Island Mele

By John Berger

Friday, August 13, 1999

Anthologies provide
good overview

The Best of Peter Apo & Del Beazley
-- A Mamo Records Anthology (Mamo MRCD 6)

PETER Apo & Del Beazley were the biggest act at Mamo Records, but this is not exactly an Apo & Beazley anthology. It contains recordings that each made separately, selections from albums by other artists, and songs from Apo's great but underrated 1990 Hawaiian nationalist album, "Hawaiian Nation: A Call For Hawaiian Sovereignty." A few Apo & Beazley songs are included as well.

It was Apo & Beazley who established Mamo as a label of note when their self-titled debut album won Most Promising Artists honors at the 1989 Hoku Awards. The lead song on that album, "Moloka'i Hoe," is one of the strongest songs here.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Molokai Hoe Hawai'i Pono'i Sovereignty Song Sassafras My Island Home Quicktime | MPEG-3 info

Beazley's first solo album, "One For Akua," was voted Religious Album of the Year at the 1990 Hoku Awards. He later left the label but enjoys continuing success as a solo artist.

Apo was an active Hawaiian nationalist long before it was fashionable for elected officials to support sovereignty. He was a state representative when he put the label on the line with "Hawaiian Nation: A Call For Hawaiian Sovereignty."

Hoku Award winners Marlene Sai and Jeff Rasmussen were among those who joined him in recording songs and narratives that recalled the criminal overthrow of the legitimate Hawaiian government in 1893 and called for redress.

Although Hawaii's "Hawaiian radio" stations weren't ready for sovereignty songs in 1990 "Sovereignty Song" and "Hawai'i Pono'i" are two highlights of that album and this well-annotated collection.

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Na Mele Henheno Na Makahiki Mua Helu 'Elua:
Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau (Poki SPCD 9054)

PRODUCER Lea Uehara completes a two-part look at the early years of the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau with more songs culled apparently at random from three early albums.

This anthology is better that the first. The annotation is more germane and gives a better idea of how the songs fit in the group's discography.

Mpeg Audio Clips: Pakalolo Hawaii '78 Hali'ilua Quicktime | MPEG-3 info

The songs aren't presented in chronological order but, heard in conjunction with the liner notes, reflect the evolution as members came and went. An era ended in 1982 with the tragic death of Skippy Kamakawiwo'ole and the abrupt resignation of Mel Amina.

The most memorable song in this collection is "Hawaii '78," an early Hawaiian nationalist anthem, but the smooth harmonies and clean acoustic arrangements make each song memorable.

Original producer Bill Murata's ill-advised addition of thin faux string effects is the only glaring blemish.

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See Record Reviews for some past reviews.
See Aloha Worldwide for locals living away.

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