Described as a University Hawaiian Combo, Manoa Voices is led by Chadwick Pang, a University of Hawai'i Hawaiian Ensemble teaching assistant, who serves as the quintet's musical director. He's concocted an acoustic menu featuring his haumana (students): Rosanna Perch, Mamina Koga, Justin Ka'upu and Sophronia Smith.

Their sound is fresh, though vintage (transporting listeners to a bygone, territorial era); their style is simple, though refined (letting voices dominate, supported by precise and sparkling arrangements). The menu is a ticket to happy times: "Ka Ua Loku," retelling the tale of Hanalei rains, with kaona (double meaning); "U'ilani," the beloved Lena Machado favorite about a newborn; "Palisa," the fabled classic about a hot-air balloon ride over Paris.

There are splendid tributes to the mele of South Seas cousins — "Manoa Te Manu," "Te Atairangikaahu," with the syncopation of the Marquesas and Maori cultures, respectively.

And check out "Beneath the Maori Moon," a waltz that evolves into a light swing jazz gem; it's not Hawaiian, but Island in spirit, and reflects the potential of growth ahead.

While this puts him outside the Island Sounds realm, he still has fans here — so it's worth mentioning that he now solos on either an eight-string cedar-top guitar, or a six-string spruce number, creating a vocabulary that is powerful and romantic, relaxing and inspiring, provocative and motivational.

From the beautifully haunting "Romanza" to the exotic "Granada," from the soul-stirring "Manha de Carnival" to the motivational "Ave Maria," he serves up eloquent visions of faraway places. Locals may adopt "Here Is Happiness" and "Sukiyaki" (rightfully, "Ue O Muite Aruko").

Vivaldi advocates should tune in to "Spring From Four Seasons" and "Concerto in D for Lute," with concert-hall presence; explore, and you'll discover Chopin and Schubert.