Anthologies and Compilations; Winners Abound

Rated 5.0 Stars

Up against some very tough competition Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar won the Grammy in the Hawaiian music category. It was the third year that Hawaiian music has been considered in the NARAS annual Grammy Awards, and it was the third consecutive win for a slack-key guitar compilation. More »

And the Winner Is... Ki Ho`alu, Again!

The second Grammy Award for recorded Hawaiian music went to "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitars - Vol. 1," a CD that features 12 cuts of songs most of us know well. And it features artists that most of us know too. More than 170 new CDs were released in Hawai`i last year; 26 of them were entered in the Grammys; five were selected as finalists; and on Feb. 8, the winner was announced in California. More »

Sing Along... With All the CORRECT Words

How often have you stood for the singing of our State anthem, "Hawai`i Pono`i," only to realize that others around you don't even know the words? Or how many times have you held hands with others at the end of an event, while everyone was singing the beautiful "Hawai`i Aloha," only to realize that many are mumbling because they don't know the words to that song either? More »

A Man of Many Talents - Getting to Know Nathan Aweau

Rated 5.0 Stars

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Every man has his own vocation, talent is the call." If that is true, Nathan Aweau, the subject of my column this month, has definitely recognized and honed in on one of the finest skills we can possess-loving what we do for a living! "Music is more than just a job, it's part of my life, it's my favorite hobby. I love picking up my guitar or bass everyday... I look forward to practicing. I love jumping on my keyboard, turning on my computers and just creating," says Aweau. More »

Up and Coming Young Local Artists

Rated 5.0 Stars

They are the young musicians, singers, songwriters, recording artists, dancers, chanters, performers, who seem to stand out above all the rest. More »

Profiling Hawaiian Music Legends Hapa

Rated 5.0 Stars

Hapa. The definition of this word in the pidgin Hawaiian language, is half; most times, referring to a mixed race, or "half" English. Many of us already know this definition. However, how much do we actually know about one of Hawaii's favorite Hawaiian music groups, "Hapa?" I got the chance to spend some time getting to know this famous duo recently, and realized, the only thing "half" about these guys is their name. More »

For the Fans... Finally... Family - Family CD First Ever From the Delima `Ohana

I know I do not speak alone when I say that it is probably every parent's secret to wish for their posterity to carry on a legacy of what they have been taught by yourself and other family members... Well for Kelly-Boy Delima, founder of one of the most loved Hawaiian Contemporary musical groups of our time, Kapena, his dream has now become a reality, with the recent release of their first ever family CD, "Kupu A`e", where he performs with wife Leolani, son Kapena, and daughters Kalena, and Lilo. More »

An Evening of Enchantment - Hawaiian Style

It was more like a family gathering, a reunion of sorts. It was like a backyard lu`au of days gone by. It seemed like a homecoming to some, a ho`olaule`a for others. It was a pa`ina, a ho`ike, a Hawaiian music concert not to be missed. It was five hours of outpouring of Aloha. More »

Falling In Love With the Sounds of Jim Brickman

Its that time of year again, Valentine's Day. The month of LOVE has arrived. What better way to get us into the mood, than to talk about one of my most favorite musicians/song writers of all time... Jim Brickman. Who is Jim Brickman? You may have heard many of his songs without even realizing who the genius writer/pianist was. More »

Musicians Are Involved

Watching the 2006 King Kamehameha Day Floral Parade last month reminded us again how Hawai`i musicians, singers and dancers often are involved in many events and other aspects of our community life, and not always singing, playing, or dancing. More »