"Pili O Ke Ao" by Kupaoa; Kupaoa LLC

• Genre: Hawaiian.

• Distinguishing notes: Kupaoa, which means heady with scent, introduces Kalikolihau "Lihau" Hannahs and Kellen Paik; she plays bass, he strums guitar.

They sing old-fashioned and some contemporary Island tunes in simple female-male vocal blends and solos, with acoustic accompaniment. It's very appealing and earnest artistry.

One of the simple pleasures is "Halele'a," which speaks of a precious jewel of a spot on the Garden Island; they sing and write in Hawaiian, and the accompanying liner lyrics are a lovely gift.

There are compositions old and new that have natural hula appeal, such as "Ka 'Api'i O Waipio," a tune by Miki'ala M. Kanekoa and Kanai'akukui Nakamura about the expansive taro farms and simple lifestyle of Waipio Valley; or Paik's zesty "He Mele Pana I'a," a gentle feud between divers and pole fishermen about the joys of watery adventures.

There's a lot more to explore and enjoy — so take a risk on the newbie. You won't be disappointed.

• Our take: Kupaoa smells like a winner in the race to discover a fresh resource of treasured Hawaiian music.

• Genre: Christmas, ki ho'alu.

• Distinguishing notes: James "Kimo" West is a former Islander based in California who retains his passion for Hawaiian slack-key guitar. In this outing, he tackles familiar yuletide favorites and puts his ki ho'alu spin front and center.

"Deck the Halls" begins with a twangy tone but evolves into a tra-la-la treat; the solitude of "The First Noel" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" suit the texture of his guitarmanship.

"Mauna Kea Sleigh Ride" (yes, it snows on the peaks of this Big Island landmark) reflects West's Hawai'i ties, along with the all-time favorite "White Christmas," which projects images of a snowbound holiday.

Perhaps his fingers are most eloquent on "Silent Night," arranged with just the right measure of tradition and invention, capturing the carol's simplicity with grace and respect.

• Our take: A tidy newcomer for the holiday collection, and a treasure for fans of slack key.

• Genre: Pop, world music.

• Distinguishing notes: Tahiti Rey is the daughter of entertainer Augie Rey and shares his passion for performing. In her CD debut, Tahiti displays a charming and warm presence in a myriad of vocal styles, from pop to light rock to Hawaiian É and even writes her own music, such as the opening track, "Give Me Butterflies," and still shows off her Spanish inclinations on "Contigo En La Distancia."

The acoustic posture is a gift and a blessing; clearly, this is a very personal outing as Tahiti also includes vocal homages to those who've inspired her. However, her array of songs converts a freshman CD into a tribute album, as she salutes in her own style that echoes her faves, such as Sara Bareilles ("Love Song"), Alicia Keys ("No One"), Eva Cassidy ("Over the Rainbow"), Colbie Caillat ("Oxygen"), Amy Hanaiali'i ("Haleiwa Hula"), Britney Spears ("Toxic") and Alanis Morrisette ("Uninvited"). There's also a Justin Timberlake update ("What Goes Around"). The catalog will surely help in-club or at-concert CD sales, but earning local radio airplay is a major challenge in gaining widespread exposure.

• Our take: Good vibes overall, and Tahiti covers a lot of turf, but her target audience is vague.