Hōkū Pa‘a: The North Star of Melodic Harmonies

By Gayle Kaleilehua Greco

Sitting in the ancient petroglyph fields at Waikoloa, Tani Waipā looked to the heavens for guidance on what was to be her next step in life. In moments of deep reflection and trust, Tani scanned the night sky as the stars gave way to what appeared to be the only star, the North Star–Hōkū Pa‘a.

From the tradition of Hawai‘i’s master navigators who relied on their knowledge of the stars to give them a sense of where they are and what direction to head, this was the nod Tani was given from above. Hōkū Pa‘a, meaning literally “immovable star,” would become an ever-shining icon and name for Tani’s entrepreneurship in the music business.

Growing up in Hilo, Tani, her sister Jennifer, and cousin Lorna were raised by their paternal grandparents, Tani’s father, and extended family. Tani shares, “We all had to be in the house pau [finished] at 6pm and washed up because family worship service started after dinner.” The Waipā ‘ohana shared the rich traditions of himeni (native song), Bible verses and ho‘oponopono (forgiveness) each evening. “If anyone had anything troubling them, here was the time to come out and be done with it,” says Tani.

Music and church summed up most of Tani’s life. Her father, Clarence Waipā, was the choir and music teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School in Hilo for 35 years and directed several other Hilo community and church choirs as well. Her grandfather, Abraham Waipā, a Puna native born in Kapa‘ahu near the long since lava covered Waha‘ula Heiau, started the Seventh Day Adventist church in Opihikao where himeni were the standard of the day. It was in church and at home where the girls learned to sing harmony with each other, something they still love doing together today.

Attending St. Joseph’s High School, and under the direction of her father as choir director, Tani joined the Cardinal Singers in her freshman year. “That was the group to be in if you wanted to sing,” Tani shares.

Jazz and Big Bands

In 1994, Tani left Hilo for Los Angeles and was drawn to jazz, big band, and swing music. “I used to take the plastic demo records that were sent to my father and play them on my cousin’s portable record player,” Tani says, recalling her childhood days in a house filled with Hawaiian music, choir, pop, and jazz tunes. “When I listened to [the song] ‘A String of Pearls,’ it was the first time I ever heard that kind of music and was totally entranced by it.”

For Tani that was the epiphany, and years later she followed her heart to sing with big band, jazz, and swing groups. As she auditioned for various music shows in Los Angeles, Tani befriended Al McKibbon, a well-known jazz bassist, who helped her with a critique of her singing style, as he also helped others who auditioned.

For the first time outside of her father, Tani was groomed by leading jazz musicians and groups. She had to learn spontaneity. “With choral and himene, I was used to blending. I had a big learning curve in front of me to be able to front a band,” says Tani.

During a successful run at singing solo with big bands and working full time at the Los Angeles County Assessor’s office, Tani was touched by her roots of Hawaiian music when singing “I’ll Remember You” with long-time Kapalua pianist Al Bellerose. After being away from home for 15 years, Tani was drawn to move back to Hawai‘i Island in 2009 and focus full time on her music and the art of entertainment.

Important are the Connections

Good fortune would surround Tani when she met Duane Yamada, a bass and guitar player from Honoka‘a. Prior to their meeting, Duane was asked to be a judge at the Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Falsetto & Storytelling Winners’ Competition. Sitting on the judges’ dais was multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award winner, Darlene Ahuna.

Timing being everything, Duane asked Darlene to join him at the (then) Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel show, an arrangement that would last four years. On nights when Darlene had jobs in Hilo, Duane invited Tani to substitute in the music duo. “Duane is the most supportive person, a good example for me. He’s the most constant and positive person in his belief that I can sing,” shares Tani.

Duane was born and raised in Honoka‘a on the Hāmākua Coast, in a rural Japanese community. “I remember playing with cousins that lived in the same neighborhood, picking sugarcane from the cane field behind our house and munching on them as a candy substitute, and swimming in gulch ponds close to our house,” says Duane.

He first played music at Honoka‘a Elementary School, starting with the ‘ukulele followed by guitar. In high school, Duane expanded his musical repertoire to include drums and bass.

Moving to O‘ahu in 1973, Duane studied business management at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. After graduating from college, Duane moved to Hilo and then returned to his beloved Honoka‘a in 1986 with his wife and children.

On a night off from work, Duane was listening to Laupāhoehoe legend Bruddah Smitty, nephew of Gabby Pahinui, at The Broiler in Waimea. As luck would have it, Smitty’s bass player was not on stage and Duane was asked to fill in for a few songs. That impromptu night started an eight-year music engagement between the two that lasted until Bruddah Smitty fell ill. Duane shares, “Hooking up with Bruddah Smitty was such a blessing. He was so talented and very kind to me. He took me under his wing and taught me a lot.”

Enter Hawaiian Falsetto

Born in Kāne‘ohe, O‘ahu, Darlene and her family moved to Hilo when she was 14 years old and she quickly immersed herself in Hawaiian music, the community, and high school sports. Self-taught in voice, ‘ukulele, and guitar, Darlene has emerged as one of the most prominent traditional Hawaiian musicians and falsetto vocalists.

Early in her music career, Darlene toured with Genoa Keawe, Ku‘uipo Kumukahi, Dennis Pavao, and the Mākaha Sons, playing a range of venues from clubs to festivals and even Carnegie Hall. Darlene reflects on those days of the concert tours, “I really get to do this? Really? That’s just awesome.”

As her years of playing music translated to her award-winning CDs and songs, Darlene talks story about some of her favorite moments with the audience, “It’s really humbling, after the show, when they are brought to tears, ‘You sang a song, that was my mom’s favorite song and you took me back to my childhood days and family parties,’” Darlene confides, “Oh, and that’s why I love doing this.”

Coming Full Circle

In 2015 Hōkū Pa‘a was formed when Tani Waipā and Duane Yamada turned their duet into a trio with Randy Ka‘aihue playing guitar. The group played regularly at resorts and clubs in Waikoloa and Hilo and produced their first CD, Hōkū Pa‘a LIVE! in 2017.

Hōkū Pa‘a was charted to find its new third member when Randy moved to Hilo to continue his music career on the east side of the island. That’s when Darlene Ahuna joined Hōkū Pa‘a.

The rich and smooth harmonies of Tani’s sweet melodic voice and ‘ukulele strumming, Darlene’s traditional falsetto and 12-string guitar playing, counterbalanced with Duane’s groove of the upright bass give audiences a commanding show of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music.

Darlene recalls one of the early times they played together as the trio was at the Waipā Music Festival at Hanalei Bay, Kaua‘i. “For the first time, I felt relaxed and comfortable…whoever you play with, you are learning. And now it’s a mature learning.” Tani and Duane add into the conversation how the three of them share the responsibility together and can lean on one another for support.

The camaraderie and friendship between the three musicians is evident when watching them interact with each other and the audience. Tani explains, “A two-hour set is good for us. We have time to build rapport with the audience to show the personality of the group and do a variety of songs.”

“That is a real nice music environment,” Darlene comments, “We get creative; we take old songs and put our spin on it and want to make those songs relevant again.”

With this new take on a trio of two female artists and one male, Hōkū Pa‘a is venturing into the studio in early 2019 with multiple award-winning producer Dave Tucciarone. Too early to speculate on the CD release, the group says it hopes to have the CD finished in the latter part of the year. Still connected to her jazz roots, Tani will join Honolulu jazz legends Benny Chong and Byron Yasui on a 2019 CD release as well.

From the evening’s prayer among the petroglyphs, the query was answered as Hōkū Pa‘a shines ever so brightly providing authentic Hawaiian cultural entertainment, education, music, and event production services while keeping fans coming back for more of their unique sound and personalities. ❖

---

You can see Hōkū Pa’a at:

• The Kings’ Shops, Waikoloa on Mondays 6–7pm
• The Hilton Grand Vacations Bay Club, Waikoloa on Fridays 4–6pm
• Hilo Ukulele and Guitar, May 4th, for a reunion concert with jazz singer Tani Waipā, Mila, Zanuck Lindsey and Kapala, Blue Money, and Darrell Aquino.

For more information: hokupaa.com
Facebook@hokupaamusic