"Love & Affection — The EP"

The Green
(Easy Star)

The Green came out of the box big and strong with the release of its self-titled debut album in 2010. The quartet — Ikaika Antone (vocals/keyboards), JP Kennedy (vocals/guitar), Caleb Keolanui (vocals) and Zion Thompson (vocals/guitar/ukulele/percussion) — not only hit it big commercially but also won the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Award for best reggae album from the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts, a group that has never been particularly sympathetic to any type of Jamaican-influenced music.

The Green’s second album, "Ways & Means," will be released in late October. This five-song, digital-download EP previews the project and positions The Green as front-runners for best reggae album at the Hoku Awards in 2012.

Young "island music" groups routinely claim mastery of numerous genres of Jamaican music, and mainstream pop and R&B as well, but The Green is doing more than merely talk about being versatile. Take the title song, which opens with guitar riffs and rhythm tracks that are closer to Bruno Mars than conventional "island music." The song continues on into a local island groove but revisits that fresh multigenre pop sound. It’s a promising glimpse of what The Green is capable of doing.

"Got Me In Love" and "She Was The Best" will reassure the group’s fan base that The Green isn’t deserting them. "Travlah" goes a bit deeper into reggae "roots" music and rastafari religious perspectives. The fifth track "Travlah (Dub)" is an extra that won’t be included on the new album. No collection of The Green’s official discography will be complete without it.

The individual tracks are available as digital downloads at iTunes and Amazon.com. To pre-order an autographed copy of the upcoming album go to www.TheGreen808.com.

"Love & Affection"

"Ho‘ala Iapana"

Various artists
(Studio Saki)

Back in March and April, Hawaii was focused like a laser on helping Japan deal with the aftermath of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radiation disaster. Six months later, Hawaii’s concerns of the day are the second season of "Hawaii Five-0," the new Disney resort and whether the football Warriors will have a winning season. Japan is still dealing with aftermath of the March disaster, however, and this compilation — conceived by Kuana Torres Kahele and Japan’s Studio Saki — will help fund ongoing recovery efforts.

Kahele and producer Dave Tucciarone have assembled an impressive roster of contemporary Hawaiian artists. From the opening number, Napua Makua’s seductive rendition of "Puna Ku‘u Aloha," the mood is delightfully traditionalist. Consider, for example, Keali‘i Reichel joining Na Palapalai on "Poli Anuanu," and Kahele’s strong solo performance of "Haunani Mine."

Mark Yamanaka, Nathan Aweau and Kupaoa are also natural picks for a project like this, but Darren Benitez and Weldon Kekauoha are welcome as well. Benitez has a beautiful falsetto number in "Nani Wale Keia ‘Aina ‘O Iapana." Kekauoha brings life to the romantic sentiments of Lena Machado’s "Aloha No."

There is also a rarity. Louis "Moon" Kauakahi performs "Na Wehi O Na Mokupuni" as a solo artist.

All but two of the songs are either Hawaiian or traditional hapa-haole. Holunape appends Hawaiian lyrics to their solid acoustic pop remake of "The Rose," and Mevina Liufau adds a Tahitian-language song to the collection.

Fundraiser albums are often low-budget projects, but this isn’t one of them. Studio Saki includes a liner notes booklet that provides Hawaiian lyrics, English translations and photos of the artists.

"Ho‘ala Iapana" does not currently have an American distributor. For help locating a copy contact Marc Turner at www.bethelstreetgallery.com.

"Puna Ku’u Aloha"