The Resilient Randy Parker
By Leilehua Yuen Growing up surrounded by music, it was little wonder that Randy Parker became a professional musician. “My Father played ‘ukulele, and Mom played piano and ‘ukulele and danced hula. I liked the music they listened to. A…
Taiko Drumming
By Denise Laitinen There is something intrinsically mesmerizing about percussion—drummers performing in unison, beating out rhythms both simple and intricate. That rhythmic enchantment has led in part to the rise in popularity of Japanese taiko drumming across Hawai‘i Island, the…
Komakakino: A Hilo Cultural Treasure on the Music Scene
By Paula Thomas They have stepped forward as keepers of the future flame, this band from Keaukaha. Called Komakakino, the band is a foursome that performs and entertains with traditional Hawaiian music from days of old. And they are simply,…
Kukuau Studio
Build it and they will come. And come they have. Since opening Kukuau Studio in downtown Hilo two years ago, musician and music/vocal teacher Bub Pratt has created a community center that provides music instruction by day and performance art space…
Lale Kam: Walking Sunlight, Living Aloha
By Kate Kealani H Winter Lale says her name means “sunshine” in Hawaiian, which seems perfect for this child of Hawai‘i, who has spread aloha across the U.S. for decades. It also may refer to a legendary bird known as…
Rupert Tripp Jr. Continues to Joyfully Sing
By Alan D. McNarie It’s Thursday night at Café Pesto in Hilo, and Rupert Tripp Jr. is singing and playing his guitar. It’s not easy. Café Pesto is famous for its food, yet the many glass windows and the high…
Living Pono: Bula Akamu
By Mālielani Larish Sitting on the white sands of Kamakahonu Beach, framed by the lush slopes of Hualālai Volcano and the dazzling waters of Kailua Bay, Bula Akamu closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Two hundred years of history unwind…
The Lim Family of North Kohala: The Third Generation of Hawaiian Music and Hula Royalty Carry Traditions Forward
By Karen Valentine How one family can encompass so much talent is almost beyond the comprehension of us mere mortals. Yet, in the presence of Hawaiian music and hula royalty, the Lim Family makes it seem easy as they share…
Sounds of Old Hawai‘i: Kalapana Awa Band
By Denise Laitinen Travel to the end of Kapoho–Kalapana Road in Kaimū on a Wednesday night and you’ll find the weekly night market at Uncle’s Awa Club in full swing. Long communal picnic tables are packed with folks enjoying all…
Laupāhoehoe Music Festival: Celebrating and Supporting the Community
By Denise Laitinen On April 23, one of the largest and most beloved annual events on the Hāmākua coast will take place at Laupāhoehoe Point Beach Park. Now in its 11th year, the Laupāhoehoe Music Festival draws residents and visitors…
Songbirds of Miloli‘i: Nā Kūpuna, Nā Keiki, and Diana Aki
Diana Puakini Aki had already acquired the nickname “The Songbird of Miloli‘i” when she received the Female Vocalist of the Year award for her debut album, Memories of You, in 1990. One of the songs on it is a haunting…
The Merrie Monarchs of Hulihe‘e Palace: The Men Who Sing for the King
By Karen Valentine A group of men who love music and love to sing Hawaiian songs gathers together on one Sunday each month to sing their hearts out on the lānai at Hulihe‘e Palace in Kailua-Kona. They have staying power,…
An Evening with the Multifaceted Lito Arkangel
By Le‘a Gleason Before we begin, let’s get one thing straight: Lito Arkangel is kolohe. He’s not just the literal English translation of the word, “rascal.” There is something much deeper to the spirit of this 40-year-old trickster-turned-musician/teacher. He’s much…
Becoming Mele‘uhane: Spirit of Song
By Le‘a Gleason Most Kailua-Kona residents are no strangers to the surname Lindsey, as it signifies a family notorious for playing Hawaiian music and well-known for their ties to the ranching industry. As a boy, Lindsay “Keikilani” Lindsey was raised…
Voices of the Bamboo: The ‘Ohe Hano Ihu, Hawaiian Nose Flute
By Leilehua Yuen The ‘ohe hano ihu, or bamboo nose flute, is found on many island groups in the Pacific. In Hawai‘i, it is considered a sweetheart’s instrument. It is not a loud instrument; rather, the tone is intended to…
Music Legend in the Making: Sean Robbins
By Le‘a Gleason The article “The Secrets of Generations: How Slack Key Guitar Grew Community and Culture,” in the March-April 2014 Ke Ola, referenced slack key guitar as “the secrets of generations.” In days past, celebrated music legend Gabby Pahinui…
Sing-Song, Sing-Along! Celebrating 25 Years with the Kona Choral Society
By Fern Gavelek With one thing in common—the love to sing—Kona Choral Society’s 70-some members rehearse weekly to perform concerts for the enjoyment of the community. This year, KCS is marking its 25th year with a new name, additional performances,…
Mark Yamanaka: “Just a regular dude that loves music”
By Catherine Tarleton Only in Hawai‘i. Only in Hilo, actually, can you buy a car, turn on the radio, and drive away listening to a hit song by the guy who sold it to you. Nine-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winner…
The Voice of an Angel: Kanani Enos
Kanani Enos grew up in a world of music, Hawaiian rhythm and melody reverberating through generations to create the living song she is today. “I grew up listening to my dad playing slack key guitar all the time,” she says.…
Kiernan Music: A Legacy of Love from Father to Son
By Fannie Narte When you walk into Kiernan Music in Kainaliu, the guitars, ‘ukuleles, and musical paraphernalia that fill every wall and floor space overcome your visual senses. Without taking another step, you notice the unique instruments hanging on the…
The Secrets of Generations: How Slack Key Guitar Grew Community and Culture
By Le‘a Gleason Anyone who’s grown up or even visited Hawai‘i will notice one thing: here in these islands, it is never silent. Instead, the air is filled with a rich array of sounds—from the din of wild roosters crowing…
Crafting the Rhythm of Hula: Vea’s Polynesian Gifts
By Catherine Tarleton I had to make an ‘ulī‘ulī for hula class. If you don’t know, ‘ulī‘ulī is a rhythm instrument, a gourd rattle, decorated with a circle of kapa cloth to which feathers are sewn. Finished, it looks kind…
Bruddah Waltah: The Father of Hawaiian Reggae
By Le‘a Gleason It’s amazing—and not surprising—how many people in Starbucks recognize Walter Aipolani. To them, he’s Bruddah Waltah, a 30-year music sensation sometimes called “the father of Hawaiian reggae.” “My family was always into music,” he explains. Walter was…
The Love Story of Harp and Soul: Manuel and Bernice Roberto
By Gayle “Kaleilehua” Greco The strum of the harp mixed melodically with the sound of the flute leaves an echo lingering in the air. It weaves with the breeze, playing on heartstrings, as if one is sitting in heaven. Lost…
Craftsmanship that Sings: Big Island Ukulele Guild
By Le‘a Gleason I am no stranger to the tangy smell of sawdust and the intense groan of power tools, as my father is an ‘ukulele and guitar builder who has successfully made a name for himself over the last…
Ali‘i Keana‘aina Shares Music From His Heart
By Shirley Stoffer He is an imposing figure, being of large build, with a full head of long, wavy hair. Carved bone earrings spiral through his earlobes. He smiles, and any feeling of intimidation one might have first felt in…
Intent is Everything to Luthier Dennis Lake: The Making of an Expert
By Shirley Stoffer When I make an instrument,” luthier Dennis Lake says, “my intention is everything. If I know who I’m creating it for, they are in my head the entire time I’m making the instrument.” Since his early 20s,…
Hula Instruments: The Rhythm of the Dance
By Denise Laitinen “I le‘a ka hula i ka ho‘opa‘a”—the hula is pleasing because of the drummer. The well-known quote from Mary Pukui’s seminal book, ‘Ōlelo No‘eau, means that although the attention is given to the dancer, the drummer and…
Under the Radar: Ben Kaili is His Own Man
By Shirley Stoffer He appears at most of the major Hawaiian music events on the island of Hawai‘i and neighboring islands, playing slack key guitar and singing in his sweet, nahenahe style. He shares traditional Hawaiian music at music festivals…
Anela Strings: Angel Music by Timeless Troubadours
By Marya Mann A Live Concert It’s just after sunset and Kristin Aria Shaw’s graceful fingers are dancing on her Celtic harp. Irminsul’s long hair billows in a soft breeze coming off the sea as his body vibrates with arpeggio…
