NEIGHBOR ISLAND MUSIC SCENE
Reichel concert honors ancestors

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

•	'Kukahi 2002' Featuring Keali'i Reichel 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Sunday Castle Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center $10-$45; sold out; some standing-room-only tickets may remain (808) 242-SHOW Also featuring: Ho'okena, Lorna Lim and Ke 'Ala O Ka Maile

"We always honor our ancestors," said Hawai'i's beloved kumu hula, chanter, composer and singer.

"It's always a challenge to keep up the standards over whatever we've done before. This time, we're also honoring the place we grew up, Pa'ia, recognizing family members who are still with us."

A replica of "Gramma's house" will form the set for the evening.

The house of Kamaiale Kane, who died Oct. 3, 2000, was "where we spent a lot of time growing up," Reichel said. "She was on a beach estate, so there will be a beach in the background, and five large 18-foot coconut trees. Gramma's house had a grove of coconut trees, so I hope they fit."

"If you remove one piece of the puzzle from the past, everything changes," Reichel said of his homage to his 'ohana. "Some people may think it's too personal, but we explain that things happen for a purpose. So we honor our relatives, the living and those who have died."

Kukahi will not journey to O'ahu this year ("too big a show to bring over, so we're taking a rest") so the Maui gigs are the only opportunity to see Reichel and his guest acts, Ho'okena and Lorna Lim.

Something new, visually: Tropical garb, from Tommy Bahama. "Not loud, but nice," he said. "We felt that aloha print would be suited (instead of his preferred black garb). But it's a little strange for me."

Something new, aurally: About 10 tunes, not in Reichel's previous repertoire; some are standards, some new compositions.

"Some tunes talk about specific times in our lives," he said. "Choke traditional songs. Some of the new songs may or may not appear on our next album."

And when will the new CD be released? "When pau," he said.

Reichel also is toying with the notion of doing a first-time Christmas album.