More memorable mele: Your favorite Hawaiian music, part 2

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When I asked readers for their favorite performances of their favorites Hawaiian songs, I quickly realized their playlist deserved at least two posts, starting with yesterday's. Here are five more heartfelt and ear-pleasing song selections from my fellow Hawai'i insiders (click on song titles for MP3 samples):


1. "Kōke'e," performed and written by Dennis Kamakahi.

For reader David Silver of San Leandro, the associations with this song about the upland forest of Kaua'i go back to his first trip to the Garden Isle in 1997, when he listened to Kamakahi's album while touring the island. "I still think his slack key guitar is the most lovely form of Hawaiian music," he comments, adding:

Three years later, I moved to Kaua'i and tried desperately to make it my home ... I was in love with the island. This song, "Kōke'e," is in tribute to the west side of Kaua'i, particularly Waimea and Kōke'e, 4,000 feet above the ocean and overlooking the amazing Waimea Canyon. Well, as hard as I tried, I was unable to make a living on Kaua'i so I moved back to the mainland, Marin County actually.

Over the summer, I was blown away to find this great collection of Hawaiian legends performing at the Marin County Fair and there he was, Reverend Dennis singing the song of my heart, "Kōke'e." The attached video may not be as great a copy of the song as found on Dennis' album, but it is a moment, frozen in time.





2. "Palolo," performed by the Sol Hoopii Trio (now written Sol Ho'opi'i) and composed by Charles E. King (lyrics here.)

A tribute to the lililehua rain of O'ahu's Palolo Valley, the song is the favorite of Laura Cleveland of San Francisco, who writes, "The performance I like the best is on the 78 rpm record of the Sol Ho'opi'i Trio. On that performance are two instances when the voice is cracks just slightly, with perfect timing and timbre." You can hear the trio's version in the video below.

Hear it live: Ho'opi'i, one of the original Hawaiian steel guitarists, died in 1953. But according to his entry on IMDB.com, you can spot him as a band leader or guitarist in seven movies and short films from the 1930s, including "Hawaiian Nights" and "High Tension."




3. "La'ieikawai," performed by Hoku Zuttermeister and written by Loea Frank Kawaikapu'okalani Hewett.

Bill Russell of Concord didn't find choosing a single song an easy task, explaining:

"There are sooooo many of my favorite songs of Hawaiian music out there, that the decision to come up with a single favorite was very difficult. From contemporary artists such has HAPA, Nathan Aweau, Steven Espaniola, Faith Ako, The Makaha Sons, Keali'i Reichel, Amy Hanaiali'i, the list goes on and on. However, the older songs and artists also have a place in my heart from Aunty Genoa Keawe, Marlene Sai, Melveen Leed, Alfred Apaka, Haunani Kahalewai, and so on.

However, since I have to pick one, I would have to pick Hōkū Zuttermeister and La'ieikawai as my all time favorite song (which is attached). My wife and I were at a hula workshop given by Loea Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett in Sacramento. After a long day of hula, the students were sharing different songs and dances from their respective halau. La'ieikawai was one of the hulas done, and we were both smitten by the haunting melody.

A few years later, my wife and I were lucky enough to learn a hula to that song from kumu hula Kale Pawai.We learned the hula that day, and performed it that evening on the Beachwalk in Waikiki. To learn the hula, and perform it, in public, with my wife and my hula sisters, in Waikiki, was an incredible, emotional experience I will never forget.

Hear it live: Zuttermeister performs at theVenue in Honolulu tonight (Dec. 16) and 23, Dec. 21 at Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef, and beginning in January, on the first Wednesday of every month at Lo Jax Waikiki.


4. "The Owl's Lullaby," performed by Clyde "Kindy" Sproat and written by Stan Jones.

Kaulana Scalise of Hawi is fortunate enough to have "vivid memories" of singing this folk song with the late "Uncle Kindy," commenting:

Uncle Kindy once shared with me that when you choose a song to sing that someone else has written, you make it your own because you "strain" it through your heart. And when people hear it from you, they will be touched through and through. He was right, many a time I have sung this song, and people have come to me smiling, hugging me, telling me how this song touched their heart. I am humbled and feel joy. I miss Uncle Kindy very much.




5. "Kaleohano," performed by IZ (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole) and written by Louis "Moon" Kauakahi.

In part 1 of readers' "memorable mele," posted yesterday, Mary Gellish of San Francisco nominated the Maunalua rendition of this song. But Geraldine Picazo, also of S.F., is especially fond of the IZ classic (heard in the video below), which brings back memories of a special trip to Hawai'i. She explains:

I first heard this song on my first trip to O'ahu with my immediate family, friends and extended family ... about 15 of us. My husband bought IZ's CD at International Market. At that time, I had never experienced a vacation where the surroundings are so pretty, the locals are so friendly and the beach so beautiful and relaxing. It was a joy to see my children having their greatest time at the beach with their cousins and friends. I will remember that first trip forever....

I picked this song because I recall on my ride home after we arrived from the airport, my hubby put in the CD and when I heard this particular song, I started crying! I missed Hawai'i so much already, as if it were a person dear to me. Sounds silly, but I found a place where my family can get away from our regular lives of Monday to Friday and I wished I didn't have to leave.

Doesn't sound silly at all to me, Geraldine -- and I'm sure many other of the Bay Area's Hawai'i insiders would agree.

Hear it live: As I mentioned in yesterday's post, IZ left this earth 13 years ago, but his former bandmates, including Kauakahi, continue to tour as the MĀkaha Sons. They'll perform a "Makaha Kalikimaka" dinner show ($60) Dec. 22 at the Pagoda Hotel in Honolulu and come to Northern California next month with appearances at the Montalvo Arts Center Carriage House in Saratoga Jan. 16 (tickets $30 and $35) and Harlow's in Sacramento Jan. 18 ($25 in advance, $30 at the door.)


Posted By: Jeanne Cooper (Email, Twitter) | December 16 2010 at 06:40 PM

Listed Under: Entertainment