Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 24, Number 2, 1 February 2007 — DIGITAL MELEVISION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DIGITAL MELEVISION

The Makaha Sons and HAPA shine in new DVD releases

By Manu Buyd Public lnfnrmatinn Directnr

MĀKAHA SONS Live at the Hawai'i Theatre When the Mākaha Sons first emerged on the Hawaiian music scene in 1976, 8-track recordings were still the rage and vinyl LPs were the industry standard. More than 30 years later, the Mākaha Sons set a new benchmark of excellenee with their debut DVD release, "The Mākaha Sons Live at the Hawai'i Theatre" - an audio/ visual treat perfect for friends and family the world over.

Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, lohn and Jerome Koko, and a host of guest artists take the stage at Downtown Honolulu's historic Hawai'i Theatre in a musical journey through time acknowledging Leeward O'ahu roots and three lifetimes of creativity, camaraderie and experiences. Jerome's light humor and expert timing keep the show at a perfect paee. Moon shares mo'olelo about his own composition, Kāhea o Keale (eall of the surf), and how you ean hear the sound of the sea echoing off the cliffs in Mākaha at dawn. A virtual encyclopedia of traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, he easily shares mana'o on two newer mele, both

rich with history, imagery and mana, Kamali'i o ka Pō, and Hanohano Wailuanuiaho 'āno. Those two haunting mele, performed beautifully by the "Sons" and Chinky Māhoe's Hālau Hula o Kawaili'ulā at last year's Merrie Monarch Festival, were penned by Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett and Charles Ka'upu, respectively. Kealo Koko, introduced by Jerome twice as "my wife's | daughter," is also a talented performer, offering up hula renditions of I Fell In Love With Honolulu and the Mākaha Sons standard, KeAloha. Hula 'auana and kahiko is also displayed by Hālau Hula Olana, with a video of Natalie Ai Kamau'u's explanation of a hula pūniu (knee-drum dance) honoring King Kalākaua titled Ke Kuko e ka Manawa. Hālau dancers from keiki to makua add color to the lavish setting. Kamau'u is among recording artists recently taken under wing by the Sons, along with Hōkū Zuttermeister and Barry Kimokeo, who also joined in the live concert. Zuttermeister's rendition of Loyal Garner's Shores of Hale'iwa in rich baritone exhibits this falsetto stand-out's vocal range. Kimokeo's guitar rips with high energy in his instrumental showcase of Riders In the Sky. The performance lasts more than an hour, with additional features including video biographies of eaeh performing artist, and a bonus, impromptu track of Hanalei Moon. Legendary eomposer Kui Lee's /7/ Remember You rounds out the performanee, with a special dedication by Jerome to "all our servicemen and servicewomen in Afghanistan and Iraq and around the world, protecting us so we ean have wonderful nights like this." For more information, visit www.makahasons.com. ^

MELE 'AILANA • ISLAND MUSIC SCENE

John, Jerome and Moon of fhe Mōkahū Sons, and fheir debut DVD (right). - Pholo: Courtesy of the artists