ISLAND SOUNDS
Traditional Hawaiian from Ka'upu, Uncle K

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

For the Hawaiian music and culture buff, there are two wonderful resources to check out. One is a masterful assembly of chant and mele; the other is a re-release of an old favorite, likely to reach a new generation of fans.

"KE AKA: REFLECTIONS: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE" by Charles Ka'upu

Distinguishing notes: Charles Ka'upu is no stranger to the serious Hawaiian music aficionado, and particularly to those hula pupils who adore and immerse heart and soul into chant. Here, his mele are extraordinary and riveting, in both the spoken-word form and in traditional vocals. Clearly, this has been a labor of love — a document that reflects the soul, through poetry and tone, of an innovative practitioner of his art form. The chants unveil one story after another, with precious liner notes providing enlightening detail. There are subtle surprises along the way, such as Hapa's Barry Flanagan and Nathan Aweau providing resourceful energy to "Waika," marking their first time together on a recording.

The outlook: This collection is a prime resource for Island history, culture and art — think of it as something of an oral textbook. Early chanters handed down their creations through word of mouth — lucky we live modern-day Hawai'i, in the age of CDs.

Our take: Undeniable brilliance from a beacon of creative energy.

"Waika" by Charles Ka'upu. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

"HE ALOHA NO 'O HONOLULU" by the Kahauanu Lake Trio; Hula Records

Distinguishing notes: When it comes to Hawaiian music, performers seldom get better than Kahauanu Lake, affectionately called K-Lake or Uncle K by his fans. He's the real McCoy, worshipped by younger entertainers, who plays 'ukulele and sings in a trio featuring guitar and fiddle bass. A listen to this re-release is a stroll down memory lane, with exquisite renderings of classic Hawaiiana, from "Mi Nei" to "A'oia," from "Kalena" to "Pua Lilia," from "Leahi" to "Kaulana Na Pua." There's a lot of grace, style and poetry to soak in here, with delivery that includes incomparable falsetto.

The outlook: Old-timers will find new joy in this one; youngsters can learn valuable lessons from the master; and the updated liner notes are the stuff of textbooks. Listen, then learn.

Our take: If you've got this only on vinyl, it's time to upgrade to the CD version.

"Mi Nei" by the Kahauanu Lake Trio. Audio sample available in mp3 format.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.