Hawaiian Music Top 5 Poll
Who is your favorite Hawaiian Music artist, ever? This was the question posed by Hawaii Magazine. Votes specified more than 50 artists, ranging from innovative newcomers with recent hits on pop charts to iconic late artists remembered for setting music trends and recording Hawaii classics in decades past.
Runners-up included beloved late musicians, such as slack-key guitarist Gabby Pahinui, and there was also singer and ukuele player Aunty Genoa Keawe. Among runners-up you may be able to see performing in Hawaii today – singer-songwriter Willie K., and Jack Johnson.
No. 5 – Brothers Cazimero
No. 4 – Na Leo Pilimehana
No. 3 – Don Ho
No. 2 – Kealii Reichel
No. 1 – Israel “Iz” Kaanaoi Kamakawiwoole
His successfull reworking of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, from The Wizard of Oz (1939), and CD Facing Future
Hawaiian Music and Mark Yamanaka
Hawaiian recording artist Mark Yamanaka won Album of the Year at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for his debut album Lei Pua Kenikeni. Like the fragrant aroma of the pua kenikeni lei, this CD will linger in the hearts and minds of all those who experience it. This beautiful garland is the perfect metaphor for the captivating collection of songs assembled by Hawaii’s newest solo artist, Mark Yamanaka.
Every tune on this album recalls the poignant memories and experiences that have shaped Mark’s life. Some are classic Hawaiian melodies, some are new compositions by Mark’s mentors and colleagues, others are familiar country ballads, and one was composed by Mark for his daughter. Mark’s undeniable talent was nurtured from a young age by renowned musician, composer, and kumu hula, Johnny Lum Ho. Mark’s soaring voice is perfectly suited for the specialized art of falsetto. He takes the teachings of Uncle Johnny and adds his own flair with enviable ease, then spices things up by effortlessly gliding into a rich and soulful baritone vocal.
Whether he’s hitting the high notes with a winning falsetto, or crooning a baritone ode to his daughter, behold the unforgettable music of Mark Yamanaka with Lei Pua Kenikeni
Hawaiian Music – Keola Beamer and Raiatea
The collaboration of slack key guitar legend Keola Beamer and Grammy-nominated Hawaiian songstress Raiatea Helm produced a ground-breaking CD, Keola Beamer & Raiatea
This work of unparalleled musical inspiration showcases the talents of two world-class artists along with their love of Hawaiian music and culture. The stunning arrangement of John Lennon’s anthem, “Imagine” (translated into Hawaiian as “Ina-”), demonstrates the beauty, brilliance and innovative interpretation these Hawaiian artists have brought to bear in this work. This song includes slack key guitar, a wind quintet, and a Hawaiian chant blended with the falsetto musings of Raiatea, singing in Hawaiian, with Keola Beamer carrying the melody as Lennon originally composed.
Keola was raised in Kamuela, on the Big Island, surrounded by members of one of Hawai’s most illustrious and beloved musical families. Keola’s career as a musician began in his mother’s Honolulu hula studio, where he played guitar as an accompaniament for the dancers. Keola was one of Hawai’i's first recording artists to integrate Hawaiian chants and instruments, like the tiny gourd whistle and the nose flute, with contemporary forms of music.
Raiatea made history as Hawai‘i’s first solo female vocalist to ever receive a Grammy Nomination for her sophomore CD Sweet & Lovely
“This record has some deep personal reflections, ” says Keola. “It’s love and it’s loss. It’s the passing of the years as we go through life. That’s another reason I really like working with Raiatea: her voice has the capacity to take me places. I can journey with her. Her voice is powerful, yet has a ‘luminous’ quality. It’s like looking at the moon and seeing the light behind the physical body of it: it’s the aka, the luminous glow and the spectral shadow all at once.” It was quite a coincidence to me that when I had previously asked Raiatea how she would describe this album in one word, she replied after a moment of reflection: “Brilliance.”
Visit our Kauai Events Calendar for live Hawaiian music on Kauai.
Hawaiian Music and Kumz
Kumz was honored at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards as Group of the Year for Hawaiian music. Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casupang humbly accepted the award and reminded everyone that ‘our culture’ is why we do what we do, and “our students allow us to perpetuate that culture, thanks to all of you that make that possible, mahalo.”
After an Overall Winner award at a previous Merrie Monarch Festival, and the success of Listen To Your Heart
Their CDs are released under Kumz, a nickname commonly used in place of the formal Hawaiian term for teacher (kumu). It was chosen by Baker and Casupang because it’s a term used lovingly by their hula haumana (students). Besides a chance to share their music, the CDs are really fundraisers. Everything goes back to benefit the halau and help with expenses. Their CDs celebrate the music they learned as haumana and the music now shared with their own haumana. If hula is the art of Hawaiian dance, expressing all that we see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel… then hula is really what life is all about.
Visit our Kauai Events Calendar for live Hawaiian music on Kauai.
Hawaiian Music and Napua Makua
Maui artist Napua Makua was a big winner at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards where she won Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year for Mohalu, and was named favorite entertainer by fans. Napua is a repeat winner for best female vocalist which she took home at the 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards with her first solo recording project, “Pihana.” While accepting the Female Vocalist of the Year award she said she grew up in a home where listening to Hawaiian music “was not an option, because it was the only music played in our home.”
The title of her CD Mohalu
Visit our Kauai Events Calendar for live Hawaiian music on Kauai.
Mark Yamanaka – Na Hoku Hanohano Awards 2011
Mark Yamanaka was interviewed at the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards ceremony where he won Male Vocalist of the Year, Most Promising Artist, Album of the Year for his debut album, Lei Pua Kenikeni
