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Music

Stories regarding Molokai’s music scene

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Na Hoku Finalist

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023

Molokai-Made Hip Hop Album Na Hoku Finalist

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai couple Maile and Hanohano Naehu have created a musical album called Ho’okupu, a hip-hop anthology of Hawaiian history. It was nominated for Hip Hop Album of the Year in this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano awards and has been named a finalist for the category, with the awards ceremony this Saturday, July 1. 

Ho’okupu tells the story of Hawaii’s history, from the Kumulipo at the beginning of time, to modern day, using the artistic medium of hip hop. It’s a collaborative effort with emcees, academic professors, Hawaiian historians, chanters, music producers and others, created and recorded at the Naehu’s east end off-grid home. …

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Music on the Lawn

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023

Music on the Lawn

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Residents enjoyed an evening concert on the lawn of the Molokai Public Library as musicians of the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program (MIME) shared their learning from the year. Taught by Bob Underwood, the program is offered free to elementary students during the school year, with instruments provided, as well as adult learners. The program is sponsored by the Molokai Arts Center and the performance featured students from Kualapu’u and Kaunakakai schools.…

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Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

Celebrating ‘Olelo Hawaii

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Molokai’s Hawaiian language immersion preschool, Punana Leo, held it’s annual Ho’omau event last Saturday for the first time since the pandemic. Haumana of Punana Leo opened the community event with song and keiki introductions, followed by performances by Kula Kaiapuni ‘o Kualapuu, the island’s elementary language immersion program. Keiki sang throughout a torrential downpour of rain, as attendees took cover under tents. But the rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those gathered, who went on to enjoy food and craft booths and entertainment throughout the day. 

The event is a fundraiser to help support Punana Leo o Molokai’s continued perpetuation of Hawaiian language education. …

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Concert on the Lawn

Wednesday, May 17th, 2023

MAC News Release 

A music performance by the Molokai Instrumental Music Education Program (MIME) will be held on Friday, May 19 at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Molokai Public Library. Students from Kualapu’u and Kaunakakai elementary schools’ 21st Century program will perform introductory music as well as Shostakovich and Copland. This is a free event and all are welcome! 

The Molokai Arts Center (MAC) is the fiscal sponsor for this program which is led by Bob Underwood. Underwood has graciously and with dedication taught music performance to Molokai’s keiki and adults for over 12 years. This program is offered free to elementary students during the school year and instruments are provided.…

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Paka’a Lanakila Comes to Molokai

Wednesday, March 29th, 2023

Paka’a Lanakila Comes to Molokai

By Jack Kiyonaga, Reporter 

Molokai residents were treated to a multisensory art experience last week that blended classical music with Hawaiian legend. 

Composed by Dr. Jon Magnussen, this performance of the Paka’a Lanakila story featured chamber music by the Spring Wind Quintet, part of Chamber Music Hawaii, as well as storytelling by Kalama Cabigon.  The performance combined chamber music with Hawaiian language storytelling and visual art effects to create an experiential form of storytelling. 

“It’s meant to be a theater piece that envelopes everybody,” explained Magnussen. “Multiple elements are telling the story. They all work together in a way that makes it much greater than it ever could be with just one of them.”…

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Special Chamber Music Performance

Wednesday, March 15th, 2023

Special Chamber Music Performance

MAC News Release

Make way! Come enjoy a performance by Chamber Music Hawaii of “Paka’a Lanakila!” in a Hawaiian language storytelling about a boy’s triumph over local fishermen. Written for wind quintet, narrator, and Ka’eke’eke, with overhead English translation, experience the excitement of Paka’a outsmarting everyone, even his doubting family.

Composed by Dr. Jon Magnussen, the event features the spring wind quintet and master storyteller Kalama Cabigon. Overhead projection including artwork by Karen Loebel-Fried and English translations will accompany the performers.

The event is on Monday, March 20 from 6 to 7 p.m. at St. Damien of Molokai Parish Church located in Kaunakakai.…

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Kanikapila Group Therapy Returns

Wednesday, January 18th, 2023

Kanikapila Group Therapy News Release

For those of you who fondly recall the days when Kanikapila was at the Coffees of Hawaii site in Kualapuu, let it be known that it has returned! It was named Kanikapila Group Therapy because so many people who showed up for it would comment that they felt so good afterwards. 

If you don’t know what the word “kanikapila” means, it is a style of Hawaiian music produced in an impromptu jam session. The term comes from “kani,” which means sound, and “pila” which means any string instrument in the Hawaiian language.

Kanikapila Group Therapy (KGT) meets the first and third Tuesday of every month from 10a.m…

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Christmas Carolers

Wednesday, December 21st, 2022

Christmas Carolers

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

Kaunakakai School students toured businesses in town last week to bring holiday cheer and sing Christmas carols to appreciate audiences. 

The Molokai Community Choir, led by Leah Aquino, and the Molokai Instrumental Music Education group, instructed by Bob Underwood joined to offer a Christmas concert at Grace Episcopal Church’s Saturday Market last weekend. …

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Molokai Mele Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

Thursday, October 13th, 2022

Molokai Mele Album Wins Na Hoku Hanohano

By Catherine Cluett Pactol | Editor

When University of Hawaii music professor Dr. Keola Donaghy arrived on Molokai in 2019 to teach a first-ever two-year Academic Subject Certificate in Hawaiian Music to Molokai students, only four participants had registered for the class. He said he almost decided to cancel the trip. But when he walked into the classroom at the UH Maui College, Molokai campus, 12 individuals greeted him. 

“I asked them, ‘Why didn’t you folks sign up for the class? We almost didn’t come.’” 

One of the students, a Hawaiian woman who turned out to be Molokai’s Kau’i Kapuni Manera, bluntly replied, “We didn’t think you would actually come.…

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MAC at the Library

Wednesday, August 17th, 2022

MAC at the Library

MAC News Release 

MAC at the Library is back! Molokai Arts Center returns to the Molokai Public Library with Artist in Residence Rafael Lamas (all the way from Spain!) conducting the Molokai Instrumental Music Education (MIME) Septet. The event, which will be held on the lawn behind the library on Wednesday, Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m., will give Lamas an opportunity to teach conducting and share his journey on Molokai. Bring your hali‘i or lawn chair and experience culture and the arts on Molokai.

Lamas is an orchestra conductor, a concert pianist, a creative writer, and Professor of Spanish Literature and Cultural Studies at Fordham University at Lincoln Center of New York.…

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