"I Know You by Heart"
Kupaoa
(Hulu Kupuna Productions)
Kupaoa — the husband-and-wife duo of Kellen and Kalikolihau Hannahs Paik — released its third full-length album last spring, but, as the liner notes on this new effort explain, even after releasing three albums, “some of the songs most dear to us still hadn’t made it to disc.” With this year-end project they’ve moved seven more songs off their “to do” list. Crisp acoustic arrangements, two strong lead voices and smooth harmonizing are the common denominators for all seven.
The couple co-wrote two new songs,“Kama‘alua” and “Mele Aloha.” The former honors California slack-key guitarist Patrick Landeza and his commitment to learning more about his Hawaiian heritage. The latter is an enigmatic slice of romantic life: Will an absent lover return or be gone forever?
Two Hawaiian compositions by Puakea Nogelmeier were inspired by his friendship with Dwayne and Marti Steele, active participants in the struggle to revive and perpetuate Hawaiian as a living language.
Kellen and Lihau put a Hawaiian spin on a pop oldie as they “mash up” an original Hawaiian song, “Lei ‘o Ma‘ili,” with “Dance with Me,” the 1959 hit by The Drifters. They also look beyond Hawaii with the title song; the plaintive message to an absent lover was previously recorded by American folk-pop vocalist Eva Cassidy.
Documentation is an essential part of all Hawaiian recordings. A nicely illustrated 12-page liner notes booklet holds the lyrics, English translations and background information. It certainly adds to one’s understanding of these songs to know that the name Kama‘alua was given to Landeza by slack-key master Dennis Kamakahi, and that Awaiaulu is the name of the Steele family home in Nuuanu.
www.kupaoa.com
"Limahuli"
"Napili"
Waipuna
(Poki)
Kale Hannahs (bass and pahu), David Kamakahi (ukulele) and Matthew Sproat (guitar and six-string ukulele) of Waipuna bring their partnership forward with this beautifully produced six-song extended-play album. They honor composers of previous generations with traditionalist arrangements of songs by Robert Cazimero, Manu Boyd and Randol Ngum, Dennis Kamakahi (David’s father) and, going back to the 1870s, Leleiohoku.
Two other composers come from within the group. Hannahs describes the scenic beauty he experienced driving around Makapuu to Waimanalo with “Hanohano No ‘o Waimanalo,” and the trio stretches out as musicians on “Napili Bay,” an instrumental David Kamakahi co-wrote with Herb Ohta Jr.
The guys kick things off with a zesty arrangement of “Na Makani ‘Eha” that has at least one of them yelling key lyrics to the others off-mic. The pace slows with a soothing version of “Aloha E Kohala” that displays their individual voices, their knack for harmonizing and their instrumental talents. The trio’s falsetto harmonies stand out on “Lei Ko‘ele.”
Pianist Iwalani Ho‘omanawanui Apo adds melodic flourishes to the trio’s crisp up-tempo rendition of Hannahs’ Waimanalo road song, and Aaron Sala is the guest pianist on the somber yet stately “He Inoa no Pauahi.” The piano has been part of Hawaiian music longer than the ukulele; it fits in beautifully here.
A six-page booklet of liner notes provides CD buyers with the Hawaiian lyrics and background information such as the significance of the title and the trio’s commitment to preserving their Hawaiian ancestors’ legacy. Folks interested in the English translations can contact the group at waipunamusic@gmail.com.
www.tropicalmusichawaii.com
"Na Makani ‘Eha"
