Music

Stories regarding Molokai’s music scene

Katchafire Returning to Molokai

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

In years past, popular musical acts such as Fiji, Hoaikane, and Bradah Walter have performed on Molokai. But the Friendly Isle has been missing its concert fix for a while – and is attempting a comeback with the help from a local son.

Paulele Alcon moved to Oahu for college, and has been helping friends in the music scene promote the hottest bands in the state ever since. While he works for Hawaiian Insurance during the day, following in his father Pancho’s footsteps, Alcon said he’s wanted to pursue his own kind of promotion – with a clothing brand.

“I always knew I could do things better but never had the power to do things my way – which is the reason why I've started my own [company],” he said.

,” he said.

Alcon added a big Mahalo to his partners in Oahu, Byron Tagupa and Alika Kuraoka, and his family on Molokai for always helping him here. Visit his website for more information: www.HIfinest.com

HI Finest presents Katchafire
Katchafire will be playing at Paddlers Inn on Thursday, April 15, doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at Paddlers Inn, Chevron, Hayaku, Pancho Alcon Ltd, and Molokai Drugs for $30. Tickets at the door will be $35.

Posted in Community, Culture & Art, Music

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Makalei…Pehea Ka Lawai’a

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Community Contributed

CD Review by Lonomusic

Hawaiian music is just one of the many talents these two possess. Stew assisted the group O Wai La with their debut CD project. Mike is a renowned paddler – there, that should garner a Hoku award – however, music is our course. These fine gentlemen have surrounded themselves with a crew of many talents, besides their own. Stew on guitar, ukulele and vocals, while Mike is on upright bass and vocals. Their clarity of Hawaiian words is superb. The flow of their music scans most of the Hawaiian spectrum. Contemporary, big band and easy listening categories. This backyard style, we at Lonomusic admire. They seem to have been friends for a while, as their vocals and harmonies are pili pa’a, very tight. They have a good-time feel about their sound.

This three-fold digi-pak CD is light blue with silhousettes of their happy faces, liner notes by Kainani Kahaunaele, a list of musicians and thank you’s. Hopefully the lyrics and translations can be found at www.makaleimusic.com. This CD is available in the display counter at Molokai Drugs.

Several outstanding tracks are: Ka Paniolo Nui O Moloka’I, Moloka’I Nui A Hina, Ka Lei Punahou, Silver Sword, Lei Aloha Lei Makamae. Thirteen tracks total, this is a good presentation of their works. “Oceans Away” is jam packed with modulations and smooth jazzy grooves. The original “Lifetimes Too Short” is a long thought-out song. The strings that accompany several tracks are well done in its dreamy feel. There is a nice somewhat kiho’alu (slack key) style in “Pu’uanahulu/Keawaiki”. The vocals top it all off with a guitar solo. The last track, titled “The Wonderful World of Aloha” is reminiscent of the old Aloha Airlines. It still captures that feeling of flying inter-isle, though it is nostalgic and deeply sad the way Pacific Wings has decided to cash in on the people of Molokai and the patients of Kalaupapa. We are so glad these gentlemen brought this mele back. It, at one time, was the hit song of many hotel lu’au. Its melody captivated malihini and kama’aina alike. Being an introduction to love and warmth of our favorite word, known the world over, “ALOHA”.

We hope the Na Hoku Hanohano awards shine God’s great light on Pehea Ka Lawai’a and Makalei.

Aloha to Aunty Louise Bush. She will be greatly missed. Until next time, Ke Akua Pu A Hui Hou Kakou,

Lonomusic

Posted in Culture & Art, Music

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Ingrid Toth, Lono headline book signing

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Molokai musician Lono strummed his guitar as passerby flowed in and out of the Art from the Heart gallery last Wednesday, waiting to meet Ingrid Toth, author of “Light within Despair.”

The book and CD signing was a collective event that not only included Toth and Lono, but also featured Donald Sunshine, a longtime Molokai resident and author.

“Light within Despair” is Toth’s first published novel that tells the story of a woman’s struggle to fit within a male-dominated society in 20th century Europe.

Toth, along with Sunshine and Lono, drew in a buzzing crowd that saw anyone from art and literature aficionados, to curious members of the community.

“This is what keeps Molokai going,” said Annie Van Eps, owner of Art from the Heart gallery. “These are the kind of things that we need.”

Jack Geng, husband of Toth, would like to give a big mahalo to Van Eps for opening up her gallery and making this event possible.

Posted in Culture & Art, Music

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Hula Babies and Kupuna Dance Together

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Moana Dudoit shared something her mother told her over 50 years ago. “Remember, you didn’t get your talent from me, or your dad – you got it from God,” Moana said to the crowd of over 800 on Saturday night, gathered at Mitchell Pauole Center for her annual hula halau fundraiser. “Share your talent for free.”

And so Moana shared. She began a hula halau for her family, but it soon evolved into a group that anyone could join. Over 100 of her dancer’s came back to the stage, some from off island, for last Saturday’s annual dinner and dance fundraiser, performing ancient chants, hula, and the always show-stopping Tahitian-style dancing.

Missed the performance? While it might not be as extravagant as last week’s performance Moana’s Hula Halau performs every Wednesday night at Hotel Molokai, free of charge.

Posted in Culture & Art, Hawaiian Culture, Music

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With a Song to Share

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

Community Contributed

By Diane Abraham

We are indeed blessed on Molokai. The natural beauty all around us is only sweetened by the people who call this `aina their home. Lono, with his musical talent and mana`o, is one such person.

Recently, the fourth graders of Kualapu`u School have been graced by his generosity. Crowding 62 nine and ten-year old haumanu into Ms. Abraham’s classroom, the keiki have learned a mele about our favorite monk seal, KP2. KP2, which stands for Kauai Pup Two (Pup one from the same mother was likewise abandoned at birth and died shortly thereafter), has properly been given a Hawaiian name: Ho’ailona.

Lono’s song about this punahele pup has filled our hearts, our ears, our voices and our class.

Mahalo to this awesome man who shows that one person can make a difference: in this case, in not just one life but in the lives of 62 young people, and no doubt, their three teachers!

There’s even a sweet touch: at a presentation in Honolulu of Ho’ailona, Lono played the recording he made of the children singing the chorus (hui) while he sang the verses. The audience and moderators were brought to tears by the sweet singing of the Kualapu`u haumanu. The recording has been aired on the radio (FM 102.3)…keep listening! How wonderful that Lono has opened this opportunity for the young people of Molokai to express themselves in song. One never knows what the future holds; we can only do what Lono has done: seize the moment and let Akua chart the course.

Posted in Education, Letters, Music

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Molokai Duo Strums on Oahu

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Community Contributed
By Lucy Lamkin

Molokai ukulele maker Dan Ryerson and Ukes for Kids’ 13-year-old student Ace Villanueva participated in the eighth Annual Ukulele Guild of Hawaii Exhibition & Conference last month. On Nov. 21-22, the pair traveled to Oahu for the conference held at the Sheraton Hotel in Waikiki.

The event featured 48 instruments by 32 master builders. Builders from all over the world, including Hawaii, the mainland, New Zealand and Japan, gathered for two days to learn more about their craft. Ryerson put on his exhibit for the seventh year in a row. The event included instrument and craftsmanship displays, a program of workshops in instrument construction and playing techniques.

Ace Villanueva of Molokai performed in the lineup of well known players at the Conference Open Mic and was praised by world reknowned strummers Kalei Gamiao and Kimo Hussey. Gamiao, Hussey and several other recording artists inclduding Brittni Paiva, Daniel Nakashima and Chris Salvador played at the Saturday night banquet.

Dan Ryerson’s Manae label has created custom ukuleles and guitars for clients in Hawaii, the mainland and Japan. Ryerson initiated the Ukes For Kids program on Molokai that has supplied over 385 ukuleles to students like Villanueva across the island.

Molokai’s Ukes for Kids Program has received significant support from the The Ukulele Guild of Hawaii which is devoted to perpetuating Hawai‘i’s culture and heritage. Large contributions have come from as far away as Santa Cruz, California where guild member and instrument maker Dave Tachera produced a concert benefitting the Molokai program. Local band Na Ohana Hoaloha has also consistently raised funds in support of the Ukes for Kids Program on Molokai.

A closer view of the Exhibition is available at: http://www.ukuleleguild.org/

Posted in Culture & Art, Hawaiian Culture, Music

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Choke Talent on Molokai

Monday, December 14th, 2009

Nearly 50 students from four Molokai schools participated in this year’s Brown Bags to Stardom talent show last Saturday night, an island-wide talent competition. This was the second year that the competition was open to elementary and middle school students, and the first year that Molokai had all three divisions represented.