Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 16, Number 1, 1 January 1999 — Kekuhi CDs [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Kekuhi CDs

Hilo's Kekuhi Kanahele releases a second recording of original music in collaboration with her husband Kaipo Frias. The renown Hālau o Kekuhi, run by her mother Pualani Kanahele and aunt, Nālani Kanaka'ole, premiers a collection of chants in praise of the Pele and Kamehameha clans, as well as of the illustrious Kanaka'ole family.

By Manu Boyd

"Kekuhi" Kekuhi Kanahele N HAWAIIAN, "kuhi" means "to point, direct, teach, or demonstrate." And as Kekuhi Kanahele's name suggests, the budding. Keaukaha-born artist leads the

paek of recent Hawaiian recordings with her excellence in Hawaiian < poetry, chant, song, composition and story telling. These talents, no doubt inherited lrom her kūpuna, have matured into an almost innate expression of her deep aloha for

her heritage. n Named for her grandmother, Edith Kekuhikuhipu'uoneonāah'iokohala Kanaka'ole, Kekuhi embodies some the finest qualities of her ancestors. She is devoted, profound, humble, lighthearted and, at times, kolohe. Her blend of traditional "leo oli" (chant stylings and inflections) with more eontemporarv stvles is amazinelv

palatable and regularly requested on loeal radio stations. Her work is like a finely woven mat — "maiau" (neat, skillful), and never, never "kāpulu" (slipshod). In this, her second recording, Kekuhi introduces Hawaiian a eappella choral-style singing in the performances of ' Polo 'ai 'o Ke 'elikōlani " and "Aloha e Mama Nui ē." The latter, performed by the 5th and 6th graders of Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Keaukaha, is a touching reflection of an incident in Princess Ka'iulani's childhood. As the story goes, the Princess' godmother, Princess Ruth Ke'elikōlani, affectionately called "Mama Nui," sent her a pretty hat. Princess Ka'iulani thanks her and adds that her mother, "Mama Likelike," took a fancy to it. Later,

she writes asking for a new one, because "'o ka lilo nō ia iā Mama Likelike" (Mama Likelike has taken it for her own), The pieee is cleverly written, and its performance by the haumāna of Keaukaha is nothing short of haunting.

As 011 jvciiuiu s ueoui recorumg, most of the melodies are hers, and the poetry, her husband's. Kaipo Frias, an educator like his wife, i demonstrates an elevated poetic style \ typical of mele for the divine where \\ skilled haku mele (composers)

would unpress and entertam nobility. His style is intiguing, ingenious and purposeful, and his lust for kaona (imagery) prevails. "Ka'ū Kū Mākaha" is a lesson about three ill-fated chiefs of Ka'ū who met their demise as a result of their own selfish i actions. "Aāieu " fondly recalls

a laua'e fern patch that was destroyed by a bulldozer. Although melodically sweet like the laua'e itself, veiled curses for the irresponsible act hover. " Wala Kī 'aha "

resulted from a hangover instigated by a

beautitul, aliunng bottle that sat high on a shelf the night before. "Omoomo" says "Mīnoinoi a'e nō 'oe, e omoomo mai ē," (pucker up a suck), and is as "whee-ha" as its composer and performers. A probable first in the loeal recording industry, a limited edition of the CD features liner notes, credits and all written material entirely in Hawaiian. The 'Ahahui 'Ōlelo Hawai'i fixed its logo on the project indicating "thumbs up" on language use throughout. Graphics by the Mountain Apple Company guru Jon deMello, who also produced the project, features fabulous photography by Franco Salmoiraghi, and screens of hand-written notes between Kaipo and Kekuhi - a personal and insightful addition to the overall charm of "Kekuhi." ■