Musician Hewett
honors Hawaiian tradition
by creating his own

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By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

Soft-spoken Kawaikapuokalani Hewett is no stranger to controversy or criticism. He's been attacked over the past 20 years for songs he's written, for his distinctive graceful style of hula and for his approach to the Hawaiian culture he cherishes. Even these days, when it seems that so many kumu hula, songwriters and recording artists are redefining what Hawaiian music and culture is, Hewett still gets mentioned as being a rebel who doesn't follow the old-time traditions.

Hewett says his critics should consider an important point.

"Respect for the past is important, but I'm not living in the past. I'm living today, and we have to remember that somebody back then created what we now call 'the past' -- in their time, they created something that was new at that time -- and the point is that a living culture reflects that dynamics of its people."

HO'IKE 2001-- "E MALAMA NA KUPUNA" Where: Ron Bright Auditorium, Castle High School When: 2 and 7 p.m. tomorrow Admission: $15 Call: 235-3603 or 234-1155 Note: Kawai Cockett, the Lim Family, Olomana, Ellsworth Simeona, Kawaianuhealehua and Ke Kia'i A'o Hula will perform the matinee show only; Genoa Keawe, Sean Na'auao, Na Palapalai, Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka and Halau Kahulaliwai, the evening show.

Hewett has chosen to create as a kumu hula and as a Hoku award-winning composer and recording artist. "Poli'au," recorded by Teresa Bright, earned him two Hokus in 1991; "Kapilina," recorded by Sean Na'auao, won Song of the Year honors this past May. Hewett's songs have been recorded by a long and diverse list of other artists as well.

Instead of a rebel, Hewett considers himself a steward of his ancestors' legacy. He was raised in a household where all the kupuna spoke Hawaiian ("I was always totally overwhelmed by them when they spoke"). He absorbed the language and the traditions of his kupuna as a natural part of daily life. His grandmother was his greatest influence. He says she was the one who let him know when he'd made the grade as a Hawaiian poet and composer.

"I had written a lot of poems, but nothing I was really happy with until I wrote 'Ka Wai Lehua 'A'ala Ka Honua.' I took it to her and she looked through it, and at first there was really no emotion. Then she started to smile. She said, 'From here on, I will support you in the work you're doing because with this song you're giving glory and honor to God, to our past and to our ancestors. Because (of this song), it will bless you from here on.' She was my biggest inspiration, whether it was music or hula or the traditions of healing that I'm involved with presently."

Hewett says his knowledge and perspective of his language and culture was also shaped by Edith Kanaka'ole and Alice Namakelua. They inspired him to study the past but move forward as part of a vibrant living culture. He is equally vehement about the importance of honoring living kupuna who provide inspiration and share their knowledge. Thus the theme this weekend of Hewett's Ho'ike 2001 is "E Malama Na Kupuna (Honor the Elders)." Kawai Cockett and Auntie Genoa Keawe will be honored during the matinee and evening shows, respectively.

Speaking about the two honorees, Hewett said: "There's a proverb that says, ''Ike aku, 'ike mai,' that means 'Recognize, give honor.' If someone has taken the time to inspire you, to teach you and give you knowledge, then take the time to recognize them and give them honor. There are so many people that have inspired me because they were strong, they had integrity, they had wisdom and, more than anything else, they had aloha.

"They've already created for us a legacy of their music, their own style and their own spirit. We just wanted to have an opportunity to do something special for them. That is what ''Ike aku, 'ike mai' talks about, recognizing others first."

Does that somehow make Hewett a rebel against tradition? He doesn't see it that way.

"I've always thought that as long as I had the flesh, the blood and the bones of my ancestors within me, and I did things in a very positive way, that I wasn't hurting anybody and that I was traditional."

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