Tavana is an award winning, multi-instrumentalist from Honolulu, who uses his feet to lay down a variety of grooves while simultaneously playing guitar, banjo, lap steel, or ukulele and singing soulful, island-inspired Rock and Blues. A friend of Donna, Tavana came back in 2025 for his second Daisy Fest!

Robi Kahakalau is a Grammy nominated, multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winning artist, including Female Vocalist of the Year. She is one of Hawaii's most recognized voices, and joined us for the first time at Daisy Fest 2025! Donna was a fan, and saw Robi at the Blue Note in 2021, just three days before her cancer diagnosis.

Johnny Helm is certainly a  friend to Daisy Fest, and was a dear friend and business collaborator with Donna before her passing. The two-time Emmy Award winning composer and singer/songwriter is also a three-time Na Hoku Hanohano award nominee, winner of the Hawaii Songwriting Festival, and returned to Daisy Fest for his third time in 2025. Johnny can be found gigging in Waikiki, infusing comedy and improv into his set list.

Two days after the Lahaina fires, Kala'e wrote "Sands of Old Lahaina," which went on to win three 2024 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, including song of the year. We're proud to consider Kala'e a friend, who played not only at Donna's wedding, but her funeral service and burial. His song, "Dance In The Colors Of Spring," off his new album, "Drifting On Island Time," was written to honor Donna.

Yet another multi Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, Lopaka has collaborated with local legends Jake Shimabukuro, Willie K, and Cecilio and Kapono, not to mention international artists Jack Johnson, Michael McDonald and Mick Fleetwood. Always a supporter of Donna, Daisy Fest 2025 was Lopaka's 5th event honoring "Daisy."

Donna saw Jenny perform at the Blaisdell when she was still a teen (Jenny, not Donna). Now the indie folk singer songwriter is part of the Henry Kapono Foundation's "On The Rise" program, and is making her mark in the local music scene. She joined Donna once again, and her performance was a crowd favorite, for her Daisy Fest debut in 2025!

Shawn is a multi Na Hoku Hanohano and Emmy Award winner, and Grammy nominee for his producing as well as his musical talents. He has toured the world, sharing stages with Janet Jackson, Maxi Priest, Steel Pulse, America, Jack Johnson and countless others, and he is considered contemporary Hawaiian music royalty by many. His presence at the Blue Note, and his participation in Daisy Fest was an honor for all of us.

This Los Angeles native first graced a Hawaiian stage with Kala'e and Layla Camarillo, Imua and Tiffa Garza, Lopaka Colon and Pierre Grill at Donna's wedding in 2019! A long time friend of Donna's, Jeff returned for Daisy Fest 2025, reuniting his bass grooves with some of the same artists! A gifted television composer, Jeff is currently fronting a world music project known as "Four Fires Burn."

Wendy is a vibrant, funny, immediately likable performer who has appeared on popular shows including “Mad About You,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “The Sopranos,” as well as at stand-up comedy venues around the country. She is also an pancreatic cancer survivor, who's talks on “breaking up with cancer” continue to offer tools for patients and loved ones alike.

Shortly after Donna was diagnosed, in October of 2021, I was scanning the web for information and inspiration. I came across a YouTube video of a pancreatic cancer survivor. Her energy, humor and enthusiasm for life reminded me a lot of Donna. I showed Donna the video, and she was equally inspired and moved. This woman had beat the odds, which is exactly what Donna intended to do! One of the messages that resonated with my dear wife was, “I’m a survivor, because I am still here!!” Donna had already been telling her friends that “this is MY cancer and MY body, and I am NOT a statistic!” The new phrase would give her the validation, confidence and hope that she needed to squelch any remaining doubts.

Somehow, I found the woman’s email address, and reached out. Wendy Hammers responded immediately, and asked if she could call Donna. When I told Donna, she burst into tears. She was so moved and touched that a stranger would want to talk to her and listen to her story. The two women chatted, cried, laughed and promised to stay in touch. Wendy never had a chance to meet Donna in person, but she had a profound impact on her. She gave her first-hand proof that this disease could be conquered. Donna believed that, in her heart, for the rest of her life.

I had the pleasure of seeing Wendy in a one-act play in Los Angeles in December 2024, and we finally met in person. I know that Donna would have loved being there, and would be proud that I am keeping the connection alive.

Wendy joined us at the Blue Note at Daisy Fest 2025 to share an insider’s perspective on living with cancer and surviving. And she finally got to meet Donna, in the place that she loved, with the music that she lived for.

John Cruz is a Grammy and multi-time Na Hōkū Hanohano Award winning artist, who was kind enough to personally deliver a CD to Donna at her office when he ran out of inventory at a show! This, from the guy that wrote and sang the local Hawaiian anthem "Hawaiian Style." One of Donna's favorite artists, we were honored to have him perform at the inaugural Daisy Fest.

Makana is no stranger to Donna's events. He performed for her 50th birthday celebration in 2024, and has been a dear friend ever since. He is an internationally acclaimed Slack Key guitarist, singer, composer, philosopher and activist. We were honored that he returned to the Bayer Estate for Daisy Fest 2024!

Hawaii-raised and nine time Grammy award winner, Benny Rietveld has been Musical Director and bass player for Carlos Santana for over 25 years. He's also a producer and composer who has played and recorded with Miles Davis, Sheila E, John Lee Hooker, Dave Matthews, and many others. We are excited to welcome him to our Daisy Fest family!

From Bach to rock, and flamenco infernos to tribal hymns, Taimane focuses her songwriting and performances on bringing feelings and visions to life with passion and theatricality. A jaw dropping ukulele virtuoso and Na Hoku Hanohano award winning artist, Taimane was a favorite of Donna's, and we were excited by her surprise appearance at Daisy Fest 2024!

Blayne won his first Na Hoku Award for Most Promising Artist in 2016, and has been living up to that title ever since. Playing and touring with the likes of Henry Kapono and John Cruz, Blayne has certainly made a mark for himself in the islands. Making his Daisy Fest debut in 2024,  we were thrilled to have him join us!

Lono has been sharing his bass lines, vocals and nose flute with us for years, and were excited to reunite the power trio of Makana, Lono and Lopaka. Touted as the "Hawaiian John Entwistle” Lono’s charismatic presence and rock solid lines make the trio an unforgettable experience in blending the traditional Hawaiian sounds with their own unique style.

Makana introduced us to the traditional folk stylings of Last Jeronimo, from Mexico City, Mexico. Jeronimo is a master of the Son Jaracho style of music, which comes from his native Gulf Coast city of Veracruz, and plays the Jacana, which is strummed in a unique rhythm that blended beautifully with Makana's Hawaiian tinge.

This Grammy-nominated, Emmy award-winning singer/songwriter, caught our attention with her song, "Stand Together," moving Donna to integrate it into her wedding ceremony. Faith was not available at the time, but returned to join us for Daisy Fest 2023.