Sandii has had many names, done many things, and performed on many of Fuji Rock’s stages over the years, so it should come as no real surprise to see her open the Pyramid Garden on Friday morning with Sandii’s Hula Angels, a dreamy Hawaiian dance performance.

Born Sandra O’Neal in Japan and raised partially in Hawaii, Sandii has worn a lot of hats. She may be most remembered, however, for her 80’s and 90’s with the new-wavey group Sandii and the Sunsetz alongside Makoto Kubota, opening for the likes of Blondie and David Bowie just to name a few. Arguably her most important artistic patron around this time however was Yellow Magic Orchestra’s legendary Haruomi Hosono, inviting her to perform guest vocals on Solid State Survivor, putting her and the Sunsetz on his Yen records label and even bestowing the nom de plume Sandii on her.

And what is there to do after such an illustrious career? Why become an Ūniki Kumu Hula certified instructor and settle into teaching hula dance of course!!

Her performance saw her as matron, MC and percussionist along with a group of ten hula protégées. It was an authentic and austere set, not a chintzy plastic lei or polypropylene grass skirt to be seen. The music itself early on largely consisted of Sandii’s Hawaiian chanting and percussion, very little else. It was powerful and sincere, sentiments that don’t always go hand in hand with hula. But it felt like hula the way it is intended to be.

The set went on to showcase more students and more pop and gave Sandii a chance to sing rather than simply chant, and was a lovely and varied way to set the mood for an easy breezy festival weekend.

If you want to sway hips and rub elbows with Sandii herself you could always enroll in Sandii’s Hula Studio!