Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 12, 1 December 2005 — Calling all ʻWaimānalo Keikiʻ -- ʻauhea ʻoukou? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Calling all ʻWaimānalo Keikiʻ

-- ʻauhea ʻoukou?

By Manu Būyd Puhlie lnformation Directnr Noelani Kanoho Māhoe is a kumu through and through. As such, she is a source of knowledge and has imparted that 'ike in different settings: on stage as a performer and in the class-

room as an elementary school teacher.

Now retired from teaching, Māhoe eontinues to perform, and she is now also eommitted to the study of lua (Hawaiian martial arts) as a member of Pā Ku'i a Lua. In the 1970s, her musical talent and teaching credentials melded with the estabhshment of the Waimānalo Keiki, a children's singing group she led at Blanche Pope Elementary School that is considered by

some to be the precursor to the Honolulu Boy Choir "I was at Pū'ōhala School in Kāne'ohe in the late 1960s when Danny Akaka (now Sen. Akaka) called and asked if I'd consider a position at Pope Elementary in Waimānalo," Māhoe remembers. "I said, 'Yes!' I would be teaching primarily Hawaiian kids, and a permanent elementary school position is what I preferred. That way, I could incorporate Hawaiian studies into all subjects. "When I got to Pope, I had the entire sixth grade class. When that frrst year ended, I sent a letter to the parents asking what they'd hke their children to be learning. Several parents suggested forming a children's chorus, and that's how it all got started," she said. Already a member of the Leo Nahenahe Singers along with Lynette Ka'ōpūiki Paghnawan, Mona Noelani Teves and Ethelynne Kaleimokihana Teves, Māhoe had a keen ear for music and 'ōlelo Hawai'i. "I used to teach hula at Mānoa Park, and Mona and Ethelyne were dancing," she says. "When Ka'upena (Wong) entered the Parks and Recreation song composing contest with Ku'u Lei Pīkake, we sang it with him, and his song won! That's how we got started."

With the Leo Nahenahe Singers' "Hawaiian Christmas" album already a hit, Māhoe put together a project for the Waimānalo Keiki titled "Mele Kahkimaka," featuring many Hawaiian and standard Christmas favorites, and recorded it on the Tradewinds Records label. A eouple of years later, the group - now called Keiki o Waimānalo - recorded "Surf, Sand & Song," a eolleehon of songs especially frtting for children. Both albums have now been released as CDs. Nearly 30 years later, many of those Waimānalo Keiki eonhnue to perform. Analu 'Āina, who performed in Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's band, now continues with Mel Amina. Kevin Kealoha plays at the Hualālai Resort on Hawai'i island, along with fellow Pope schoolmate Lena Naipo. Jory McElroy, Cory Kāne'aiakalā, Ahka Kepa and others also play on. A CD re-release party is scheduled for Sat. Dec. 10 in Honolulu, and "we would hke to get as many of the performers together for it as possible," says Māhoe, noting that she is seeking both those who recorded and the many other members of the Waimānalo chorus. Members are asked to eall Analu or Bev at 259-5357 (after 3 p.m.) for information on the reunion event. !3

Ho'okena TreasureII: LeiPūlamahia Ho'okena

At 17, Brittni Kahealani Paiva's considerable musical talent belies her tender age. Mentored by such slack-key legends as Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr., Brittni already has two Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards (best instrumental album and most promising artist) under her belt, both won this year for her debut album, "Brittni X 3." Her second release, "Hear ...," shows her musical growth on all three instruments she's become famous for playing: 'ukulele, slack-key guitar and electric bass. It's been almost 20 years since Ho'okena first started delighting audiences in Hawai'i and around the world. Nine albums, numer-

Hear ... Brittni Paiva

ous Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and a Grammy nomination later, they're still at it. "Lei Pūlamahia," Ho'okena's second best-of album, is a collection of some of the group members' favorite recordings over their impressive career. The CD contains digital remixes of such Ho'okena standards as Iā 'Oe e ka Lā, Kāi i ka Hoe and Ho'okena.

Feel the Spirit Na Leo Pilimehana

Na Leo Pilimehana's new album, "Feel

the Spirit," represents the female trio's attempt to reach out to listeners beyond Hawai'i's shores. To help do so, they enlisted the talents of Keith 01sen, who has produced 24 platinum albums with such groups as Fleetwood Mae, the Grateful Dead and Santana. The CD includes several new tracks and pop remixes of such Nā Leo classics as Flying with

Kamahiwa Keali'i Reichel

Angels and Saving Forever. Often lost on Hawaiian music listeners - most of whom don't speak Hawaiian fluently - is the appreciation for the poetry woven into eaeh composition. "Kamahiwa," Keali'i Reichel's sixth album, is

dedicated to haku mele, or the tradition of Hawaiian poetic songs. The two-CD set is a collection of some of Reichel's best recordings, including songs written by Reichel himself, Hawaiian language professor Puakea Nogelmeier and

Chasing Dreams Inner Session

Kahikina de Silva. Inner Session's Jack Johnson-ey acoustic rock n' roll sound is refreshingly different from most of the music produced by young loeal bands in Hawai'i today. Their debut album features 12 original songs written by soulful lead singer Keao Cockett. Slickly packaged, the album also comes with a well-pro-duced DVD that highlights

one of the group's jam sessions and includes interviews with band members Cockett, Sean Carroll and

Kumuhau Kumuhau

Nakana Wong. Don't be fooled by their debut album's dragon cover art or their loeal hip hop record label - Kumuhau's music is smooth contemporary Hawaiian. Their self-titled album features a traditional Hawaiian song (Queen Lili'uokalani's Sanoe), a Kalapana cover (To Be True ) and several original compositions. A notable track is Matsonia, written by the great-grand-mother of one of the band members' wife. It's a heartfelt mele about a young girl who leaves her family

- MELE 'AILANA • ISLAND MUSIC SCENE