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"Maui"

Hapa
Self-Distributed

No, this doesn't mean Keli'i Kaneali'i and Barry Flanagan have gotten back together. Flanagan and his new partner, Nathan Aweau, have boldly defined a fresh and free-wheeling cosmopolitan sound while remaining firmly in touch with their island roots.

A zesty rendition of "Haleakala" opens the album and sells the new duo in no time. "Twinkletoes" showcases Aweau's strength on bass, "Slacking Off" gives Flanagan the instrumental spotlight, and "Papa E" juxtaposes Tokelauan lyrics with an African world music vibe.

"Kealoha Bebop w/Charlie" is their biggest leap forward into post-modern Hawaiian music, as Charles Kaupu and Kealoha join them in adding slam poetry, chant and alternative rock to this impressive collection.

www.hapa.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Haleakala" "Twinkletoes" "Kealoha Bebop w/ Charlie" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"KoAloha"

Daniel Ho
Daniel Ho Creations

Ho's latest instrumental album is one of his best. He does an excellent job interpreting 12 contemporary Hawaiian and local pop songs. While some of them have previously been done at least a number of times in recent years, others like "For You I'd Chase a Rainbow" have not been redone since the original hit. "Wahine 'Ilikea" is one of the former, but Ho comes up with fresh ideas, while remaining faithful to the original melody.

The concept behind the album is that this is Ho's first recording using his custom-made KoAloha D-VI 6-string ukulele. Two added strings give the D-VI a bass sound as those of a guitar, allowing Ho to play in a style similar to conventional ki ho'alu guitar. Therein lies the one possible quibble about this album: Embellishing the arrangements with guitar overdubs, while making the music more interesting, also makes it a bit more difficult to tell what the D-VI is capable of by itself.

www.daniel.ho.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: CD2A CD2B CD2C Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Welo"

Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole
The Mountain Apple Company

The musical traditions of the Kanaka'ole ohana have a competent young conservator in Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole. He translates the title as "ancestral memory," and the album is a perfect celebration of past, present and future. The one song he didn't write on the album is a chant by his grandmother, Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele, that praises the family kupunakane, Mauna Kea.

Kanaka'ole writes of Hilo, family, and the sometimes painful search for love and self-understanding. He sings and chants over a lush musical tapestry of Hawaiian and Western instruments. The rich sound of a cello adds an unusual texture to one song, and harmonica brings bluesy tones to another. His parents' presence as chanters reinforces the theme of ancestral memories being passed on.

www.mountainapplecompany.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Ka Aka O Ka Li'ula" "'Umia Ka Hanu I Ka La'i A Ke Aloha" "Hulihia Ke Kauna O Ka Moku" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info