Stories

I'm sorry for saying this, but if you weren't at the Hawaii Convention Center Ballroom to see Kalapana perform live at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, you'll never know the feeling of hearing the band play "Naturally" that night. In front of an audience who lauded (they were awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award) yet mourned for the band and its loss of an irreplaceable lead singer and composer, Mackey Feary, Kalapana was fullly spirited in laughter and love. Kenji Sato and Malani Bilyeu at the 2011 Na Hoku awairds, 'Mourn' isn't the right word. Rejoiced, these people were celebrating...

Here's a quick overview of what I took away from the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano awards festival. Kalapana performing "Naturally" live as the recipients of a Lifetime Achievement Award (just magnificent!). Touch of Gold. A Hawaiian Philly Motown Soul-style vocal group with a touch of, well, gold. Resonating quotes from presenters and award-winners Photos, photos, photos Bob Dylan, Slack Key and ... Tender Leaf? Ernie Cruz Jr. live and direct via Na Hoku workshops These are some of the ideas floating around in my head after spending the past two days experience the Hokus and its new Mele Mei month...

I'm always humbled whenever I engage with the Hawaiian music scene. It's a tight knit family of friends and relatives. People smile, hug, laugh. Everyone is warm and inviting. Everyone respects one another. It's a beautiful thing to be a part of.     No egos, no pride, just love and aloha. I was lucky enough to attend some of the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Festival Workshops. There were a lot of workshops held over a few days, featuring popular Hawaiian artists and mainland musicians. (Ernie Cruz Jr., Ray Parker Jr., Kimo Kahoano, Patrice Rushen to name just a few.)...

Covered by the Fabulous Krush but eternalized by its original composer on the AOR album of the same name, "Blame It On The Night" is one of the most laid-back tunes ever. But it wasn't written by a Hawaiian musician, yet it's worth mentioning on this Hawaiian music blog! The late Robert Byrne, a resident of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, wrote an album called "Blame It On the Night" in 1979, packed with ten near-perfect (okay, absolutely perfect) songs that push, pull and tear at the heart. In a word, Byrne's music is superb. His songwriting skills awarded him an induction...

"Ellie, My Love" by KalapanaAn English language version of "Itoshi no Ellie (いとしのエリー)", the Southern All-Stars (サザンオールスターズ) hit song, originally written in Japanese). From the album, "Kalapana Sings Southern All-Stars." [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDgHCZDe7lg}