Raiatea’s Sea of Love Tour Makes Waves on Molokai
Raiatea Helm performs at Paddlers’ Inn Friday Night
Paddlers’ Inn was full of excited fans, eager to see Molokai’s own Raiatea Helm, perform last Friday night after four years away from the island. The two-time Grammy nominee and international star performed her 2013 Sea of Love Tour in a sold-out show with more than 250 people in attendance.
Lori Lei Rawlins-Crivello of Rawlins Chevron handles ticket sales for most major events on the island and was impressed with the show’s success.
“It was the fastest by far of any concert we have sold,” said Rawlins. “There has been nothing like this. We completely sold out, no tickets at the door.”
She noted that many of those who purchased tickets have been devoted Raiatea followers for years, adding that a number of people arrived more than five hours early to claim prime seats for the occasion.
For those lucky enough to nab tickets before they sold out, the concert was a majestic experience. Paddler’s Inn was transformed to accommodate an influx of diners for a 6 p.m. dinner service that preceded the show. Tables draped in red ran the length of the Lanai as ruby red twinkle lights hung from the ceiling.
As expected, Helm delivered an elegant performance featuring music from her most recent CD as well as many crowd favorites. She was accompanied onstage by her father, Zach Helm, and local band Hawaiian Prime Time. Many of Helm’s family and friends were also in attendance to give their support.
Henrietta Helm, mother of the artist, was obviously proud of her daughter’s accomplishments.
“You never dream your child would become this famous,” she said after a moment of thought. “You just raise them to be good citizens of Earth.”
Helm has played professionally for over 10 years and has released four CDs and one DVD. She was recently awarded a $20, 000 fellowship by the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation of Vancouver, Washington. Helm plans to use the grant to start a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting traditional Hawaiian music. She hopes to perpetuate the history of Hawaiian music by providing scholarships, educational material and music camps.
For those who missed out on Friday’s big show, a special concert is being planned for May as a fundraiser for the Molokai Cancer Fund.
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Heart Of Molokai (Larry W. Jones 10/07/2002) (song#406)
The island of Molokai knows no strangers
She welcomes you with love and open heart
Come and see the solitude of Wailau
Her misty rain will beauty to you impart
Give ear to the power of the Molokai sea
Walk the dunes along the verdant hills
Kainalu is a place on earth for love to be
With perfumed lipoa scent may be you filled
There is no end to the beauty of Kalaupapa
Molokai welcomes you with open heart
When you come you will say Aloha ‘aha
Be not a stranger to this paradise afar
Come and see the solitude of Wailau
Her misty rain will beauty to you impart
The island of Molokai knows no strangers
She welcomes you with love and open heart
Molokai knows no strangers
Come to her and bring your heart
Molokai Cowboy’s Ride (Larry W. Jones 05/12/2003) (song#1481)
An old Hawaiian cowboy rode out from Maui isle one day
He gazed across the Pailolo channel toward Molokai on his way
It was then he saw another cowboy, and prayed he hadn’t sinned
Cause what he saw was, the Molokai cowboy ridin’ in the wind
Yip-pie-ya-aye, yip-pie-yi-o, Molokai cowboy, ridin’ in the wind
The herd was from the Parker Ranch, stampeding through the skies
Longhorns had broken down the fence and now were loose in paradise
He shivered in his saddle as the Molokai cowboy looked and grinned
And he knew he’d seen his fate if he didn’t try his ways to mend
Yip-pie-ya-aye, yip-pie-yi-o, Molokai cowboy, ridin’ in the wind
His cry was loud, his voice was slurred
He rode the wind just like a bird
He spurred his horse to catch that Parker herd
But those longhorn cows ain’t heard a word
He’s got to ride forever through the skies of paradise
And the time he’ll spend, is hard to comprehend
Yip-pie-ya-aye, yip-pie-yi-o, Molokai cowboy, ridin’ in the wind
As the Molokai cowboy rode on by, the wind like hell did blow
And he called out another cowboy’s name, Danny Estocado
The cowboy from Maui knew he had some ways to mend
Or he would be forever with the Molokai cowboy, ridin’ in the wind
Yip-pie-ya-aye, yip-pie-yi-o, Molokai cowboy, ridin’ in the wind
Molokai cowboy, ridin’ in the wind