"Indigenous Life" verbalizes concerns about the fate of his birthplace foundations, rendered in roots reggae rhythms. "Move On" is more progressive, with a blues undercurrent; "Hey Girl," featuring Siaosi, is a rock-tempoed love song in Fijian; "Let's Get It On," spotlighting J. Boogs, has a silky Motown manner; and, for a change of pace, "Taulaga A Solomana" is a sweet and tender Samoan ballad, with slack-key support from Jeff Rasmussen, supported by a wondrous chorus — one of the CD's best tracks.

The titles tell the tale: "Maui Wowie," "City of Refuge," "Moloka'i Blues" and "Lana'i" are told with eloquence and sensitivity. "Ponoville" is as earnest as it gets here, plain and simple.

Recorded live at a September 2007 performance at Hawai'i Public Radio's Atherton Performing Arts Studio, this release is blessed by ki ho'alu accompaniment by Cindy Combs on "Forbidden Isle," a paean to Ni'ihau.

Herron imposes her jazz-flavored stance on such classics as "Blowin' in the Wind," "Over the Rainbow" and "Autumn Leaves," and renders "Body and Soul," "All or Nothing at All" and "Things Could be Better" with soulful endearment.