ETHPrague 2024

Ethereum Bard and The Open-Source Orchestra
06-02, 15:15–16:45 (Europe/Prague), Hacker House

This open-session has a mission to shine a light on our SolarPunk future. Artistically unbound to a stage or schedule block it lit up at ETHPRG'22 in the back patios, the coffee shop lobby, by the food trucks, and mainstage for the closing into a metro trip to up the metronome...


Aloha, my name is Shaka Lei Kaumaka, and we all are the Open-Source Orchestra. I am humbly taking up the calling I feel the universe is pulling me towards to be an Ethereum Bard. If you don't play D and D a simple online search would define what I mean. I'm meant to be down on the front lines singing along side hackers as they battle through code in the middle of the night. I will openly express the calling to the world to not only see the light in this SolarPunk Open-Source movement, but to also feel free to come Jam in our Open-Source Orchestra. We love to play and it often times is spontaneous. Keep your ears open and if you own or see an O-S.O instrument you can simply start jamming. Thus bringing to life the Open-Source Orchestra Protocol. Its that simple open-source decision to start hacking that creates something beautiful. Ethereum is open to everyone under the Solar power of the Sun and it's only just begun. As an artistic metaphor and tribute to Open-Source Technology participation in the Open-Source Orchestra is permission-less. New songs celebrating and encouraging Ethereum's mighty hackers are ready to be sung.

ALOHA, you may call me Shaka Lei. I am of Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese and Dutch decent and in the present moment I am a nomad based mostly out of my suitcases. Every now and then I am back in the degen cave found in my parents basement where I grew up mostly in the south of Denver. I love following ETH around the Globe and believe we are changing the world. I love sharing music and encouragement at hackathons and recently my frens started calling me an Ethereum Bard.

My Journey with Ethereum started with Devconnect in Amsterdam. 2010 when I was 20 years old for a year I was a missionary in South Africa until the church kicked me out and I got arrested for smoking pot. Then I went back to school and studied music in Hollywood until I got warn out by humans chasing stardom. After dropping out again I started the art of volunteering. First with a kitchen that helped the homeless until I became the kitchen manager. Then I started volunteering with one of my favorite bands called Dispatch until they started taking me on tour with their production crew and a founding member of the band's nonprofit sponsored me to live in Nicaragua teaching music. Then came covid and I became a degen in my parents basement at age 30. Feeling stuck I almost lost my mind so thankfully the universe led me to Ethereum, not online, but to the community of hackers behind it. It was way too late to be an early investor, first time buying ETH was all time highs in 2021 to buy a rugged nft project, that was also before I knew who Vitalik was and what consensus meant. It was however just at the exact right time to start volunteering with Ethereum hackathons around the world. I fell in love with all its possibilities and am now becoming an Ethereum Bard with the right heart to contribute.