Stories

Our first-ever zine has arrived: the "da kine: Summer Zine by Aloha Got Soul

Our first-ever zine has arrived: the "da kine: Summer Zine by Aloha Got Soul

In an attempt to make the most fun out of vending at the Film & Vinyl Record Swap Meet yesterday in Kaka'ako, we produced a DIY zine to give away for free.  The "zine-brochure-poster-guide" thing offers two projects we thoroughly enjoyed making (and might've even gotten away from ourselves in the process): an "official" guide to places where you can and/or could buy records in Honolulu, and a collection of Top 5 lists from our staff. As with any zine, there's a few mistakes and typos to be found, but no mattah!  We still have some left and will be giving them out...

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Kalapana's sophomore album available on vinyl June 26, 2022

Releases

Kalapana's sophomore album available on vinyl June 26, 2022

We are honored to bring Kalapana's second album, Kalapana II, back to vinyl for the first time in nearly four decades.  The vinyl release will be available on Sunday, June 26, 2022.  Whereas Kalapana's debut LP, Kalapana, was a masterfully crafted exercise in soulful rock pop, their sophomore album, Kalapana II, saw the band expanding and stretching itself toward a signature sound.     The LP kicks off with a powerful pair of tracks — "Love Em" and "Freedom" — gliding into the classic Malani ballad, "(For You) I'd Chase A Rainbow", followed by a string of bluesy, folksy, country tunes, "The Way That I Want It To Be" and "Dorothy Louise". Then comes the beloved pop hit penned by...

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Join Kainani Kahaunaele for a Hawaiian vinyl digging excursion at AGS

Video

Join Kainani Kahaunaele for a Hawaiian vinyl digging excursion at AGS

Kainani Kahaunaele joined us with her two daughters for a dig through the bins at AGS. The award-winning singer, songwriter, and ’Ōlelo Hawai’i language teacher shared her knowledge and mana’o about numerous songs, musicians, stories, and family memories while flipping through the records in our ‘used Hawaiian vinyl’ section.  Filmed and edited by Max High.  AGS is a record shop in Honolulu and the headquarters for Aloha Got Soul, a record label championing new music and rare reissues from the Hawaiian Islands. Pre-order Kainani's new vinyl record on Aloha Got Soul here.

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New on 7" vinyl: Kainani Kahaunaele's R&B Hawaiian mele, "He Lei Aloha No Mī Nei"

New on 7" vinyl: Kainani Kahaunaele's R&B Hawaiian mele, "He Lei Aloha No Mī Nei"

When Kainani Kahaunaele releases a new album, the entire island chain of Hawai‘i pays attention.  Despite a year's worth of covid-related restictions and lockdowns, her 2020 release, Waipunalei, saw a massive outpouring of support and interest, most notably seen during the December 2020 live streaming release party event on Facebook. Comments flooded the stream with no end in sight, the entire Hawaiian music community awash with her adoring fans.  The following year, Waipunalei would earn her an unprecedented seven (7!) awards at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano ceremony. In short: she swept the place!   When we first heard her CD (Waipunalei was originally released in full...

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On Kalapana: Izik performs "Nightbird" live at AGS Honolulu and talks about Kalapana's influence on him

On Kalapana: Izik performs "Nightbird" live at AGS Honolulu and talks about Kalapana's influence on him

Following an intimate in-store performance at AGS Honolulu, we asked modern R&B artist, Izik, to tell us more about Kalapana's influence on him and his music. (Scroll down for his acoustic cover of "Nightbird", recorded live at AGS Honolulu on Sunday, March 27, 2022.) 1. What is your all-time favorite Kalapana track? Why do you love it? My all-time favorite Kalapana song is “Nightbird”.  I grew up hearing that song so many times but it wasn’t until I started covering it at my gigs that I really fell in love with it. Seeing and singing the lyrics really made me aware of...

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