“PILI ME KE ALOHA”

Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewett (Jasrac)

Kawaikapuokalani Hewett is one of the few culturally significant kumu hula who is equally significant as a recording artist.

Hewett received his first Na Hoku Hanohano Award for his work as a composer in 1981, and his first Hoku as a recording artist a year later. Although at times seen by other cultural practitioners as a “rebel,” he has always been securely grounded in the teachings of his kupuna.

Hewett’s new album lives up to expectations in all respects.

He describes it as “a step-by-step format of a wedding ceremony reflecting ancient Hawaiian traditions.” The songs all are originals, and Hewett sings and chants in his unmistakable style. Backing him are musicians playing the four haole (non-Hawaiian) instruments that are now part of Hawaiian tradition: guitar, ukulele, piano and bass.

Hewett completes his wedding ceremony recommendations with a booklet that provides the lyrics, translations and significance of each song.

Visit loeahula.com.

“TULBA”

Mike Tulba (Mike Tulba)

Singer/songwriter Mike Tulba makes a memorable debut with this collection of 10 originals. Tulba plays acoustic guitar and sings; Davin Oyama, Eusebio Manganag Jr. and Nathan Cruz join him on vocals. Cruz also plays bass, and Kapono Na‘ili‘ili plays cajon.

Two additional guitarists, Matthew Khan and producer Dave Tucciarone, complete the lineup.

Tulba uses the creative opportunity provided by releasing his music as a physical album to present his songs in a set order that tells a story of love and love gone wrong. The first songs tell the story of a man meeting a woman and falling in love with her. Everything seems to be going well — until he realizes that she’s still carrying emotional baggage from a previous relationship. Then she leaves him.

The seventh song, “Wondering Why,” describes the man’s bewilderment, but with the following song, “Leave em Behind,” he’s working his way through it.

The final two songs describe the start of a new relationship.

Tulba doesn’t say in the liner notes whether the album is autobiographical, but the songs could easily be the soundtrack of a movie.

Visit reverbnation.com/miketulba.