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Music

Stories regarding Molokai’s music scene

Lights, Camera, Aloha!

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Lights, Camera, Aloha!

As the sun went down on Saturday, the lights went up on the silver screen at the seventh annual Molokai Film Festival.

Nearly 200 people came out for the festival at Hotel Molokai, organized by MauiFEST Hawaii. It hosts a similar event on Lanai, and organizers said they are meant to bring movie- watching to communities without access to theaters.

“It’s a great way to bring high quality entertainment, fun and aloha,” said Ken Martinez Burgmaier, a filmmaker with MauiFEST Hawaii.

In years past, Molokai filmmakers were featured at the lineup, but this year none submitted films. The Friendly Isle was not missing from the screen, however, as Burgmaier premiered two films on Saturday festival that were filmed on Molokai – “Journey to Kalaupapa” and “Massacre at Kaupoa Beach,” which showed community reaction to the destruction of a cultural site.

The festival is not just about the films. During the day, musicians and cultural performers entertained the crowd. Brother Noland – who preformed with his brother Tony C for the first time in nearly 15 years -- had the crowd Hi! Hello!-ing along.

Calvin Hoe held a workshop on making and playing the nose flute. He later preformed with instruments made on-site and gave a few away to lucky keiki and visitors.

“It’s important to keep the form of story telling alive,” Hoe said. “Ingenious people need access to tell our stories.”

In previous years the festival was held at the ballpark in Kaunakakai and Coffees of Hawaii. Organizers said they were excited about the move to Hotel Molokai.
   
“We’ve wanted to have it here before – it’s so intimate, and the stage is all set up for live music,” Dave Lower said.

MauiFEST will be in Lanai City next weekend and moves to Hana in October.  

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Praising In The Heart Of Town

Thursday, August 5th, 2010

Praising In The Heart Of Town

Community Contributed

By Randy Manley

The moon was aglow and the cool breezes were blowing as hundreds of people gathered at the Kaunakakai Ball Field for the first ever Molokai Summer Praise Concert last Friday evening. The free concert featuring various musical groups from around the island was sponsored by eight Molokai churches as a way of sharing the ministry of music with the island community.

Concert goers filled bleacher seats, reclined on blankets spread on the field, and sat at picnic tables enjoying a mixture of musical styles which included contemporary praise, choir, reggae, and gospel.

While the adults listened to the tunes, the keiki had the opportunity to participate in various games and activities that were designed to keep them entertained and occupied throughout the night.

As the musical smorgasbord was being served from the stage those looking for physical food needed only to follow their noses to the large food tent where musabee, chili and rice, and fresh malasadas were available free of charge.

Adding a special touch to the event was Dawn O’Brien master of ceremonies for the evening. O’Brien, the morning DJ for Christian radio station 95.5 The Fish, entertained the crowd with her quick wit and stories of growing up in the islands as she helped transition between performances.

If you missed the opportunity to attend be assured that the organizers of this event plan to make this an annual affair.

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Radio Cuts Local News

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Molokai’s only radio station will no longer air local news updates. The station’s owner, Honolulu-based Ohana Broadcast Company (OBC), made the decision two weeks ago.

KMKK 102.3, which plays traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, had aired local news briefs three times a day since it began four years ago, though technical problems had kept the news from airing for the last month.

“I’m disappointed that they wouldn’t feel that Molokai needs local radio news,” said former news director David Lichtenstein, who was let go when the decision was made.

Lichtenstein said he suspects OBC is shifting its focus to target listeners on Oahu -- at the expense of those on Molokai. KMKK broadcasts from a tower in Maunaloa and its signal reaches windward Oahu.

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Gimme a Beat

Monday, June 21st, 2010

Gimme a Beat

Molokai Public Library’s usually quiet halls echoed with drum beats and song last Wednesday as Badenyaa African Diaspora Dance Theater took the make-shift stage. They incorporated drumming, dancing and chanting in a one-hour performance that had their audience captivated.

About 40 people – including many keiki – gathered for the performance by four members from the Oahu-based group. Between songs, choreographer and lead singer Emily Uribe also gave the crowd lessons in African history, mythology and geography.

“African culture – and drumming in general – is about involving the community,” Uribe said, describing the “symbiotic relationship” drummers have with their audience. At one point, she had the whole crowd on its feet, clapping and stomping along.

The music Badenyaa played was traditional to central Africa and spread to Caribbean countries like Cuba and Haiti with the slave trade.

Though the music originated thousands of miles away, Uribe said its rhythm and storytelling have universal appeal.

“Music is innate in everybody,” she said. “We really just want to drive home that point.”

The event was part of the library’s Summer Reading Program. Earlier this month, the library featured a performance by the Hawaii Opera Theater and this week hosted Huliau, a contemporary Hawaiian dance company.

The series wraps up with the program “Be Kind to Animals” on Tuesday, June 29 at 10 a.m.

 

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Musical Love

Monday, June 14th, 2010

Musical Love

Community Contributed

It was meant to be: a master of mele and kiho`alu and the songbird of Molokai. Keola’s voice is at the right place for the leo of Hawaii nei. In his hands, he has held love, guitars, family, friends, ancestors and now, cradled gently, the songbird of Molokai, Raiatea.

With their roots of Hawaiian music well established, they bring us this fine piece of music mastery, of love, kindness and hurt-less music. The path is clear: This is the way Hawaii should be represented to all. The heavenly light shines on both. The waters are flowing again. May we all have a drink? A taste of musical love.

We could not stop putting out the kahea about this work. The mana is here, folks, the mana is here. Generations to come will have this music to enjoy when they are away from Hawaii, family and friends. Peace is available here -- you and this music will endure.



Let’s go to the tracks. The first is “Ina” (Imagine), originally by John Lennon. This version features beautiful chanting – Lennon must be loving this piece. I hope Yoko hears it. Next is “Where I Hold You.” Keola’s guitar is signature and here comes Molokai’s Raiatea, so sweet. “Our Time for Letting Go” is about memories of lost love, family, friends and the change we all go through moving on. It’s very beautiful. Next is “You Somebody.” Raiatea, great job on this. We hope the world charts will highly consider this mele for awards. No, Raiatea, YOU somebody.

Next is “Hilo Hanakahi.” Our favorite rendition of this song was by Sunday Manoa, with Robert and Roland Cazimero and Peter Moon, for 30 years plus. Move on, big dogs -- the master and the songbird have arrived. On “I Kilohi Aku Au,” Raiatea leads all. Molokai, please stand up and be counted. She brings peace to our hearts and Kupuna smile with tears of love.

On the next track, “Ka Makani Ka’ili Aloha (Love Snatched by the Wind),” Raiatea brings back hints of the great Emma Veary. “Ke Kulu o ke Au” is a haunting nose flute number and Keola brings up the mele as though he was telling a secret for your ears only. “Ke Ali`i hulu mamo” features a nose flute intro with guitar and pahu, and Raiatea delivers the goods here.

The album ends with “Days of My Youth,” which is a Kui Lee masterpiece delivered now in Keola’s life and ours as well, and finally “Kimo Hula”. Again, Raiatea is haunting. Job well done. Simplicity is catchy, and what an ending to this great project. Our take: the Grammys are yours. Please bring it home to us here on Molokai and Hawaii nei. This is one for the top 10 CD rack at home.

Finally, a big send-off to my dear brother, Woody DeMello, whom I look up to. I love you so much. May you guide us from heaven.

And to my personal friend and colleague, Kris Hinsvark, who I had the pleasure of paddling with off the shores of Maui for five years who stayed at my side throughout my Maui recordings and Old Style series. You will be surely missed. I love you also.

Till next time, Ke Akua Pu A Hui Hou Kakou.

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The Green Scene

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

The Green Scene

It’s not everyday you get to nod your head, tap your feet and sway your body to the funky reggae beats of The Green live on Molokai. So it’s no wonder that when the Oahu-based band marked its presence at Paddlers Inn last Friday, they were greeted with a mass of welcoming fans.

Prior to the show, we talked with Zion Thompson, lead guitarist and vocalist for The Green, and found that The Green seed was planted long before the band even came together. We also talked story with Thompson about what the band has been up to recently.

. It was a killer road trip. We didn’t have to drive – we had a bus. It was unreal. A couple of us had done a little bit of touring, but nothing like this. We’ve always wanted to do it as a group, so it was really cool.

MD: Any favorite spots?
ZT: Oregon, New York and Texas were awesome. Everywhere was unreal, though.

MD: But there’s no place like Hawaii.
ZT: Oh yeah. It was great to come home. We were ready to come home and have some fat crowds. It makes you appreciate Hawaii even more.

MD: So, what’s with the name, The Green?
ZT: Well, it’s a good color. It’s the land, it’s the trees. We let people see it as they want. And especially right now, in this day in age, it’s positive with everyone going green and trying to be aware about the planet. We thought of a name that would hit a lot of different markets if people have an open mind. For Hawaii, this name works awesome for various reasons. On a world scale, we’re trying to get back to the whole attitude of spreading awareness about the environment. And… it’s also our favorite color.

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Hitting the Right Note

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010

Hitting the Right Note

Over 50 people crowded the Molokai Public Library last Wednesday to hear slack key guitarist Jeff Peterson play a set of traditional and original pieces. In between songs, he talked about the history of slack key and what makes the style distinct.

“You extend the range of the instrument,” he said of the technique of detuning the guitar to allow for more slack in the strings. “It’s a real full, rich sound.”

Slack key began when Mexican cowboys arrived in Hawaii the 1800s to start ranching – and brought with them the steel-string guitar.

“Hawaiians took it and adapted it and put some aloha spirit in it,” said Peterson, who grew up on Maui.

He described the evolving style of slack key, which today incorporates elements from other genres like classical, jazz and even swing.

Peterson’s new album “Maui On My Mind” is nominated for three Na Hoku Awards, including Slack Key Album of the Year, and Peterson himself is nominated for Favorite Entertainer of the Year.

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Holding On To Hula

Monday, May 17th, 2010

Holding On To Hula

Na Kupuna O Moana’s hula halau seem to glow as they join in a celebration of hula at Ka Hula Piko last Saturday. In its 19th year, the festival was held at Mitchell Pauole Center for the first time, a switch from its traditional Papohaku Beach location.

One event organizer said Ka Hula Piko had not seen decreased attendance at its former location at Papohaku Beach but that organizers wanted to bring it to a bigger cross section of Molokai and not just the west end.

The late kumu hula John Kaimikaua founded the annual event in 1991. “The heartbeat of our culture is dance. It is the essence of ourselves. Every movement in the universe is in our dance,” wrote Ka`imikaua.

According to a mo`olelo from the eighth century, a wahine named La`ila`i is said to have given birth to hula at Ka`ana on the hill Pu`u Nana on Molokai’s west end.

This year’s Ka Hula Piko featured both local and guest halau performances, ono grinds and a wide selection of local artists selling their crafts. The theme of the festival was “Molokai Pule O`o,” an ancient epithet spoken in praise and fear of the powerful prayer of Molokai’s kahuna (priests). Ka Hula Piko 2010 was dedicated to Aunty Louise Malulani Bush, who passed away on Feb. 10.

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Strumming Their Way to Molokai

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Strumming Their Way to Molokai

Nine students from Kamehameha School brought cheers and laughs to a Molokai audience last Saturday as they played guitar and sang. An ample audience of about three dozen swayed and sang along to an eclectic mix of favorites like “Wahine Ilikea,” “Take Me Home Country Roads” and even a song by Frank Sinatra. Everyone joined hands in an all-encompassing circle for the program’s finale, “Hawaii Aloha.”

Both a music and a service club, the students of the Kamehameha Guitar Club volunteered at Ali`i Fishpond with Merve Dudoit before their performance at Home Pumehana last Saturday. The group, which includes two Molokai students, raised money to make the trip, and local families donated food and opened their homes for the students to stay.

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Katchafire Heats It Up

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Katchafire Heats It Up

When the Molokai Dispatch got wind that the guys from Katchafire were coming to spread their musical flavor on the Friendly Isle, we couldn’t help but jump on the bandwagon.

Deeply rooted from New Zealand, the band took to the stage their exceptional vocals, talented writing and sensual depth last Thursday at Paddlers Inn. Katchafire’s extreme energy was matched by the intensity of the massive crowd, who discovered that where there is smoke, there is definitely fire.

put in Slow Burning, the name of our second album. Our original lead singer was Gerry and so the first one we pulled out was Gerry and the Pacemakers or something silly like that, and we just laughed that off. Another was Black Fern but that didn’t make the cut and Katchafire was third.

MD: Where do you see yourselves in five years?
Katchafire: Still together, still jamming out. Hopefully bigger and better, but not too big that we don’t come back to Molokai. We could never be too big for that.

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