Island Books
Ho'okena's latest CD release a treasure for island music fans

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

RIGHT: "TREASURE" by Ho'okena, Ho'omau Inc., CD HICD 1007. LEFT: "PORTRAITS" by Ernie Cruz Jr., Pi'inalu Music PM 1052

"Treasure" by Ho'okena, Ho'omau Inc. CD HICD 1007: Marking their 15th anniversary this year, Ho'okena, led by kumu hula Manu Boyd, has released "Treasure." What a pleasure it is to open this treasure chest of 15 songs (12 "regular" and three "bonus" ones), the group's seventh CD.

With foundations in traditional Island music and occasional escapes to the contemporary Hawaiiana (with additional haole hits refashioned to suit their style), Ho'okena is known for sweet, sweet harmonies. Occasionally, the five members (Boyd, Horace Dudoit, Glen Smith, Chris Kamaka and Ama Aarona) become visionary experimentalists in fusing unlike titles in a cohesive medley; at other times, the lads are backyard partyers, going full throttle with an oldie in the good-fun manner of yesteryear.

Mostly, Ho'okena is about preservation of the Island way, the music, the language, the spirit.

And on title after title, Ho'okena demonstrates this passion for sharing a story through tuneful expression. A gently nostalgic glimpse at Johnny Almeida's "Roselani Blossoms," a sprightly remake of " 'Ulili e," a contagious make-you-feel-like-dancing interpretation of John Pi'ilani Watkins' "Me Ka Nani A'o Kaupo," a timely and heart-tugging update of Jon Osorio and Randy Borden's "From a Dancer" and "Hawaiian Soul."

That samba-tempoed remake of Loyal Garner's "Island Feeling" shows off the group's grip on English-lyrics tunes. It's also an homage to the ailing "Lady of Love."

There's omnipresent respect, as well as invention, in each of these Ho'okena journeys. And if you doubt the group's commitment to themes Hawaiian, check out "Hilo One" and "He Hawai'i Au."

For from-the-heart sentiment, "Moku O Keawe" has a glow that could light a Christmas tree, performed as a straightforward solo vocal by Boyd initially, then winding up as a group number.

The seamless entwining of "Alu Like/Ho'ola Lahui Hawai'i ('Oiwi Medley) " and "Edelweiss/Ke Aloha Ana 'Ole" provides evidence of the group's interpretative skills (and musical quilting, if you will). Then there's the fun stuff, like "Let Me Be There," an early hit for Olivia Newton-John, slightly more gospel than country, and decidedly contagious.

"Island Feeling" by Ho'okena. A 30-second audio sample is available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

"Portraits" by Ernie Cruz Jr., Pi'inalu Music PM 1052: Ernie Cruz Jr., singer-'ukulele stylist formerly of the Ka'au Crater Boys, is back with a vengeance as a soloist. Through songs new and borrowed, Cruz creates a happy, snappy portrait of Hawai'i today, though the tone of the album seems to be subtly nostalgic, a return to more peaceful and innocent times of, say, the '70s and '80s — the kind of music that would have wound up on the "Home Grown" collections of that era.

One of his originals, "Ka Makani," tells of a gentle wind — in Hawaiian and in English — and could become a popular lullaby. Bobby Ingano's lap steel guitar adds a measure of old Hawaiian reflection, repeated in another Cruz composition, "Hana Calls."

Henry Kapono's "Gotta Get Away" is among the borrowed treats; it retains the escapist emotions of the original with Cruz's relaxed vocal demeanor bringing the message to the present.

Cruz even gets political on "Where Are the Brothers," a song of sovereignty by Ernelle Downs, calling for injustices to be righted, spirits united and for Hawaiians to stand up and be counted. An accusatory tone is evident, too, on "Ua Mau," drawing from the first two words in the state motto, and Cruz's earnest delivery of lines such as "you took the sand and sea and still you want the sun" likely will rev up support from activists.

"Ka Makani" by Ernie Crus, Jr.. A 30-second audio sample is available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.