Island Mele: Hawaii artists preview future projects with new singles
Singer/songwriter Kolohe Kai celebrates the wonder of finally finding true love with this download-only single that previews his next EP. Read more
Island Mele
Island Mele: Bill Noble & Dwight Tokumoto plays the classics; a new single from Storm
Saxophones were prominent in hapa haole music through the end of the Big Band Era, and the electrification of the steel guitar in the early 1930s gave the instrument the volume it needed to join the sax and all the other instruments in the dance bands that played in the major hotels of Waikiki. Read more
Island Mele: ‘Interlude’ offers spiritual refuge
“A Hawai‘i Interlude,” released in late April, in digital download formats only, shows that Makana is as unpredictable as ever — and an imaginative contributor to the evolution of Hawaii’s music. Read more
Island Mele: Tin Idol re-issues epic rock opera as triple-disc package
The label’s most expansive project to date is a metal rock saga of intergalactic war between cyborgs and “renegade tech pirates” that took three full-length albums to tell. Read more
Island Mele: ‘Swing Luau’ by The Waikiki Leaks
The history of Hawaiian music in the past two centuries is a story of a two-way cultural exchange. Read more
Island Mele: Andrew Molina releases third album ‘Evolv3’
With “Evolv3,” his third full-length album, Andrew Molina continues building the multigenerational story of Maui’s musical Molina family. Read more
Island Mele: Keali‘inohomoku co-pens Hoku Award finalist
Leihuanani Keali‘inohomoku sang on a Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning compilation album several years ago. She returns this time as a singer-songwriter with this mele kue (song of resistance) in support of the anti-TMT struggle on Mauna Kea. Read more
Island Mele: Hawaiian Express celebrates 25 years of music
Jason Miller started Hawaiian Express Records in 1995 to support Hawaii’s “underground” rock scene. Read more
REVIEWS: Freddyp, De Lima singles offer hope, support
The uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to inspire Hawaii’s songwriters and recording artists. Here are two more musical messages of support and hope. Read more
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Island Mele: ‘Bright Lights’ shines in ska band’s debut in Hawaii
“Bright Lights,” the first full-length album by No Villains Left, shows that ska is alive and well in Hawaii. Read more
Island Mele: Darrell Aquino’s ‘Himeni’ taps tradition
With “Himeni,” Darrell Aquino goes solo to sing classic Hawaiian translations of traditional Christian hymns (“himeni” in Hawaiian). Read more
Island Mele: Tin Idol presents ‘King vs King,’ Kahoano aims high with ‘Higher’
Reviews of the latest music releases by Hawaii-based artists by Star-Advertiser music critic John Berger. Read more
Island Mele: Jaxon celebrates love
Jonah Jaxon is the current street name used by the artist known at various times as Big MOX, bigMOXilla, Moxilla, FatMoxy Bombay and Jonah Moananu. Read more
Island Mele: Kamuela Kahoano reaffirms range on latest album
Almost two decades into the 21st century Hawaii is benefiting from the cultural contributions of island families whose musical talents have crossed generations. One of them is the Kahoano ohana. Read more
Island Mele: Faith Ako shares her passion; Loa Greyson honors his father
Reviews of the latest island music releases by Star-Advertiser critic John Berger. Read more
Island Mele: Hanano’eau shares nationalist themes; Dennis and Christy Soares reflect on island life
Reviews of the latest music releases featuring Hawaii-based recording artists by Star-Advertiser music critic John Berger. Read more
Island Mele: Mahal sends love and light
Expatriate islander Todd Mahal lives in California and follows a “life path centered around ‘Love.’” Read more
Island Mele: Jake Shimabukuro forms a trio in new album
With his latest album, Jake Shimabukuro is submerging his virtuosity as a solist into what is truly a group project; Hawaiian group Ei Nei’s debut album “Hui!” celebrates island traditions. Read more
Island Mele: ‘Buck’ looks back with ‘Love,’ Go Jimmy Go debuts ‘Bang the Skillet’ video
Reviews of the latest releases by Hawaii-based artists, courtesy Play. Read more
Island Mele: Tatofi scores with originals, remakes alike with ‘Ua Kui A Lawa’
Josh Tatofi is already a two-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner. Read more
Island Mele: ‘Renaissance Man’ is ‘an excellent introduction’ to George Kahumoku Jr.
The title of this long-awaited album by slack key master George Kahumoku Jr., is an apt description of the soft-spoken man who is one of the great slack key guitarists of his generation but whose influence on Hawaiian music extends far beyond his personal contributions. Read more
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