Kamahana

Lena Kaulumau Wai`ale`ale was born in the district of Pauoa in Honolulu on the island of O`ahu on October 16, 1903. The last of five children, Lena was hānai (a Hawaiian tradition in which a child is unofficially adopted and raised by close family or friends of the birth parents) to the Loo Pan family, friends of Lena’s mother. So young Lena was immersed in a household where English, Hawaiian, and Chinese were spoken. As a child Lena was prone to tinker musically – singing, of course, or making makeshift instruments from assorted otherwise non-musical household items. But Mrs. Loo Pan admonished Lena for such behavior – pushing her toward more productive endeavors and setting the expectation that the young lady would indeed become a school teacher someday, demanding that all time and energy (even at this tender age) be focused on that goal alone. This conflict was escalated to a fever pitch when neighbors entered six-year-old Lena in a talent contest. Lena sang “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” and took first prize. Naturally, Mrs. Loo Pan disapproved and set forth an edict: No more singing. And, as everybody knows, nothing can help ensure that a child will absolutely do something more than telling them that they can’t. Lena was discovered for the second time when KGU radio station manager Marion Mulroney overheard the teenaged Lena singing while perched high in a mango tree. Mulroney asked Lena to audition, and he was so impressed that he signed Lena to her first professional contract. The radio appearances naturally led to numerous other offers including national tours. According to one newspaper reviewer: The Pacific Songbird is said to possess a voice of magnificent range and rich timbre fully capable of coping with the demands of a grand opera. Her singing in the film-musical presentation A Trip To The Hawaiian Islands, though limited to the simple but rhythmic songs of her native land, has yet been able to captivate the most fastidious of musical critics with its unmistakable suggestion of exotic personality. After a few years of touring, Lena returned home to KGU radio and professional engagements around Honolulu. By age 23, she married Honolulu Police Department detective and musician Luciano Machado. And soon, with the addition of Lu’s brothers and a sister-in-law, Lena had her own band. The timing was perfect for Lena as Hawaiian music was becoming the popular music of the era with – according to Hawaiian music historian George Kanahele in his Hawaiian Music and Musicians – three out of every five songs played on mainland U.S. radio a Hawaiian song. Source: https://hwnmusiclives.libsyn.com/lena-machado-1927--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/supportSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kamahana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is part two concluding the Hawaiian Spotlight: Aloha Pumehana Serenaders and featuring the Lei Hulu Trio starring Kimo Alama Keaulana on ukulele and his older compatriots, all in their 60s: his cousin Joe Keaulana, Jr. on acoustic bass, Aunty Pahukoa Morse on rhythm guitar, Clayton Lanihuli Lee on piano and Akira "Kilakila" Ozawa on steel guitar...Starting with his childhood, the 46-year-old Kimo Alama Keaulana said the music was a natural part of his development. "I grew up in a different time," he said, "without so many distractions that kids have nowadays. I think it was easier then to pick up an ukulele (his band instrument) because I was living in an environment that fosters learning every single day, whether it was chants, strumming the ukulele or drumming."Both sides of my family go back several generations of composers, teachers, musicians and dancers. I've been told I'm one of the last people to have been formally taught Hawaiian music."The bulk of what he was taught, plus much of Lei Hulu's repertoire, came from his teacher, Adeline Nani Maunupau Lee. Lei Hulu, originally a trio, was born on the occasion of Aunty Adeline's last birthday in June 1992. Now grown to, at times, five members, Lei Hulu has also performed at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, Queen Emma's Summer Palace for the Daughters of Hawai'i civic group, and at the Bishop Museum, where Keaulana's mele collection is housed in its archives. The collection contains nearly a thousand Hawaiian language songs with translations, explanations and cross references.While the group has performed infrequently this year, Lei Hulu played before one of their largest audiences at the UH's Center for Hawaiian Studies in March. Among the appreciative 350 or so who attended, Keaulana said, "there was a mix of young people, who didn't realize that these kinds of songs existed, to the older ones in their 70s to 90s who were very happy to hear that these songs haven't all gone away."His wooden box of songs first belonged to Aunty Alice Namakelua, who was a co-worker of Aunty Adeline's. "From both of them, I learned so much about Hawaiian music," Keaulana said. "The instrumentation of Lei Hulu is all acoustic, with the exception of the steel guitar, which originated with the spread of electrical power in the 1930s."There are certain rhythm patterns that hold the origins of Hawaiian music, in ancient chant and dance forms. How 'modern' Hawaiian music is defined was through the introduction of the church hymn (himene), where a wider range of musical notes became included, and technically, it's not in the chant form." (source: "Rare treasures found in mele," Friday, July 27, 2001, Star Bulletin)--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/supportSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kamahana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1976, Ku’ulei Clark was offered the opportunity to present a record of hula standards.She approached her friend Muriel Lupenui’s son, Darrel Lupenui, to make the recording.The group was supposed to consist of Darrel Lupenui, with Kekua Fernandes and Kelii Joy.When that didn’t work out, Darrel approached Lanakila Manini and Ainsley Halemanu.Wendell Silva rounded out the group.The resulting album, “Hula Gems”, was recorded in one take at Sounds of Hawaii studios on Young Street, produced by Bill Murata.In this program, more than 40 years later, we’ll share this memorable music. (source: Territorial Airways)1- Hanohano Haleiwa – Aloha Pumehana Serenaders2- Hoki Hoki - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders3- I Ali’i No Oe - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders4- Beautiful Kauai - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders5- Kalena Kai - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders6- Baby Kalai - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders7- Pa Mai - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders  8- Waikoloa - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders9- Hi’ilawe - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders10- Mokuoeo - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders11- Lili’u E - Aloha Pumehana Serenaders--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/supportSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kamahana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the title states ask me ANYTHING! This was a great podcast for the conversations we had. This podcast was conducted on 11/09/21. Enjoy! Aloha!--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/supportSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kamahana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussing Hawaiian Music and Spirituality.--- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kamahana/supportSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/kamahana. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.