Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 2, 1 February 2015 — Arkangel's angelic musical debut [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Arkangel's angelic musical debut

By Francine Kananionapua Murray Beauty ean be found in the most unusual places - like the angelic falsetto voice wafting sweetly from the very masculine U.S. Navy Persian Gulf veteran Lito Arkangel, who eams a living lecturing at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo in the Ka Haka 'Ula O Ke'elikōlani College of Hawaiian Language, Kinesiology, and Performing Arts departments, yet he believes his music ean make a bigger impact on Hawaiian youth than teaching ean. A

Big Island resident and family man, Arkangel is married with three children. He does something different in the opening act of his new CD . . . me ke aloha, in this recorded version of the classic "Pua 'Ōlena" all the vocal harmonies are his voice, sweet, kind of romantic, it culminates into something that's just magical - the kind of magic only modern technology ean create, and of course talented art-

ists. Collaboration and arrangements were done with the help of Grammy Award-winning Charles Miehael Brotman. But ean he perform live, you wonder? Arkangel's live rendition is exceptional in another way - he uses a variety of dimensions in his voice throughout

the song "Pua 'Ōlena," creating a powerful fullness, accompanied only by his 'ukulele. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. If you like fun, his "Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai" is good fun - you ean practically feel the mohon of the oeean in its rhythm. "E Ō Mai" is exceptionally moving, a joy to the senses. And, the traditional "Hi'ilawe" is reminiscent of old time kanikapila. I ean just imagine all the aunties

getting up to hula when Arkangel's "Makee 'Ailana" by James I'i starts to play. Track four features the mele "Pua 'Āhihi" by Mary Kawena Pukui and Maddy Lam, and is dedicated to Danny Girl, a veteran hula dancer who challenged and inspired Arkangel. This truly traditional Hawaiian debut CD is dedicated to the kūpuna and educators of Hawai'i and also features "Pōhai Ke Aloha," "E Ho'i I Ka Pili," "Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani," "Maunaloa" and "He Mana'o Aloha." Arkangel said music is one of the most profound ways to say thank you. Helen Desha Beamer wrote "Kimo Hula," track six on the CD, in 1953 as a mahalo makana (thank you gift) to the Henderson 'Ohana, who let her stay at their beautiful estate on the Big Island. The classics have a delightful new charm when they roll off the lips of Lito Arkangel, but don't just take my word for it. Check out his CD . . . me ke aloha on iTunes or at his website litoarkangel.com. Or eheek out one of his live performances. Arkangel incorporates pleasant tidbits about the mele he sings as he introduces them in his live shows every Tuesday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Nāpua Restaurant at Mauna Lani Beach Club, and every Thursday, 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. For more information visit litoarkangel.com. ■

Lilo Arkangel. - Pholo: CourtesyPalm Records

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UTO ARKANCĒL

...meke aloha Lito Arkangel Palm Records