A Night of Music to Remember

By Jack Kiyonaga | Editor 

In the heart of Kaunakakai, Adrian Canencia was hard at work. The owner of the Ho’ala Cafe and SipShop along with wife Ella, Canencia needed a stage for a seven-member band to perform in the courtyard behind the Storehouse building. So, he built one. 

“Wood is like gold here,” said Canencia. Instead of relying predominantly on wood, he used long beams to frame the stage, but filled in the rest with two tons of gravel. Then, he tamped down the gravel and covered it with lauhala mats and throw rugs. 

“I thought it turned out great,” said Canencia. “The musicians loved it.” 

After a long day of work, the stage was set for what would become a memorable night of music. 

Hosted by Ho’ala Cafe and SipShop, the concert was a promotion for Molokai musician Tania Manaba’s new album “Me Ka Fiyah.” 

Manaba embarked on her music career back in 2018, after many years of teaching kindergarten. She worked with award winning musician and sound engineer Kapena De Lima to produce the varied album, which features traditional Hawaiian, reggae and Spanish rhythms with an emphasis on religious tradition. 

Accompanying Manaba on stage were fellow Molokai musicians Sterling Kalua, Justin Mamuad and Adrian Canencia along with Rico Hutter and De Lima from Oahu, and Fred Callejo from Kona. 

The collaboration was an evident success as Manaba’s strong voice along with hula dancers and chicken hekka plates proved to be an effusive combination. Manaba and the band played through her album along with covers of Billy Joel, Norah Jones and Wild Cherry’s “Play that Funky Music.” 

Check out Manaba’s album on Spotify or pick up a CD at Ho’ala Cafe and SipShop.