what's the issue with collateral noise levels around Diamond Head Crater? Do adjacent neighborhoods such as Kahala and Kapahulu-Monserrat areas have a legitimate reason to complain about holding music concerts in the crater?

From a casual observation, it seems the elevated outer perimeter of the crater would contain the noise and channel most sound waves upward into the oblivion of the sky above.

On the other hand, this may actually have a compounding effect and AMPLIFY the sound even louder just outside the crater's edge.

[mel]

People might want to attend or at least keep track of the Waialae-Kahala and Diamond Head neighborhood boards. Their meeting agendas and minutes are posted here:

Waialae-Kahala
http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/nb3/index.htm

Diamond Head-Kapahulu
http://www.honolulu.gov/nco/nb5/index.htm

The concert proposal for Diamond Head has been discussed at past meetings.

[808shows.com]

Had a half day off, really looking forward to this, and so I put something together:

808shows.com/_crater.html (http://www.808shows.com/_crater.html)


anything to add?




also, a new newsletter came out at midnight... and is also now online:

808shows.com/news.html


ALOHA and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
take care!!!

[LikaNui]

For those who whined about ticket prices for The Eagles, check this out:

"Diamond Head Crater's future as a concert venue will depend on how well the crowd behaves at the April 1 concert.
"The April 1 show, featuring the Steve Miller Band and War, will be the first public concert held in the crater since its heyday as a venue in the 1970s. General admission for the concert will be $125 and reserved seats will cost $150 to $175."

Full story at http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060117/NEWS01/601170340/1190/NEWS

Eagles tickets were a steal compared to this!
:(

[dick]

>>>General admission for the concert will be $125 and reserved seats will cost $150 to $175<<<

With tix limited to 7,500, prices gotta be high to pay for the show. Kinda silly if you ask me.

[na alii]

For those who whined about ticket prices for The Eagles, check this out:

"Diamond Head Crater's future as a concert venue will depend on how well the crowd behaves at the April 1 concert.
"The April 1 show, featuring the Steve Miller Band and War, will be the first public concert held in the crater since its heyday as a venue in the 1970s. General admission for the concert will be $125 and reserved seats will cost $150 to $175."

Full story at http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060117/NEWS01/601170340/1190/NEWS

Eagles tickets were a steal compared to this!
:(

"Richard Turbin a Kahala resident, who attended some of those concerts 30 years ago, was excited to have a concert return to the crater. However, the price of tickets for the April 1 concert, he said, made it seem like only the rich could afford to go. Thirty years ago a ticket cost $5, Turbin said."

Seems like these recent concerts are in the mid $100.00 range. I still remember paying $5.50 for concert tickets at the HIC(Honolulu International Center) aka Blaisdell Arena.

[zztype]

Uh, those prices are nuts. Maybe I might reprise my attendance of the 1970s shindigs by taking a hike that day... hehehe.

If the event is dependent on crowd behavior and they're charging ridiculous prices for the event, I would imagine a bunch of folks might be tempted to crash the party.

And really, at $125 general admission, they need to come up with a bigger name than Steve Miller. I LOVE Steve Miller, have his albums. But I won't pay $125 for the cheap seats to see him.

The other people on the bill I can see for free on any Saturday at Kapiolani Park.

Maybe if Steve Miller were warming up for the Rolling Stones in Diamond Head, they'd have sold out already!

Blaine

[scrivener]

And really, at $125 general admission, they need to come up with a bigger name than Steve Miller. I LOVE Steve Miller, have his albums. But I won't pay $125 for the cheap seats to see him.

Steve Miller is one of the biggest names on the radio. You can sing along to his greatest hits album, usually word for word, from beginning to end. You might not WANT to (especially on "Abracadabra"), but you know you could.

However, they do need to add someone ELSE to the bill for that price. War is just not interesting enough, and they play here all the time. How would you feel about $125 for Steve Miller and, say, Deep Purple? Or Steve Miller and John Mellencamp? Or Steve Miller and Neil Young?

Argh. I was really looking forward to this, too, but not at $250. I'll use that money instead to get two tickets for each night of Elvis Costello.

[1stwahine]

hELL NO! I won't Go! I going stick to Chinatown...moa cheap! Betta action and music!!!!! :p

Auntie Lynn

...dem days of past is past! :(

[tutusue]

Uh, those prices are nuts. Maybe I might reprise my attendance of the 1970s shindigs by taking a hike that day... hehehe.
[...]Blaine
Some of my favorite concerts at the Shell have been "experienced" from Kapiolani Park, complete with a full scale picnic. Other times, my ex and I would get a room at the Kaimana, ewa side, call room service, sit on the lanai and enjoy the concert, view and food! A Hall and Oates concert comes to mind! Of course, that was a few decades ago when one didn't have to mortgage the house to pay for a hotel room! :D

[LikaNui]

Linda Ronstadt has just been added to the lineup. See http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Jan/25/br/br07p.html .

But they'll still have to add a helluva lot more 'stars' to justify the outrageous ticket prices.
:cool:

[kimo55]

It is no longer a dh crater festival. to charge 150 per hit and do it in the crater is well, kinda sacriledge. It has nothing to do with the old tradition we knew back then. "Reserved seats." what kinda bull is that?! back then we had... what was it, 5 stages to choose from? and we all sat around on da grass (no jokes) and dug it.

seats!?
reserved??!!
aaaaah c'mon!

This kinda exclusive yuppie thing should be held elsewhere. and bring back the old style crater festival.

[Albert]

Well, not even adding Linda Ronstadt to the bill can persuade me to shell out $125 to attend. I don't think there is anyone they can add that would make me do that.

[Miulang]

I guess you could always wait until a DVD of the festival was produced and see the show for $19.95 instead of $125. But the "gestalt" of being among other concertgoers would be lost. There will never be another "Age of Woodstock" generation! :(

Miulang

[Kalihiboy]

If Santana and/or Fleetwood Mac join the bill then maybe I would consider going but they need to bring in another big name act or two.

Jackson Browne or Neil Young as mentioned before would be good choices.

Anyone see Jackson Browne's show with Jack Johnson last year?

KalihiBoy

[tvguy]

I'm not going to this....but Steve Miller, War, and Linda Ronstadt are 3 pretty good acts. And I had heard on KSSK that (and I think of kimo's "yuppie" comment when I think of this) there will be food booths from Hawaii's top chefs, sorta like a "Taste of Honolulu"-type deal. If this is true, I'd say this would be a pretty good deal. but definitely NOT quite the atmosphere of the old Crater Festivals. I already spent my allowance on U2 tickets....

[LikaNui]

there will be food booths from Hawaii's top chefs, sorta like a "Taste of Honolulu"-type deal. If this is true, I'd say this would be a pretty good deal.
But is the food free or will folks have to dig into their already-depleted wallets (as I expect is the case)?
Anyone know? (Not that it makes any difference to me personally. I'm not going to the show. I'm just curious.)

[Miulang]

But is the food free or will folks have to dig into their already-depleted wallets (as I expect is the case)?
Anyone know? (Not that it makes any difference to me personally. I'm not going to the show. I'm just curious.)
I seriously doubt the food will be free. Heck, if you can afford the price of the tickets, you should be able to afford the $10-15 pate on toast appetizers and wine spritzers! :D You know those "top Honolulu chefs" aren't going to be plating any old $4.99 bento boxes!

Miulang

[anapuni808]

I remember my very first festival - Santana was the "mystery" performer. My brother & I came out of the tunnel just as he started playing - I knew right away who it was & was totally thrilled!

I still have the 1977 poster - all framed & in perfect condition. It has hung on my walls for many years now. I spotted the poster in the window of that old record store (Rainbow?) that was at 404 Piikoi building - the day after the festival, I was there begging for the poster. They sold it to me for $5! That was also the festival where the skydivers jumped right into the middle of the crowd. My brother was one of the jumpers & I have a picture of his landing someplace - he said it was pretty cool!

Fran

[scrivener]

I spotted the poster in the window of that old record store (Rainbow?) that was at 404 Piikoi building - the day after the festival, I was there begging for the poster.
If it was the day after the concert, you're talking about Records Hawaii, which later moved to Beretania (same building as Owen and Owen Photography). In between, it was the unofficial Menudo headquarters in Hawaii.

Jelly's was also in that building at 404, but of course that was a decade later.

[zztype]

I remember my very first festival - Santana was the "mystery" performer. My brother & I came out of the tunnel just as he started playing - I knew right away who it was & was totally thrilled!

Fran

Oh yeahhh!!! I was there!!!! Do you have the album "Santana and Buddy Miles Live"? That's the recording of that concert inside Diamond Head! I have it!

Inside the album is a double-spread photo taken from the stage behind the drummer.

I was about to leave that day and made my way from the stage area toward the tunnel. I was passing the sound booth on my way out when I heard one of the technicians say, "Everybody ready for Carlos?"

U-TURN!!! BEE-LINE FOR THE STAGE!!!

I parked right at the fence in front of the stage, front-and-center and stayed there for the entire performance!

When the album came out, I bought it and was thrilled when I saw the center spread photo. I started looking for myself in the photo. The guy standing right next to me was there in his red white and blue jacket. Me? I was covered by the cymbals of the drum kit. BOOOO!!! :)

Hahahaha! Great show!

Blaine

[anapuni808]

you're right - it was Records Hawaii. My boyfriend had an office in that building and my photo processor had an "office" up on the roof.

You must know now that I'm old - hard to remember these things :D

Fran

[pzarquon]

KHON did a brief item on this concert last night. Two names mentioned on the bill, Steve Miller Band and Linda Rondstadt. (War is supposed to be there, as well as local acts like Na Leo and Kenny Endo's taiko group.) Tickets cost well over $100, sales start this weekend.

I still don't get this "revival." I'd have expected the bill to have lots of bands and names on it, even if they are "nostalgia" names... especially with those ticket prices. I know sales are limited to 7,500 people, but you need demand to exceed that supply to charge an arm and a leg!

[kimo55]

what revival?! what are they supposedly reviving?

[1stwahine]

what revival?! what are they supposedly reviving?

"The Living Dead" - from Hawaii's Ice Epidemic! :eek:

Auntie Lynn :p

[kimo55]

oh, THAT revival. yea, I would pay a hundred bucks to see that group. they're goth, right?

and while i am in da crater, I will gladly pay 18 dollars for some froufrou chef's junk on a styrofoam plate served with flies eaten with plastic entrenching implements in a rustic outdoor setting.
heck yea. two, please!

[na alii]

Just got my tickets from Ticketmasters.

[Linkmeister]

I'm as big a Ronstadt fan as you could find (at least the early material through about 1975), and I like Steve Miller too, but boy those are some steep prices.

If you go, don't expect to see the slim and sexy Linda; she's put on a lot of weight.

[1stwahine]

Just got my tickets from Ticketmasters.

WOW! K- rich eh, you? hahaha :p No forget to take pickchas foa us to see ova hea! ;)

Auntie Lynn

[na alii]

I hope cameras are allowed. I might have to smuggle my camera in. :)

[1stwahine]

I hope cameras are allowed. I might have to smuggle my camera in. :)

I get one Sony Cyber-shotU Video/Camera. You like borrow? Da bugga fits in your palm. You can hide um easy! :D

Auntie Lynn

I trust you, you know my kid brother! ;)

[na alii]

I get one Sony Cyber-shotU Video/Camera. You like borrow? Da bugga fits in your palm. You can hide um easy! :D

Auntie Lynn

I trust you, you know my kid brother! ;)

I have the same Sony Cyber-shot camera. Model P-92 though. I can easily smuggle in the back of my pants or when I use the baggy cargo pants I can put it in the front pocket.

[scrivener]

They just added Yvonne Elliman to the bill. That definitely adds to my interest; especially if she plays some of that newer stuff she's got going on. Still, you're talking a $250 date here. That's just not going to happen for me.

If you go, don't expect to see the slim and sexy Linda; she's put on a lot of weight.
She's still sexy. Just in a different way.

[na alii]

I wonder if it sold out like U2 did?

[1stwahine]

Originally Posted by Linkmeister
If you go, don't expect to see the slim and sexy Linda; she's put on a lot of weight.

They just added Yvonne Elliman to the bill. That definitely adds to my interest; especially if she plays some of that newer stuff she's got going on. Still, you're talking a $250 date here. That's just not going to happen for me.


She's still sexy. Just in a different way.

Good for you Scriv for saying that! ;) Who says a Woman has to be "Slim" to be "SEXY?" :rolleyes: dat is soooo WRONG!!!!!! :rolleyes:

Auntie Lynn

[scrivener]

In his defense, Linkmeister never said Linda is no longer sexy.

If you're curious, here's (http://www.lindaronstadt.com/20040601BeaconTheater/details/LindaRonstadt200406010032.jpg) a picture of her from 2004. I think she looks great, if not as great as she did in the seventies. But then, neither do I.

[1stwahine]

In his defense, Linkmeister never said Linda is no longer sexy.

If you're curious, here's (http://www.lindaronstadt.com/20040601BeaconTheater/details/LindaRonstadt200406010032.jpg) a picture of her from 2004. I think she looks great, if not as great as she did in the seventies. But then, neither do I.

My personal opinion? She looks Fabulous, Sophisticated and the DIVA she is! :D

Lynn

update: 1:20 p.m. Linkmeister, can you please clarify what you ment in your statement. I just had lunch and it is bothering my opu. :rolleyes: :p

[LikaNui]

I'm glad they added Linda (and Yvonne too), no matter what size she is. (And she's been heavy for a loooong time now, for those who care.) Most of Linda's recent work has been Spanish language recordings; for the sake of those going to the event, I hope she sticks to the older material. :p
I remember back in the late 60s and early 70s visiting a friend who lived in the same building where Linda and Carly Simon used to share an apartment when they were young and still relatively unknown. Often used to hear them practicing... wow.

[Linkmeister]

I'm just sayin' she doesn't look like these cover photos anymore:

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/image/_/id/5392220/imageSize/medium/image/17/range/12
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/image/_/id/5392218/imageSize/medium/image/24/range/12

But she can still sing up a storm. She just issued a new cd called Hummin' to Myself (http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/product.aspx?ob=disc&src=art&pid=11082), which goes along with the three big band Nelson Riddle albums she did earlier in her career.

[scrivener]

Oh, man. Remember that video for "Get Closer?" One of the sexiest videos ever. If she sings that, I might jump her.

Oh yeah. I can't afford tickets. Lucky for her.

[Linkmeister]

Never saw that video. But I remember the Annie Liebovitz photos in that issue (the lower link).

[1stwahine]

I'm just sayin' she doesn't look like these cover photos anymore:

http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/image/_/id/5392220/imageSize/medium/image/17/range/12
http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/image/_/id/5392218/imageSize/medium/image/24/range/12

But she can still sing up a storm. She just issued a new cd called Hummin' to Myself (http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/product.aspx?ob=disc&src=art&pid=11082), which goes along with the three big band Nelson Riddle albums she did earlier in her career.

Mahalo for the clarification. No celebrity or anybody for that matter looks like they were in their hey day. Example - Don Ho. But the Brother still can sing "Tiny Bubbles" & "I'll Remember You" just like when he was young and in his prime! ;)

Me, I still sing like I always did. When I like look like I used to look...I go moi moi! (In my Dreams, Brah) :p :D HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! made ya laugh!

Auntie Lynn

[henwaddle]

The photo of King Kanehameha is really a crusty old Hawaiian guy named Charlie Kaanoe. I worked with him at the Hawaii Job Corps in the 70's. He acted tough but he was really a nice caring local guy. He played King Kamehameha for the Kodak Hula Show for extra cash.

In 1973 I attended the Crater Festival. I owned a Honda 600 sedan which was about the size of a roller skate. Everyone knows how difficult it was to find a place to park for the festival but my brother and I drove my Honda right up to the street to the entrance and found a spot just big enough for me to stop and we got out and lift my Honda into the spot. I thought folks were going to kick our ass for being able to park that close.

[islandhippo]

Wow, Memories! I had forgotten all about the Diamond Head Crater Festivals. I attended a couple when I was in high school. I'm sure my dad has pictures. I'll have to ask him.

Karlene

[na alii]

The photo of King Kanehameha is really a crusty old Hawaiian guy named Charlie Kaanoe. I worked with him at the Hawaii Job Corps in the 70's. He acted tough but he was really a nice caring local guy. He played King Kamehameha for the Kodak Hula Show for extra cash.

In 1973 I attended the Crater Festival. I owned a Honda 600 sedan which was about the size of a roller skate. Everyone knows how difficult it was to find a place to park for the festival but my brother and I drove my Honda right up to the street to the entrance and found a spot just big enough for me to stop and we got out and lift my Honda into the spot. I thought folks were going to kick our ass for being able to park that close.

http://www.tommcmahon.net/images/Honda600Coupe2.jpg

Honda600? Man I remember them cars. It had a 2 cylinder motor huh?

[kimo55]

seen da new DH festival commercials?
man they are the cheapest cheesiest no budget, no time invested, lowest production values, lowest information, most non-existant info/imagery ever put in a TV spot.

Didn't convey any personality or excitement, energy or motivation to hele on over and pay too much for an event that should be staged at da HIC...
Sllllooooowwww moving. same visual of a cartoon DH and spotlites going baaaack and fooorrrtthhh and baaaack and fooorrth and a few names flashed in front.


basically, I don't get it. The crater festival was a hippie happenin thing. The thing they doin now, is a pseudo hip, upscale, overpriced, go there to see and be seen, status event. in diametrical opposition to the sensibilities exemplified back in da day.
(wull. I paid a lot to go there and eat overpriced haute cuisine on a plastic plate while spittin out gristle and i was just 16 feet away from Linda Ronstadt!")

Two completely different animals, requiring two completely different veunues.

[kimo55]

besides, i don't think you could pay me a hundred bux to listen to "Desparado" one more time.

[kimo55]

Ok, so the mis spelled advert in the weekly re; the crater celebration...
yea. I thot was designed with not much punch at all. the block lettering is not clear. too clunky.
made me go to the crater web site. So we see:

"Click here to hear what others have to say about this premier event."

"Click here to hear..." hmmmm.
ok.
dumb, but ok...
so this may make ya think there is audio or video in this page, yer fooled, cuz there is not. just a couple of written quotes....

we see:
"A delectable selection of Hawaii regional cuisines will be presented alongside more traditional festival favorites. Beers and wines will be selected to complement the food and festivities."
They add "s" to too many things.
It is:
Cuisine.
Beer
Wine.


sez:
"Steve Miller Band Crater Alumni"
What?! "Crater' is a school, college, or university?

I mean c'mon! They are demanding the better half of a two hundred dollar bill for admission to this hoedown and the podunks can't afford anything more than a blasé junior high school level written and amateurish somnambulistic presentation. Looks like it was written and created by a junior paralegal accountant state employee. In a dark closet.
We should see animation. Video. Audio.
Movement. Excitement. color. fireworks. literally and figuratively. And for the more sedate or sedated in the crowd, a link to this present sleepy cheapy web site.

ok. nitpic fest over.

[buzz1941]

An emailer to the Star-Bulletin today, revved up by the Linda Ronstadt article, was quite upset that the newspaper website does not contain a database of every concert ever held in Hawaii. Well, SORRY, but that's not the newspaper's job. But it might be a website project for somebody out there...

[LikaNui]

I'm curious -- is anyone here on HT actually going to this concert? (Assuming it doesn't get rained out.)
Or, do you even know anyone who's going?

[Palolo Joe]

saw ron gibson on the news last night saying it would happen, rain or shine...

muddy as f*ck already, from what i saw.

anyone else read the star-bulletin story about all the concerts coming up? was on the front page today.

http://starbulletin.com/2006/03/30/news/story04.html

[na alii]

I'm curious -- is anyone here on HT actually going to this concert? (Assuming it doesn't get rained out.)
Or, do you even know anyone who's going?

I'm going. Rain or shine.

[na alii]

WOW! K- rich eh, you? hahaha :p No forget to take pickchas foa us to see ova hea! ;)

Auntie Lynn

Hea you go Auntie!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/ninja07/DHCraterCelebration011.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/ninja07/DHCraterCelebration064.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/ninja07/DHCraterCelebration050.jpg

[1stwahine]

Awesome!

Mahalo,

Auntie Lynn

[scrivener]

Thanks for the photos. A few observations and questions:
look at how green the crater is!
The symphony was supposed to back Yvonne Elliman, but the symphony had a pops concert at the concert hall this evening (I know, 'cause I was there). About how much time did it have between the end of its set at the crater and its 8:00 curtain at the concert hall? Also, about how many of the symphony musicians were there?
I don't know why I think this, but I thought Steve Miller exclusively played Gretsch guitars. Clearly, I was wrong about this.
What was the food and drink situation?
Did Linda Ronstadt sing "Get Closer?"

[na alii]

Thanks for the photos. A few observations and questions:
look at how green the crater is!
The symphony was supposed to back Yvonne Elliman, but the symphony had a pops concert at the concert hall this evening (I know, 'cause I was there). About how much time did it have between the end of its set at the crater and its 8:00 curtain at the concert hall? Also, about how many of the symphony musicians were there?
I don't know why I think this, but I thought Steve Miller exclusively played Gretsch guitars. Clearly, I was wrong about this.
What was the food and drink situation?
Did Linda Ronstadt sing "Get Closer?"


The symphony came on before WAR so they set up first besides Kenny Endo Taiko. Matt Catingub even announced that they have to go to the concert hall after for Elvis Costello. They played for Yvonne and Na Leo Pilimehana. They started around 4:00 and finished around 5:00

The food and drinks was OK. They had a lot of food vendors like Gordon Biersch, and Magoo's.

Steve Miller mainly played the Fender Strat with the single coil pick ups but depending on the song he palyed other guitars. He played for 2 hours from 7:30 - 9:30. He played all his hits from the late 60s through the early 80s.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v119/ninja07/DHCraterCelebration106.jpg
Here he uses this guitar for "Wild Mountian Honey" It's a 19 string guitar.

I didn't recognize most of Linda's songs. It might of been new material. Kinda of reminded me of Harry Conick music. Though she did sing "Poor Poor Pitiful Me", Blue Bayou, "Just One Look and other old hits at the end. I noticed she didn't sing the cover song hits she had.

[mel]

"Blue Bayou" was originally done by Roy Orbison.
"Just One Look" is a cover done by others before Linda, including The Hollies and Doris Troy.
"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was done first by Warren Zevon, who also wrote it.

She probably did not sing any of her country cover hits like "Crazy", "I Fall to Pieces" and "When Will I Be Loved".... Linda was great back in the day.

Have to say those near front row pictures are great. Just hope nobody with dialup is accessing this topic thread.

Do concert venues search people from bringing in cameras? What's the deal on that these days? If I had to pay $150 for a concert I would like to walk away with some photos of the thing if possible. You did good on the photos with this one.

[na alii]

"Blue Bayou" was originally done by Roy Orbison.
"Just One Look" is a cover done by others before Linda, including The Hollies and Doris Troy.
"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was done first by Warren Zevon, who also wrote it.

She probably did not sing any of her country cover hits like "Crazy", "I Fall to Pieces" and "When Will I Be Loved".... Linda was great back in the day.

Have to say those near front row pictures are great. Just hope nobody with dialup is accessing this topic thread.

Do concert venues search people from bringing in cameras? What's the deal on that these days? If I had to pay $150 for a concert I would like to walk away with some photos of the thing if possible. You did good on the photos with this one.

I snuck my camera in but a whole lot of people brought cameras and they didn't do a search like the Blaisdell. I thought it was really laxed because the ushers didn't even check your stub to make sure you was in the right section. As soon a Steve Miller started lots of people rushed up front. I rushed the stage for Steve Miller that's why the pictures of Steve was close but not for WAR or Linda. Overall I think this venue went good and was worth my money though next time I would come in before the main attractions rather than come early. I got there at 12:30 and the concert finished at 9:30. I predict there will be more concerts in the future with the way it was handle. Now I know why we were bused in. Can you imangine the traffic it would of caused if they allowed people to drive?

[na alii]

"Poor Poor Pitiful Me" was done first by Warren Zevon, who also wrote it.



If you remember the soundtrack "FM" Linda has the song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me"
on there and in the movie during a concert scene she mentions Waddy Wachtel on guitars and Warren Zevon used Waddy on "Exictable Boy" album.

[Royce]

Na Alii Thank you for the pics you posted. If there's any way I could persuade you to share more, let me know what that would be. My wife and daughter had cameras when we parked at the Kakaako lot but were told by fellow concert-goers that cameras were not allowed and some had cameras taken away in past concert experiences. So the cameras were left in the car. Come to find out there were cameras everywhere, and people were even snapping amidst the security people along the A/AA section sidelines. Needless to say, wife and daughter were pissed that we missed out on documenting this piece of history.

[na alii]

Na Alii Thank you for the pics you posted. If there's any way I could persuade you to share more, let me know what that would be. My wife and daughter had cameras when we parked at the Kakaako lot but were told by fellow concert-goers that cameras were not allowed and some had cameras taken away in past concert experiences. So the cameras were left in the car. Come to find out there were cameras everywhere, and people were even snapping amidst the security people along the A/AA section sidelines. Needless to say, wife and daughter were pissed that we missed out on documenting this piece of history.

That's funny I too was parked in the Kakaako lot. I boarded the bus at 12:00 but it didn't leave till 12:15. Being a regular concert goer I've always had to smuggle my cameras in. I wore baggy cargo shorts so I stored my camera there. I wished I brought my long lens SLR camera.

[kimo55]

that was a blast. Much better than expected. miller rocked out. he shredded. No, wait. he didn't shred. I dunno. he did well tho. Coulda done without that huge acreage of empty space between the crowd and the stage. Didn't notice any of those elegant restaurants mentioned in the adverts at the event.

while waiting to use one of the portapottys next to the stage, I was kickin the dirt were i stood and unearthed a good pile of those beer pull tabs. just like unearthing decades old indian arrowheads while camping in california in the old days. Thought; what a time capsule... and since this crater is not used much and since last time it WAS used was for a 70's event right about here.... the artifacts wouldn't have been moved much and there they are. almost ebay worthy.

[na alii]

I attended several Crater Festivals, beginning while I was still in high school. I was there for the Carlos Santana/Buddy Miles set which was turned into the Carlos Santana & Buddy Miles Live (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000002ARQ/qid%3D1109105938/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/103-5915310-6963869) album. The interior gatefold of this double album contains a panorama of the crowd inside the crater, taken from behind Buddy's drum kit.

I worked for Tom Sellers for a while in the '80s. He was the guy who illustrated that glorious woman in a pareu rising from Diamond Head Crater at sunrise on my favorite Sunshine Festival poster (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=28009&item=7302849514&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW).

I have several photos taken "on the grass" sitting in the common peoples' area down in front of the stage. :) They're not very good, but they are genuine. I'd be willing to scan a few and send them along for your effort.

Taro Patch (http://www.taropatch.net/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1524⟊) has a thread on the crater festivals.

I found this page with a photo (http://www.livingtravel.com/namerica/hawaii/hawaii1.htm) of the crater festival.

By the way, they were called "Sunshine Festival (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22sunshine+festival%22+%22diamond+head%22&btnG=Search)" so if you do a Google search, you'll find more hits that way.

There was a Haole lady looks like in her 50s at the Crater Celebration. Can you believe she still has and was wearing a yellow 1973 Sunshine Festival T-Shirt?

[mel]

If you remember the soundtrack "FM" Linda has the song "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" on there and in the movie during a concert scene she mentions Waddy Wachtel on guitars and Warren Zevon used Waddy on "Exictable Boy" album.

Yes exactly! I also remember the movie FM. Was funny and the concert segments shown on the movie were pretty good too. I think on the movie they featured Jimmy Buffett and Linda singing "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Tumblin' Dice." Both songs I appear on her Simple Dreams album of 1977. I have both the FM soundtrack LP as well as the Ronstadt albums. Need to upgrade those someday to CD.

Getting back to the concert, where were the designated parking areas? I would think KCC would probably have been one of them, though you'd still get traffic coming up Diamond Head road.

[mel]

OK... I just read a few more posts deeper that parking was in Kakaako.

It is a good thing the rains subsided by yesterday.

[na alii]

Yes exactly! I also remember the movie FM. Was funny and the concert segments shown on the movie were pretty good too. I think on the movie they featured Jimmy Buffett and Linda singing "Poor Poor Pitiful Me" and "Tumblin' Dice." Both songs I appear on her Simple Dreams album of 1977. I have both the FM soundtrack LP as well as the Ronstadt albums. Need to upgrade those someday to CD.

Getting back to the concert, where were the designated parking areas? I would think KCC would probably have been one of them, though you'd still get traffic coming up Diamond Head road.

I would also think KCC would be a desinated parking lot but I think the promoters wanted to keep the Diamond Head Neighborhood Board happy and keep all traffic out of Diamond Head area and only bus in the concert goers. We parked at Kakaako which was in the UH Medical School Lot. I also know they had a Richards St. sign which I think was the Central Pacific Plaza lot and also from the Sheraton. They had it planned well. At first i thought I had to catch my designated time at 11:30am but when I called they said they were going to have the shuttle running continuously. Next time I won't go so early. Looks a lot of people came just before the main attractions.

[kimo55]

oh. another thing that happened...

The bus ride back, was full. we got on the aina haina bus. The last to board was a haole family. 2 or three girls, mom and dad. the father was singing really loud getting on the bus. all the while, he was talking really loud. and whilstling loud. I told him to quiet down. he started saying something like we're gonna crash or sumpin lidat. Some guy behind us told him " that's not at all appreciated. quiet down." he said "oh I'm only joking. relax!"
( from Tommy Bahama, on down. I hate when mainlanders tell us this. "Oh Relax")

He sees us apparently going past the aina haina stop. we are going past to first drop off a bunch of people at Kaiser, then double back.
All hell breaks loose. he runs to the front and yells at the driver "Drop us off here! we wanna be let off here. we will walk across the street. whaddya doing? this is stupid. can't you people do anything right around here? let us off now! you are going past our stop!" he is causing such unrest i sure wouldn't wanna see this guy on an airplane.
We tell him to siddown and shuddup, as he is causing a ruckus. he walks back to his seat telling us again "relax" I tell him with calm and equanimity, not angry, but forcefully, ." Lissen YOU relax. You are causing trouble. Are these your kids here? You otta be ashamed of yerself giving such a bad example. teaching them to be arrogant trouble makers. what a thug. Where you from. L.A.?! leave that attitude there. In Hawaii we do things different. So what if we go a few extra blocks. What ya gonna do. Sue?! just enjoy the ride, stop complaining and stop making sooooo muuuuuch nooooise and ruining it for everyone else. Stop making trouble."

a little after that a loudmouth haole woman said " where are we going?! This is BULLS#!T !"

I yelled at her:
"Hey! Curb your language. there are children on this bus"
that seemed to instill a modicum of respect in her. But no, it was shortlived. she raised her voice and proceeded to continue proving what an ass she was and everything else revolves around her as she is the center of the universe.

I suppose one would think the guy thought that bigmouth was a compadre of his, since she's echoing what he is feeling, still, as a father he shoulda told her to not swear in front of his own children.
The poor bus driver. Just doing her job and half of the bus was yelling and verbally abusing her.
That was sheer hell. i tellya; Some people's children....

[1stwahine]

I sure wish I wuz on that BUS! To give them a sampling of Island Flavor of Auntie Pupule's Classic Whack Whacks! :eek:

Auntie Lynn

[cezanne]

Kinda got a chuckle reading a review in this mornings paper which said that WAR performed classics like "Frisco Kid". :D

[Royce]

That's funny I too was parked in the Kakaako lot. I boarded the bus at 12:00 but it didn't leave till 12:15. Being a regular concert goer I've always had to smuggle my cameras in. I wore baggy cargo shorts so I stored my camera there. I wished I brought my long lens SLR camera.We rode the same bus! Unfortunately I wasn't too observant of everyone else on the bus. You weren't the one who boarded the bus and then stepped off with us when the bus driver lit a cigarette signaling a few more minutes' wait, were you? I usually carry a camera in to events too, but first time da wife came with me and she was worried about getting "searched". That based on one of her post-911 stadium events when security was still paranoid hype. I should have let my instincts have the say.

[na alii]

We rode the same bus! Unfortunately I wasn't too observant of everyone else on the bus. You weren't the one who boarded the bus and then stepped off with us when the bus driver lit a cigarette signaling a few more minutes' wait, were you? I usually carry a camera in to events too, but first time da wife came with me and she was worried about getting "searched". That based on one of her post-911 stadium events when security was still paranoid hype. I should have let my instincts have the say.

That was my high school classmate Phil that got off for a smoke break. I think you were the guy that told me this bus isn't going anywhere for 5 minutes with the driver taking a smoke break. I was the one that said "At least 5 minutes". It must of been you and your wife talking to my friend Phil and the bus driver.

[na alii]

oh. another thing that happened...

The bus ride back, was full. we got on the aina haina bus. The last to board was a haole family. 2 or three girls, mom and dad. the father was singing really loud getting on the bus. all the while, he was talking really loud. and whilstling loud. I told him to quiet down. he started saying something like we're gonna crash or sumpin lidat. Some guy behind us told him " that's not at all appreciated. quiet down." he said "oh I'm only joking. relax!"
( from Tommy Bahama, on down. I hate when mainlanders tell us this. "Oh Relax")

He sees us apparently going past the aina haina stop. we are going past to first drop off a bunch of people at Kaiser, then double back.
All hell breaks loose. he runs to the front and yells at the driver "Drop us off here! we wanna be let off here. we will walk across the street. whaddya doing? this is stupid. can't you people do anything right around here? let us off now! you are going past our stop!" he is causing such unrest i sure wouldn't wanna see this guy on an airplane.
We tell him to siddown and shuddup, as he is causing a ruckus. he walks back to his seat telling us again "relax" I tell him with calm and equanimity, not angry, but forcefully, ." Lissen YOU relax. You are causing trouble. Are these your kids here? You otta be ashamed of yerself giving such a bad example. teaching them to be arrogant trouble makers. what a thug. Where you from. L.A.?! leave that attitude there. In Hawaii we do things different. So what if we go a few extra blocks. What ya gonna do. Sue?! just enjoy the ride, stop complaining and stop making sooooo muuuuuch nooooise and ruining it for everyone else. Stop making trouble."

a little after that a loudmouth haole woman said " where are we going?! This is BULLS#!T !"

I yelled at her:
"Hey! Curb your language. there are children on this bus"
that seemed to instill a modicum of respect in her. But no, it was shortlived. she raised her voice and proceeded to continue proving what an ass she was and everything else revolves around her as she is the center of the universe.

I suppose one would think the guy thought that bigmouth was a compadre of his, since she's echoing what he is feeling, still, as a father he shoulda told her to not swear in front of his own children.
The poor bus driver. Just doing her job and half of the bus was yelling and verbally abusing her.
That was sheer hell. i tellya; Some people's children....

We had few like that on the bus going back. A lot of them were drunk and was talking loud asking where are we going. Being someone who knows the roads on Oahu I already knew what route the bus driver was going to take and had to explain to the drunkards where we were exactly going. Before we even took off I knew a lot of them were on the wrong bus because they where asking another designation other than Kakaako. Well once we stopped at Kakaako and walking off the bus I hear people yelling "Blaisdell, we need to go to Blaisdell". It's hard to direct drunk people who don't know what's going on.

[jgardner808]

Aloha Mr. Holt...!
Would have made my day if you had made it to this crater festival... I had the pleasure of working with the audio crew and was FOH eng. for the show.! Had a blast. quite an experience and wont forget it. Hope to have the opportunity to do it again. It goes without saying that not everything was perfect, but hey.. ITs LIVE.... Run with it..! wish you the best. john./audissey.

[Royce]

That was my high school classmate Phil that got off for a smoke break. I think you were the guy that told me this bus isn't going anywhere for 5 minutes with the driver taking a smoke break. I was the one that said "At least 5 minutes". It must of been you and your wife talking to my friend Phil and the bus driver.Yes that was us alright.

[papatwig001]

I'd like to get an old poster of one of the 70's concert in the crater if anyone can point me in the right direction! :)

Shootz!

[kimo55]

try the antique shop school st just before liliha.

[na alii]

I'd like to get an old poster of one of the 70's concert in the crater if anyone can point me in the right direction! :)

Shootz!

It might ask a hefty price. I read a Dave Donnelly column about an internet site was selling one for $1100.00. This one is already sold in another site.

http://starbulletin.com/98/04/03/features/donnelly.html

http://www.aloha-cruz.com/posters/images/sunshine_festival1.jpg

[anapuni808]

I'd like to get an old poster of one of the 70's concert in the crater if anyone can point me in the right direction! :)

Shootz!

I know I'm replying to an old posting but I have a framed poster from 1977 - the one with the girl sitting on the rainbow? Contact me privately & we can discuss it if you like.

Fran

[JKane]

I was the drummer vocalist for the Jasper Rose Band (1970s) and The Delta Band (1980s). I also helped with stage set ups and posted Sunbums posters in storefronts for free concert tickets in the 1970s. The Jasper Rose Band did some recordings at Audissy and we played at a few of their annual parties in the studio parking lot, along with groups like Shnazz who were good friends of ours. I was sorry to hear that Sam Holt passed away. These two bands I was in also did concert warm-ups at the HIC or NBC arena for the Elvin Bishop band, The Manhattens, and Rick Springfield (Jesse's Girl tour). Those were great times!

[JKane]

I was the drummer vocalist for the Jasper Rose Band (1970s) and The Delta Band (1980s). I also helped with stage set ups and posted Sunbums posters in storefronts for free concert tickets in the 1970s. The Jasper Rose Band did some recordings at Audissy and we played at a few of their annual parties in the studio parking lot, along with groups like Shnazz who were good friends of ours. I was sorry to hear that Sam Holt passed away. These two bands I was in also did concert warm-ups at the HIC or NBC arena for the Elvin Bishop band, The Manhattens, and Rick Springfield (Jesse's Girl tour). Those were great times! I will check back to see if you remembered us or at least those bands.

[na alii]

I remember Shnazz well. I recently went to Jelly's and converted the Shnazz LP to CD. It brought back memories. Burnin' Vernon Sakata is still playing these days.

[dave pearlman]

Hello everyone. I have enjoyed reading all of the comments about the Sunshine Festival. I was fortunate to be part of the festivities in 1974 when I played pedal steel guitar on stage with David Carradine and then Dobro with Ramblin' Jack Elliot. We came over as part of a film documentary (that was never finished) that also included Bonnie Bramlett. We stayed and rehearsed in Hana for a few weeks at Red Shepperd's ranch where he had a stage built for us to perform for a few friends before going to Diamond Head. ( I have a picture or two of that stage). What I don't have is any pictures of myself on stage at the Festival and would really love it if anyone has those and would be willing to share. All I have (to go with my memories) is a big yellow button and a now worn tank top with the Sunshine "poster" on it. Also, I have read here about Journey's 1977 appearance but I am pretty sure that they played after us in 1974; Neil Schon's amp blew and he used my Fender Twin Reverb amp (which I still own) to finish the show. I went on to tour with Dan Fogelberg for a few years (and others), opened a recording studio in Los Angeles and now manufacture microphones. Again, if anyone has pictures of the acts I worked with I would appreciate any copies. Mahalo... Dave Pearlman rtndrascal@aol.com

[johmbolaya]

An emailer to the Star-Bulletin today, revved up by the Linda Ronstadt article, was quite upset that the newspaper website does not contain a database of every concert ever held in Hawaii. Well, SORRY, but that's not the newspaper's job. But it might be a website project for somebody out there...

There was a time when someone from Jelly's was trying to do this on their website. I had inquired way back when and actually offered to help with what I could find from all of my old "Rolling Stone" magazines. Of course there are easier methods, but has anyone ever moved on with something like this?

[johmbolaya]

This has been a topic I've always been interested in, especially since I was too young to go to the festivals (although the first concert I remember too was one of the last Loggins & Messina shows at the HIC, 1976 in support of their Native Sons album. I have the ticket stub somewhere.

Outside of the Carlos Santana/Buddy Miles album, there was an album by a psychedelic or prog rock band from one of the festivals at FreakEmporium.com, a British website which catered to fans of obscure and trippy rock bands from the 60's up until today. I wish I remembered the name, but it was the first time I had ever seen a Crater Festival live album other than Santana/Miles.

I was wondering if any of the live sets from the 70's had been recorded, or would that have been something the artists would have coordinated. I always liked that photo of Sunday Manoa that's at the Star Bulletin website, I wonder if their set was recorded, or any of the other local artists who were able to afford the service. While releasing them and having them as MP3's would be one option, there are a lot of us out there who still buy CD's, and if mastered and mixed properly, they would sound great.

BTW - has anyone ever put together a book on the festivals? I know this thread has been here for awhile, but while I am on the mainland, I would not mind doing this as a way to say yes, we had festivals in Diamond Head, at least before they returned and got a bit pricey.

Or any of the other festivals. I'll have to do a search here to see if anyone remembers that Hawaiian concert they had out in Makaha in the late 70's/early 80's.

[pzarquon]

I attended the 1970, 1971 concerts, was a stage hand/electrician on the 1972 and was the original site manager for the 1973 event but resigned prior to returning to New York. Bob Peyton and Bruce "Buddha" Bickley were the main organizers for stage/site security and later the whole event. I don't remember too many details, such as what musical groups played, but Peyton and Bickley, if you can find them, might prove to be very knowledgable.Bruce "Buddha" Bickley has found his way over to the "Diamond Head Crater Festivals (http://www.hawaiibase.com/wiki/Diamond_Head_Crater_Festivals)" section of the HawaiiBase wiki, and has typed up his own remembrance of the event (http://www.hawaiibase.com/wiki/Bruce_%22Buddha%22_Bickley_on_Diamond_Head_Crater_ Festivals). As bobcoia suspected, he provided a lot of other names from those days. Any of them ring a bell or stir up more memories worth recording?

He provided a little biographical information on himself (http://www.hawaiibase.com/wiki/Bruce_%22Buddha%22_Bickley), and corrected the entry on his brother Brian Bickley (http://www.hawaiibase.com/wiki/Brian_Bickley).

[Repercussion]

[quote=scrivener;6731] I'm toying with the idea of assembling in one place as much info about the old Diamond Head Crater Festivals as I can. Please--any details at all, whether objective or subjective, would be most appreciated.

Rick wrote, "The most memorable was the July 3 & 4, 1977 Sunshine Festival" and I concur.

I was there, on the Band Stage, as the drummer with The Bright Eye Band: Martin Samuel (drums), Chuck DeFrancis (lead guitar & vocals), Jim Kesilika (bass guitar & vocals), Chris Bovard (lead guitar & vocals).

Journey had a fellow-Englishman on drums, Aynsley Dunbar, and I believe it was vocalist Steve Perry's first gig with them.

The Bright Eye Band lived over on the windward side in Kailua ~ I will never forget driving a van full of equipment through the tunnel into the Crater ... and, I still have my (Ninth Annual) stage pass!

[LikaNui]

I was there, on the Band Stage, as the drummer In which case I clearly like the screen name you chose here! :p
And if only there was a thread called Percussion, the second post (and on) would be Re: Percussion.
(I know I'm gonna hear repercussions groans.)

[anapuni808]

My brother was one of the skydivers who did the exhibition jump into the crater during the 1977 festival. I still have a poster from that one, along with a photo of him just as he was landing in the middle of the crowd. According to him - it was a really cool jump!

[anapuni808]

as an update to the above - I just sold the poster to a really nice guy who had been at the Sunshine Festival and had lost his own poster. He just happened to be looking at Craigslist when I put the posting up.

I'm glad she went to a good home :D