Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 18, Number 7, 1 July 2001 — Mākaha Sons ring in 25 years with friends on "Nā Pua o Hawaiʻi" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Mākaha Sons ring in 25 years with friends on "Nā Pua o Hawaiʻi"

By Manu Boyd The way to mark a 25th anniversary, some say, is with gifts of silver. But for the Mākaha Sons - Moon, John and Jerome, gold is the offering, with assorted gems vis a vis friends and family who have shared the stage with the legendary trio. Selections from the Son's lengthy discography feature the likes of Dennis Pavao, Robert Cazimero, Nina Keali'iwahamana and Jerry Santos. In addition, performers who the Sons have lent kōkua to represent recording projects by Teresa Bright, Cyril Pahinui, Robi Kahakalau and others. A stand-out is Kahakalau's performance of "He Pōlani Makamae," a composition by her sister, Hawaiian educator Kū Kahakalau from Kukuihaele, Hawai'i. With pitch-perfect vocals and adept 'ōlelo Hawai'i, Robi describes the love for her nieee, the composer's daughter, the surrounding beauty of Ka'au at Waipi'o Valley, and unobstructed view of Waimā deep in Waipi'o's

northern valley. The addition of the Sons adds grandeur to the mele inoa. The medley of "My hle of Golden Dreams" [

and uPua Malihini " with Robert Uluwehi Cazimero at the helm represents the very best Hawai'i has to offer and begs Grammy / consideration. Jerry Santos per- / forms the Hōkū Award's best / Hawaiian composition a few / years back, penned by Ni'ihau- / bom educator/ēomposer 'īleialoha / I Beniamina. Like Kahakalau, / ' Santos' pitch and enunciation / || propelled the midnight jasmine tune, " Pua 'Ala Aumoe,"

to the top of the charts, fueled too, by Peter Moon's savory guitar licks. Cover art is-simple with native species of lehua, ma'ohauhele and loulu depicted, perhaps alluding to the unmistakable Hawaiianness of the profoundly prolific trio.

"Another Hawaiian CD is a project I'd like the group to consider," said leader Louis "Moon" Kauakahi whose group recently produced

an alubm of hapa haole 7 tunes. "I'd like to see 'tra- / ditional' Hawaiian musi- / cians get together in some / kind of forum to talk about / the direction of our music, / and to informally play togeth- / er. What is popular today in / Hawai'i is more 'island music' I rather than Hawaiian." And for a group so rooted in Hawaiian, Kauakahi along with brothers John and Jerome Koko

spend many weeks a year on the road. "Of the places we play often," remarked Kauakahi, "Japan is my favorite. The interest there in what is Hawaiian is huge, bigger than in Hawai'i." ■

^ Mfi f 'Aii ana