Lake fuels No one these days is more rigorous in preserving and perpetuating traditional Hawaiian music than Kahauanu Lake. His credentials are impeccable: He is the leader of his own beloved trio, the linchpin of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a two-time Hoku Award-winning liner notes annotator and a Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Whenever Lake (respectfully referred to by many in the community as either "Mr. K" or "Uncle K") directs a record project or produces a concert, fans of traditional Hawaiian music know they can expect the best -- music, arrangements, pronunciation, the works. When Lake chooses to come out of semiretirement and perform with his older brother, Tommy Lake, as part of the project, the best becomes that much better.
Hawaiian music show
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.comHawaiian music fans are eagerly anticipating tomorrow afternoon, when Kahauanu Lake and the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame present "E Ho'omau 'Ia" at Kawaiaha'o Church. Lake and his brother will join the Kahauanu Lake Singers in presenting songs from the quartet's recently released debut album, "Na Mele 'Auhau." Emma Veary and Randall Hongo will open the concert with "The Queen's Prayer," along with songs of historic and cultural significance. Kilinahe will play the classic sound of acoustic Hawaiian-language music, and several halau and individual dancers will also perform. Harry B. Soria Jr. will preside as master of ceremonies.
"E Ho'omau 'Ia" translates into English as "to perpetuate," and the phrase presents both the theme of the concert and the mission of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. The organization was founded in 1994 for the purpose of inspiring greater interest and appreciation in the traditional music of Hawaii, and to honor the singers, chanters, musicians, groups and composers who have made significant contributions to it. Each year, the Hall of Fame Advisory Board considers a short list of candidates for induction. Madeline "Maddy" Lam and five pre-Contact chanters were inducted in 2000, and Genoa Keawe and the Haili Church Choir were inducted in 2001. Ray Kinney and Gabby Pahinui were inducted earlier this year.
The Hall of Fame also honors Na Lani 'Eha -- Kalakaua, his sisters Lili'uokalani and Miriam Likelike, and his brother Leleiohoku -- as royal patrons of Hawaiian culture who encouraged and helped perpetuate the cultural traditions of Hawaii more than a century ago. That accounts, in part, for the timing and location of the concert; Lili'uokalani's birthday is Sept. 2, and she not only attended Kawaiaha'o Church for many years as a parishioner, but also served as the church choir director and organist.
The concert this year honors her royal brothers and sisters as well, and the album by the Kahauanu Lake Singers similarly honors ali'i of old, as well as some of Lake's more immediate family members and cherished friends.
There is as well, perhaps, an aspect of kaona (hidden meaning) in the staging of hula in the church. On one hand, no church on Oahu is perceived as being more "Hawaiian" than Kawaiaha'o, and it is the church where Lili'uokalani worshipped and where she lay in state in death in 1917.
On the other hand, some of those who built the church and were part of it for many years also declared hula as "immoral" and did their best to destroy it, along with the Hawaiian nation.
"She never really turned the kingdom over to anybody," Lake said of Lili'uokalani in 2000. "It's still intact today; it's just that we're occupied by the United States, (and) some of us like the occupation."
Where: Kawaiaha'o Church 'E Ho'omau 'Ia'
When: 5:30 p.m. tomorrow
Tickets: $15, available in advance at Harry's Music, 3457 Waialae Ave.
Call: 735-2866
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