Here's a look at some very talented and dedicated women who are perhaps not as well known as many of the "stars" of Hawaiian music today, but equally important - all for different reasons.
First, there is Noelani Kanoho Mahoe, leader of the Leo Nahenahe Singers, a trendsetting Hawaiian music recording and performing group from the `60s to the present, who also made her mark as a researcher, teacher, author, and director of the popular Waimanalo Keikis choral group in the 70s and 80s.
Everyone in the business of Hawaiian music knows Noe, it seems.
We remember sitting in a hot classroom in July, 30 years ago, listening to the Waimanalo Keikis singing Christmas songs, and then writing the liner notes for their Christmas album.
And in 1978, on behalf of Governor Ariyoshi, we recommended the Keikis as representatives of Hawai`i for a major cultural program in Japan. The host group - Kokusai Bunka Kyokai - said "no," they wanted older students, since groups coming from other countries were all high school and college age students. But when they heard the Keikis singing at Blanche Pope Elementary School in Waimanalo, they said "YES!" For many of the touring Hawaiian children, it was the first time they had been off the Island of O`ahu. Some had never even been to Honolulu before that trip to Japan.
Later that year, 10 of the Keikis recorded with K&C on an LP called "Chasing Rainbows." They are Clinton Aina, Wilton Harvest, Paula Sarsona, John Sarsona, Brenda Lee, Lynda Lee, Cyrinah Solomon, Kirk Kamanu, Scott Maukele, Cory Kaneaiakala.
In December 2005, the former youth group got back together to celebrate their 30th anniversary and the re-release on CD of their two albums - plus some bonus tracks. (two of the bonus tracks were "Chasing Rainbows" and "Growing Up," songs they recorded with K&C in 1978).
They sang together for the first time in a quarter century and, although their voices have beautifully matured, they sounded great, remembered their parts, and had fun. Six of the 10 who sang with us on that recording were at the 30th anniversary and are pictured above with Noe Mahoe and K&C.
No one could have been prouder than their teacher, mentor, director, and friend, the legendary Noelani Kanoho Mahoe.
Harold Haku`ole, who played steel guitar and `ukulele on the Keikis' recordings was also at the "reunion," as were other professional entertainers, including Mel Amina, `Analu `Aina (who was a Keiki too), and Pierre Grill, who remastered and helped produce the "new" CDs. The music was great.
Noe is a living legend in Hawaiian music circles as the leader of the popular Leo Nahenahe SIngers; a Hawaiiana, music and language teacher (now retired); co-author with Sam Elbert of "Na Mele O Hawai`i Nei" still the most authoritative Hawaiian music lyric book; an officer and director of the nonprofit Hawaiian Music Foundation, and of Hawaiian Music Productions, Inc., which spearheaded the Hawaiian renaissance in the 1970s. She was the producer of the concert series that elevated Hawaiian music from the showroom and backyard lu`au to the concert stage - featuring slack-key guitar, steel guitar, `ukulele, falsetto singing, kupuna and keiki. Leo Nahenahe recordings are still standards against which most new Hawaiian recording artists are compared - by those who know Hawaiian music. And those are just a few of her contributions.
She still has one of the most beautiful voices in the Islands, and a lot more to offer.
L. to R., Paula Sarsona, Cory Kaneaiakala, Scott Maukele, Keith Haugen, Carmen Haugen, Noelani Kanoho Mahoe, John Sarsona, Lynda Lee, Brenda Lee. We're all 30 years older than when they were members of the Waimanalo Keikis, under the direction of Aunty Noe, and recorded with K&C.
But they still sing as well today.
Vic & Nancy (Gustafsson) Rittenband - 2004
Composer Nancy Gustafsson met and helped spread aloha to untold tens of thousands of visitors to Hawai`i over the past half century. And Hawaiian music was her "tool." She swam daily at Waikiki Beach, always stopping visitors to tell them about Hawaiian music, where they could find it, buy it, hear it. And she promoted the steel guitar and the Royal Hawaiian Band, the Natatorium (and her and Vic's songs) like no one else.
Nancy wrote some very popular songs, including "The Sound of the Islands," "The Swedish Hula," and one of our favorites, "Keala Punahele." With her husband, Vic (also a noted local composer), she performed in Waikiki and all over the world, always promoting Hawaiians, the music, the Islands, and the aloha spirit. She came to Hawai`i in the early 1950s as an exchange student from Sweden, and her first job was working at the Kamehameha Schools. Nancy died recently and left a void that will be VERY difficult to fill. She was one of a kind.
Rita Leonard
Singer/songwriter Rita Leonard is a name that most of our readers may never have heard of. But she has undertaken a fascinating writing and recording project that will live forever.
She has undertaken to set to music the poetry of Robert Louis Stevenson.
The first CD, called "Robert Louis Stevenson in Hawai`i" is out already and a second one is soon to be released. The first treasury of the beloved author's poetry includes a beautifully designed 16-page booklet, a map, and a CD with five songs. They are "The Sliver Ship," "Song for the Island Rose, Princess Ka`iulani," "The Land of Counterpane," "My Bed is a Boat" and "Dedication." Lyrics to all five are included.
"Forth from her land to mine she goes, The island maid, the island rose. Light of heart and bright of face, The daughter of a double race," Stevenson wrote of Ka`iulani, the last heiress to the throne of Hawai`i.
Rita set those beautiful lyrics it to music she had written for "Vi A Bloom" from Throne of Sapphires, penned in 2003.
"Truly the Poet and the Princess were united by strong common bonds," Rita wrote in the CD liner notes. "Both had endured physical adversity and had been cared for by devoted Nannies they adored. Both experienced each other's homelands, wich expanded their vision and spiritual horizons, and both believed in the right of sovereignty for all island peoples."
Rita notes that although Ka`iulani died tragically at the age of 23 and Stevenson at 44, during their brief lifetimes, "both managed with great success, to strengthen and inspire not only each other, but to this day many more purposeful souls."
Including Rita Leonard, Big Island bard.
The art work by Craig Okino is excellent, as is the packaging.
The work is already being carried in the `Iolani Palace Gift Shop, Wai'oli Tea Room - Manoa, Bishop Museum, Honolulu; Volcano House,Volcano Art Center, Hilo Guitar, Basically Books, Dreams of Paradise Gallery, Waterfalls Inn, Palms Cliff House, Waimea General Store, Byrds CD's, CD Wizard and Island Naturals all on the Big Island. It can also be ordered on CDBaby.com and on the artist's own web site, RitaLeonard.com . The music can be heard on her own radio station, Live365.com - go to Rita Leonard Radio to check it out.
Les Hershhorn of Raphael Music Hawai`i, LLC, joins Rita, as they provide two guitar accompaniment to her fragile melodies and her soft, sweet vocalizing.
For more information about this one of a kind recording, write to:
Les Hershhorn - Raphael Music Hawaii, LLC
Artist Representative
P.O. Box 7626
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
He can also be reached at 808-896-4845 or mailto:Lazarbear@hawaii.rr.com?subject=Feedback from AroundHawaii.com.
A hui hou,
K&C
