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The Honolulu Advertiser
Delicious bounty of Hawaiian tunes ready to enjoy | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Sunday, January 15, 2006

ISLAND SOUNDS
 Delicious bounty of Hawaiian tunes ready to enjoy

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

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It's plum pickings, if you're a fan of Hawaiian music.

Aaron J. Sala makes an impressive vocal debut, interpreting classic and recent Hawaiian tunes (some with piano accompaniment). His arrival should stir the kind of commotion that greeted Raiatea Helm when she first graced the Island music scene.

'Anelaikalani Jennings, meanwhile, has matured into a savvy songbird, ready for mainstream action and reaction.

From Kaua'i, a backyard group called Na Pali shares an aural scrapbook of memorable moments from its collective life — in the nahenahe (sweet and melodious) style.

"KA 'UPU ALOHA (ALONE WITH MY THOUGHTS)" BY AARON J. SALA; HULA RECORDS

  • Genre: Traditional and contemporary Hawaiian.

  • Distinguishing notes: Aaron J. Sala's debut is designed to surprise and impress. His dad is Samoan, his mom is Hawaiian, Portuguese and Chinese, and his formative years spent growing up in Samoa are reflected in the shimmering South Seas elements in his sound.

    As the CD liner notes recount, the Kamehameha graduate also had valuable exposure to some of the best singers and mentors in town. Sala tackles oldies such as Bina Mossman's "He 'ono" and Johnny K. Almeida's " 'A 'oia!") with vigor, and newbies such as R. Keawe Lopes' "Hanohano Manoa" and Kaumakaiwa "Lopaka" Kanaka'ole's "Mele Kakepakea aloha" with assurance. (In the latter, Kanaka'ole performs, too, adding energy and drama.)

    With piano accompaniment, another kind of eloquence results on Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett's "Lei ana 'o Manoa i ka nani ona pua," which speaks of the valley's fragile beauty.

    In the midst of the Hawaiian songs, there's a glowing and evocative Rodgers and Hart revival of "My Romance," which fits in with the the alone-with-my-thoughts sentiment of the title song.

  • The outlook: Sala sounds like a star in the making.

  • Our take: Remember the name; Aaron J. Sala is courting fame.

    "COMPLETELY" BY 'ANELAIKALANI JENNINGS; MALIE RECORDS

  • Genre: Traditional and contemporary Hawaiian.

  • Distinguishing notes: Jennings opens and closes this CD with two Tokelauan tunes, which are rendered as a remembrance to her grandfather, whose roots were in Swains Island (Tokelau). Those songs bookend Hawaiian songs including "Ku'u Hoa," "Pua Carnation," "Noho Paipai," "Pua 'Olena" and "A Hawaiian Lullaby." Here, the former child singer blossoms into womanhood with a voice that has power and pertinence. It's one emotional ride, rich with nuance and mana'o.

  • The outlook: This volume should make folks take notice.

  • Our take: Her best outing yet, with style and substance.

    "NA PALI" BY NA PALI; AWAPUHI RECORDS

  • Genre: Contemporary Hawaiian.

  • Distinguishing notes: Na Pali is a Kaua'i-based group that prefers a lifestyle outside of the limelight. Essentially a backyard band, the group — comprised of Carlos Andrade, Pat Cockett, Pancho Graham and Fred Lunt — offers its first album since its 1987 debut. 'Ukulele, ki ho'alu and steel guitar are primary mood-setting instruments; because the band composes its own music, there's intimacy and personal expression galore. One of the pure gems is Moses Keale Sr.'s "Ua Mau (Hosana)," a himeni with deep ties to Ni'ihau, featuring veteran musician Malaki Kanahele.

  • The outlook: If you adore nahenahe singing, this one's a stellar choice.

  • Our take: Lots of riches here, and worth seeking out.

    Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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