So did we learn anything from the previous Holo Holo write up recap? Absolutely. Keep reading to find out what went on during this amazing Island Reggae Festival and what you should expect for the next one in Tacoma, Washington.
All of Northern California migrated to sunny, scorchingly hot Sacramento in the middle of September. Even though it was deemed fall, in California the months of September and October are continued months of summer in our eyes. So, if you withstood the heat, I am so proud and impressed with you!
The one thing about Holo Holo festivals - they are consistent! You know exactly what you are going to get when you show up to a festival. Every layout may be different, and every location may have their own unique flair, and every stop potentially will have a different line-up, but what you can definitely expect is a long, fun weekend of good music, artists, food, and vendors.
Everyone on the line up fed your musical soul from nostalgia to current hits. Everyone from every age got to experience their favorite Island Reggae hits from Kapena, celebrating 40 years of music to Iam Tongi who is fresh in the music industry and already making strides with his breathtaking vocals.
Day One: Heavy Hitters
The first day line-up was filled with heavy hitters! If you did not show up, you missed out. Kolohe Kai and J Boog co-headlined the first night and closed out an amazing day. Everyone in the audience showing off they are Island Reggae lovers as they sing along to J Boog's and Kolohe Kai's greatest hits. Iam Tongi and Josh Tatofi's performances brought out all the Tongan flags from the audience as they bless the audience with their powerful vocals. Fia did what he does, and gave us his suave 90s RnB performance pairing it with his own Melody. Finn Gruva overwhelmed us with his performance, showing everybody how you Wind Ya Body. Ho'onu'a and Johnny Suite took us back to Hawai'i with their timeless sets and songs.
Day Two: Nostalgia
The second day we are hit with nostalgia! What I love about Holo Holo is how family friendly their festivals are. From the keiki's to the elders, there is something for everyone! Kapena, Ekolu, and John Cruz gives everyone a taste of their upbringing with their greatest hits. Starting off the day, Kuulei Music blesses the stage and the beautiful Irie Love sings us into the day with her love, her love, her love! Siaosi never fails to rock the stage and make a festival a Reggae Party for everyone.
The night ends with The Green and Maoli. The Green is All I Need, in this world! Talking about a beautiful moment, the team captured a video of a couple singing All I Need to each other, and it was the epitome of festival love, I couldn't contain the hopeless romantic in me. It was so cute! Now, I warned everyone to get their boots and hats ready, and I'm not saying it was my writing, but everyone understood the assignment for Maoli. The king of country reggae himself, said "You Can Have It All," therefore I believe everyone pulled the trigger and bought themselves their boots and hats. They are absolutely necessary for a Maoli performance. Maoli closed the night off with Every Night Every Morning, which is what everyone will be playing and continuing to sing at the top of their lungs as their post-festival withdrawals hit them in the following days.
Thank You for 40 Years, Kapena!
What Kapena song do you think he was singing? If you guessed "Don't Say Goodbye," you got it right! It's the only way to sing it. PERIOD.
Our 5 favs from Kapena:
- Masese
- Ofa Loto
- Talofa Teine
- Don't Say Goodbye
- Reggae Train
So, there's a hilarious trend going around on TikTok where people ask others, often professional athletes, to sign an old photo of themselves as a playful prank. We decided to give it a shot at Holo Holo Sacramento, and it was a blast! Huge thanks to the artists for being such great sports and going along with the fun. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure to check it out—it's too funny! Haha.
Make sure you get your tickets for a Holo Holo Festival coming near you! Holo Holo Tacoma, you are up next — November 9-10, save the dates!
Images provided by the featured individuals or sourced from their public social media profiles and online platforms. All rights remain with the original creators. Originally published in PMN+ Magazine, October 2024 (Vol. 1 No. 6).
October 2024 · Digital Magazine
