“Heading to America” - Cecilio and Kapono (Part 3)

Eight months had gone by and the Rainbow Villa in Waikiki was packed every night...we were all having a good time. Our fans were strong, loyal and fun. Well...it was time to venture beyond the reef and head to the mainland, but before we left Uncle Tom Moffat took a chance on us and our popularity. He promoted us in concert at the World Famous, “WAIKIKI SHELL.” The Waikiki Shell became a home for us and all our fans. Lot of goodtimes!!! This was before our record deal and our first album. That was real BIG for us and we couldn’t of been more grateful to Uncle Tom. We were all surprised by the turn out. Some 5,000 people showed up and what a night that was. Crazy good!!! Well, off to the mainland, the Big Big Island, were two long haired, dark skinned boys from the islands with acoustic guitars and a lot of songs. “The Iron Works,” Palo Alto, California our first mainland gig. A popular restaurant/bar and there secret recipe rib sauce was the BEST EVER!!! “The Iron Works” is now gone. Well, there we were fresh out of water, literally(no pun intended). The first two weeks was a real downer. We were being judged as soon as we walked in. People would stop and stare as we walked in and made us feel very cold and uncomfortable. It was a nice family hip place and we stuck out like a sore thumb. Nobody knew who we were and no body really cared, but we stuck it out and played our music while they were talking. But that turned around when fans from home, who were in college, heard we were in town and came to see us. It change everything...thx guys!!! They brought their friends and they’re friends brought they’re friend and it was packed every night. The venue extended our contract for four more weeks... GOODTIMES!!! Speaking of Friends that was where the song Friends was imagined. In a small motel off El Camino Real. It came to me after our gig after midnight. Cee and I were sharing a room, it was dark and I didn’t want to wake Cee up, so I went to the bathroom and the rest is history...the birth of a song written in the bathroom. You never know when a song will come. The inspiration to this song came from that happy feeling you get when you see Friends. You know that feeling. It’s a loving feeling and it makes you feel GOOD. CRAZY GOOD!!! Anyway, our first experience beyond the reef turned out fantastic, new friends, old friends, whole new experience. Thx to friends like you who have been so outstanding...the journey continues.