Stories

You all know Nohelani Cypriano. She's probably the reason why you love Hawaiian funk music. Her LP, Around Again, has been on your list of most-wanted albums for a long time because no matter how many times you listen to "Lihue", you keep coming back for more. I can gratefully say that today I had the special privilege of asking Nohelani some in-depth questions about her music career. What I've learned from our conversation is this: Nohelani was ahead of her time. But I'll let her tell you about it.

If not for music, cultures would have a difficult time traveling thousands of miles around the globe in hopes of sharing the spirit of their lifestyle with cities worldwide. But luckily, we have music to connect with each other no matter where we live. But instead of a guy in Honolulu (me) sharing a Hawaiian mixtape with someone in Europe, DJ Tobago's mix does the opposite. An enthusiastic French DJ named Alexandre Watelet-Escudero, also known as DJ Tobago, recently shared with me his mix of 25 Hawaiian rare groove tracks. Not only was I excited to hear how a Frenchman...

Back when Mackey Feary split from Kalapana to form his own band, Hawaii's music scene was reaching incredible heights with new releases from talented artists. The debut LP from Macky Feary Band is certainly one of the greatest examples of the era, fueled by influences from all over the spectrum: jazz, funk, Latin, and soul. After recording the album in near secrecy with his group—band members weren't allowed to tell anyone about the project—Mackey Feary launched his solo album to acclaim. Just one thing: the people had no idea it was Mackey they were hearing! The story goes like this:...

Wofford-Keat's "Cheri"—which has been performed by artists like the Kingston Trio and the Peter Moon Band—is a nostalgic love song that transports listeners to a paradise high above the clouds, where Cheri and her silver bird glide gracefully. Listen to "Cheri" and hear for yourself.

Phil Keat and Steve Wofford spent two weeks recording their debut LP, "Road To Home" in Herb Ono's Sounds of Hawaii studio. With appearances from artists like Henry Kapono and Gaylord Holomalia, "Road To Home" is a pleasant mixture of gentle, soulful tunes reminiscent of Country Comfort and American soft rock/AOR of the era. But I'll let Phil Keat tell you more about it.