Island Mele

By John Berger

Friday, May 28, 1999

I Ku Mau Mau limits
its audience

I Ku Mau Mau
By: Randall Fukino, Mark Goto, James Kimo Palakiko, Paul Kimura, Donald Kaulia and Marc Ioane
Label: None (CD-single)

THIS blend of Hawaiian chant and Western music is intended as "an inspiration for a unified effort in the self-determination of the Hawaiian people."

It uses the Hawaiian nationalist anthem, "Kaulana Na Pua," without acknowledging the song's composer, Hawaiian patriot Ellen Prendergast.

The juxtaposition of chant with Prendergast's beautiful melody and lyric promise of defying those who overthrew the Hawaiian government is nicely done. Unfortunately, the group doesn't explain the significance of Prendergast's song or include any English translations in the liner notes. That leaves this call for unity to be understood only by the minority who speak fluent Hawaiian.

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A New Tradition
By: Various artists
Label: DKC Entertainment Group

DOUBLE K Country 102.7 FM is the latest local radio station with a country-music format. This Double K-sponsored anthology is a great idea but not as great as it should be. The quality of the acts, the material and the production values are all uneven.

Those who know Hawaii's country scene won't be surprised that the strongest and most authentic songs are by Warren Johnson & The Gator Creek Band. Johnson has been a mainstay of authentic country music in Hawaii for years. "What's A Fool to Say" should be getting major Double K Country airplay. "Love Makes You Stay" is also quite good.

Kamalamalama is a trio whose manager, Jim Kinner, is also the producer of this album. Its local bar-band renditions of "All the Gold in California" and "Fancy Free" belong on another anthology.

Associate producer Dita Holifield is Hawaii's most visible female country singer. "Bad Habit" and "All I Do is Cry All Night" show what she can do vocally, and become more likable with repeat play, but don't quite sound like her key to the national country charts.

Showdown and Renegade rise a bit above bar-band status. Showdown's "Needle in a Haystack" and Renegade's "Let the Liquor do the Talking" are promising; both deserve a good remix by someone who cares.

Producer Kinner didn't provide composers' credits so most of the writers remain anonymous.

Gordon Freitas recycles two prior releases. "Peaceful Arizona" isn't country in style or arrangement, but it is the best song yet written about the sunken battleship -- and patriotism and love of America are traditional themes in country music.

See Record Reviews for some of John Berger's past reviews.

See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.

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John Berger, who has covered the local
entertainment scene since 1972, writes reviews of recordings
produced by Hawaii artists. See the Star-Bulletin's Home Zone
section on Fridays for the latest reviews.