Part of his strength and appeal is his ability to select the kinds of songs that touch the heart and soul of his growing fan base. Here, the serenades include a number of established favorites such as "Koke'e," "Puamana," " 'Ulili E," and "Wai'alae," titles that have been widely recorded and applauded, but Peterson adds his intimate style to reinterpret these tunes with vigor and vision.

The perfect track simply must be "Ka Nohona Pili Kai," the Puakea Nogelmeier-Keali'i Reichel creation that emerges as a solemn Peterson sensation. As such, he is an artist with notes as a paintbrush, using the canvas of the CD to create pastoral and reflective images for the listener.

His passion for the guitar is equalled by his proficiency; and his matinee-idol looks simply make him one of the most charismatic troupers in a field of champions.

As his father, Gabby Pahinui, included "Hi'ilawe" twice on his "Gabby" album, son Cyril here includes the popular title song twice, as an instrumental and as a soulful vocal. Pahinui runs through familiar tunes — the jazz-tinged "Hula Blues," the hula evergreen "Makee 'Ailana," the South Seas favorite "Salomila," and one of the undeniable staples of slack-key, "Ki ho'alu." "Waikiki Hula" also is a vocal, with the inimitable Pahinui stamp, amid atmospheric slack-key riffs.

For these ears, the most stunning entry is "Po La'i (Silent Night)," the timeless yuletide carol that defines the holiday — just heavenly and peaceful from a voice for all seasons.