Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 5, 1 May 1996 — Loan fund recipient records debut CD [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Loan fund recipient records debut CD

by Patrick Johnston Fred Aki has spent the past few decades singing about Hawai'i. Now, thanks in part to support from OHA's Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund, he is going to get a ehanee to record some of

his music. / This month, Kaua'i- ( based Fred Aki and his \ band Nā Molokama will \ release their first CD,

appropriately titled Nā Molokama. The CD had help from a number of individuals. The words and music were put together by Chucky "Boy" Chock who eame out of a l5-year retirement to help with the project. Aki and three others provided the vocals and instrumentals (bass, 'ukulele, percussion and guitar) and the CD was produced by Krash

Kealoha. OHA provided the financing. Not to be forgotten in the mix is Aki's sister who helped out with the paperwork when the musician applied for a loan. Nā Molokama is a mix of different styles of music - Hawaiian contemporary, samba — and all songs are originals. Aki says this is important in todav's Hawaiian music

\ market because many \ musicians play cover I versions of familiar / songs, resulting in a glut of the same popular

music. He says djs are tired of playing the same music over and over again. "Our music is called traditional /Hawaiian/contemporary," Aki explains. "It has a uniaue sound."

Songs on the album cover a range of subjects - from water rights to the natural splendor of Kaua'i's north shore - and are sung in both Hawaiian and English.

The Hawaiian used is mueh closer to the dialect found on Ni'ihau, something that Aki believes might be controversial in the Hawaiianspeaking eommunity. "The Hawaiian spoken on Ni'ihau is older and uses different words to describe things," he

points out, "especially things that are recently introduced to the language." Elama Kanahele - a winner of OHA's Ke Kukui Mālamalama Awards for excellence in Hawaiian education - did the Hawaiian translation for Nā Molokama's songs. Aki was born in Waimea on Kaua'i but grew up in Hanalei where the inspiration for the band name comes from. Nā Molokama is the mountain range behind Hanalei Bay. His band, in various different ineamations, has been around since 1979. The latest group eame together in 1 993. Aki says he wants to use his business as a launching pad for other entertainers.

"The potential for Hawaiian music is good. I want to direct young musicians and help them be successful in the industry."

Nā Molokama will be released on Kaua'i on Mother's Day (May 12) and on the rest of the islands 12 days later. Aki says they also will be releasing the CD on the Mainland on May 24. "The market for Hawaiian music is better on the Mainland than Hawai'i right now," he points out. As part of his CD promotion Nā Molokama will taking part in the Folklife Festival in Seattle May 22-29. The threeday folk concert is one of the biggest in

the world and includes musicians from cultures across the globe. While in the Washington area, Nā Molokama plan to spend some time with the Muckleshoot Indians. He says the Muckleshoot live a more traditional lifestyle and he wants to learn from them to strengthen and respect his Hawaiian way of living. For more information about Nā Molokama eall 822-7683. For information about the NHRLF eall 594-1888.

Loan Fund Report

: : ■ s i Nā Molokama's Fred Aki and Kahanu Smith. Other band members not in the picture are Kekai Chock and Gabe Ornellas.

Photo by Patrick Johnston