History

Pu'u = Hill

Loa = Long, Large, Much, Grand, etc.

Pu'u + Loa = Long Hill

Mike's hometown is Pearl City, Hawai'i.  The early Hawaiian settlers referred to the area that eventually became Hawai'i as "Pu'uloa". 

Our name is a tip of the hat of our beloved home of Hawai'i Nei.

"Pu'uloa" is also a tip of the hat to the journey of life.  What is life if not "One Long Hill"?

Mike and Wendley "Bert" Kekauoha met completely by chance at a music shop in Baltimore, Maryland on August 23, 2023.

Mike and his high school buddy, Bryce (both Pearl City High School graduates), were shopping around Baltimore for vintage Rickenbacher steel guitars.

In walks Uncle Bert, not only another person born and raised from Hawai'i, but a man of Native Hawaiian ancestry (nearly pure Hawaiian ancestry).

What are the chances of that happening in Baltimore, Maryland?

Mike and Uncle Bert quickly found that they had a lot in common in their life paths, from having to make the tough decision to leave their beloved home of Hawai'i to finding out that they are both Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Uncle Bert is a Vietnam Veteran and served with the 101st Airborne Division.  Mike is an Afghanistan Veteran and ALSO served with the 101st Airborne Division. 

Mike and Uncle Bert performed with each other for one year and have unfortunately parted ways musically.  A 3-4 hour one way drive from Baltimore, Maryland to Richmond, Virginia can take its toll over time. 

Mike is carrying on Pu'uloa with local entertainers in Richmond, Virginia which includes two of Richmond's finest Jazz musicians and a Hula dancer.

Uncle Bert will always be cherished and recognized as a founding member of Pu'uloa.

Pu'uloa is happily performing as a Hawaiian Quartet including a Hula Dancer regularly twice a month at the Rockaway Tiki Bar, the rootop bar of the New York Deli in Richmond Virginia.    We perform just about every other Friday from 5pm to 8:30pm.

We catch the early crowd and play through the sunset, and hele on before the night crowd comes in.

Always open to perform for special events and corporate events which desire Hawaiian music entertainment should an opportunity present itself.