ISLAND SOUNDS
Konishiki's Jawaiian venture simply lovely

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

A retired sumotori sings contemporary Hawaiian music, and he's quite wonderful. And a transplanted islander's new fame, thanks to Disney, results in the rebirth of a forgotten CD; hula enthusiasts should tune in.

Sumotori with soul

"Simply Sale"

• Artist: Konishiki (Saleva'a Atisanoe).
• Label: All Heart Productions AHP 87.
• Genre: Contemporary Hawaiian, Jawaiian.
• Distinguishing notes: While he does all the singing, Konishiki surrounds himself with able and dependable talent: Fiji produced the CD and does background vocals, with others such as the Makaha Sons, Star Williams, Robi Kahakalau, Jeff Rasmussen, John Cruz and Norm Thompson chiming in. Forsaking urban rap (his previous genre) for a more suitable bag of island favorites, Sale displays a lot more warmth and sincerity. Lena Machado's "Ei Nei" is sweetly nostalgic; Iva Kinimaka's "He Aloha Mele" has a techno-disco flavor plus Sistah Robi's soul; the standard "My Blue Heaven" boasts a country innocence that suggests a smidgen of Bruddah IZ, and the vintage "Nanakuli" sounds like a high school reunion with its midpoint narrative. There are Jawaiian teasers ("First Kiss") plus a couple of crisp non-Hawaiian capsules of blues ("Let It Go," "It Takes 2").
• The outlook: With the right promotion and deejay support, the retired sumotori should finally find a spot on the music charts. His vocal presence is better on non-Jawaiian tunes.
• Our take: Sale soars.

"Ei Nei" by Konishiki. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.

Disney's kumu hula

"Po'okela Chants"

• Artist: Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu.
• Label: Dudoit Productions DPCD 0923.
• Genre: Hawaiian chants.
• Distinguishing notes: If Ho'omalu's name sounds familiar, it's because he's the 'Aiea-born kumu hula of Na Mele Hula 'Ohana who lives in Oakland, Calif., now and composed the two Hawaiian songs in Disney's summer hit, "Lilo & Stitch." Ho'okena's Horace Dudoit III originally produced and released this sampler of Ho'omalu's artistry in 1999 but the CD was largely ignored and now is re-surfacing in light of the success and exposure of "Stitch."
• The outlook: Aimed at hula enthusiasts, the chants probe traditional island themes: Pele, mythic gods, nature. A couple of chants have become mele, with music composed by Dudoit, including "Keaomelemele," a haunting entry about a woman dancing in the eternal mists and breezes, and an inspired "He Mele No Ka'uhinilele," exploring nocturnal sounds. There are spirited hula kahiko items, too, such as "Ka Huaka'i Pele."
• Our take: Better late than never in discovering the Hawaiian roots of Ho'omalu.

"Keaomelemele" by Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu. Audio sample available in mp3 and RealAudio formats.