Music

Dancing for the Departed: Bon Festival 2012

Wednesday, August 1st, 2012

As dusk fell on the Guzeiji Soto Mission of Molokai last Saturday evening, glowing paper lantern orbs illuminated the faces of dozens of dancers honoring their departed loved ones. Molokai residents joined members of the Somei Taiko drumming group and the Japanese Cultural Center on Oahu in the graceful motions of the Bon dance.

“It’s a time to celebrate with our loved ones that have passed on,” said Marge Yokomizo-Bento, president of the Molokai Guzeiji Soto Mission, a Buddhist temple located on Hotel Lane in Kaunakakai.

The temple grounds were crowded with community members of all ages enjoying a selection of food and cultural education.…

Molokai Throwback Jam

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Community Contributed

By Paulele Alcon

Molokai, I hope you’re ready for the biggest and most anticipated show to ever hit the Friendly Isle. This Thursday, HI Finest Clothing presents the Molokai Throwback Jam 2012 Featuring Fiji, The Mana’o Company and Bruddah Waltah. Molokai has seen some pretty big shows over the years, but nothing quite like this one. It’s been years since these local music pioneers blessed our island with their music, and they are all going to be performing together on one stage in one night.

Fiji, The Mana`o Company and Bruddah Waltah all share multiple Na Hoku Awards, been in the business for over 20 years each, sold out shows all over the world, and all share a common love for Molokai.…

Celebrating Song: Raiatea Helm

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Nominations: Female Vocalist of the Year, Island Music Album of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Graphics Award

Album name: “Sea of Love”

The Molokai Dispatch (TMD): Tell us a little about this album.
Raiatea Helm (RH): This album is my sixth project, and it covers the era of 1950s and 60s Hawaiian music. A lot of people aren’t familiar with this type of music, which consists of jazz guitar and percussion. It’s more of a fun sound that I wanted to feature in this album. Eighty percent of this CD was recorded in a live setting so we could capture the feel they had 50 years ago.…

Celebrating Song: Kanohowailuku Helm

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Nominations: Contemporary Album of the Year

Album name: “Contagious”

The Molokai Dispatch (TMD): Tell us a little about this album.
Kanoho Helm (KH): It’s all original music that I wrote, and I’ve always wanted to put out an album of my own music. This is my first full-length album – there are 12 tracks – so hopefully there is more to come.

TMD: Was being nominated for a Na Hoku Award one of your goals?
KH: I’m actually surprised I made the nomination because I didn’t put much time into promotion because I had so much kuleana come up in my personal life and being a part of I Aloha Molokai [group against commercial wind energy], I just didn’t have time.…

Celebrating Song: Eddie Tanaka

Wednesday, April 25th, 2012

Nominations: Island Music Album of the Year
Album name: “Mystical Molokai”

The Molokai Dispatch (TMD): Tell us a little about this album.
Eddie Tanaka (ET): There are seven original songs and four covers, and a lot of the songs are written for Molokai or have some relation to Molokai. It is basically easy listening music. It was written more or less to remember a place –for people who came to Molokai and went back home, the music would bring them back, which is what I wanted to do. It is something to remember in the future.

TMD: What does this nomination mean to you?…

Celebrating Song

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

Three Molokai musicians get Na Hoku nominations.

The Friendly Island will be well represented at the 35th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. The Awards Show, hosted by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA), is an annual event held to celebrate “the connections between music, our culture, and the spirit of aloha,” according to their website.

This year’s awards span 27 categories, and artists must submit their work to HARA’s Board of Governors in advance to be considered for nominations. Molokai natives Raiatea Helm, Eddie Tanaka and Kanoho Helm have each qualified as finalists in various categories in this year’s nominations, from Island Music Album of the year to Favorite Entertainer.…

John Keawe Slack Key Clip

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Award-winning slack key guitarist John Keawe played at the Molokai Public Library for National Library Week. If you missed the show, here’s a clip.…