Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 17, Number 6, 1 June 2000 — Lānaʻi roots branch out in Hawaiian Time's "Diversity" [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Lānaʻi roots branch out in Hawaiian Time's "Diversity"

By Manu Boyd EAWAIIAN TIME'S debut in 1993 featured "Kiss Me," whieh soared to number one on KCCN FM 100's Top Five at Five and Top 10 charts. Since then, the Lāna'igrown group comprised of Romero family friends has grown proffessionally, both in their musical careers and individual vocations. Kamaunu, the eldest of the Romeros and the first in the 'ohana to complete a baccalaureate degree, managed to do so with a 3.8 GPA. Kekai, (a.k.a "EZK Hawaiian Lover"), named "chef of the month" three times at Sam Choy's, is the group's lead singer who also dribbles, slam dunks, sets and spikes on the basketball and volleyball court, respectively. Brother Mahina, also a eook at Sam Choy's, enjoys fīshing and hunting when not

drumming or playing bass with the group. Shann Fereti, the lone female member, eontributes signifīcantly throughout, and easily handles lead vocals in Minnie Riperton's "Loving You" and the Sāmoan favorite, "Sau i Sau Ia." Fereti is pursuing a career in medi- / eine. "Diversity" is a perfect title for /J Hawaiian Time's fourth project. Originals [

and covers illustrate a good range of styles from Hawaiian contemporary to reggae. " GI4U " (Gregory Issacs forYou) is unmistakably reggae and should be popu- 1 laron-air. Kamaunu's "Wrap Your Arms / Around Me " continues in reggae with a /J Hawaiian lover theme. His songwriting /I savvy is seen again in "Plaee in My

Heartfor You" and in many of the cuts featured. Besides " Diversity ," Hawaiian Time released

"Remember" in 1993,

ji"Mahalo e Pāpā" in r/1994 and "Hawaiian Dream" in 1998. I "Diversity" cover art is fresh, and liner

> f/notes give a tot or H/insight into Hawaiian [■/Time, a likeable group EĒ of talented individuals H/whose appeal will T/spread over (Hawaiian) J time. " Diversity " was lf/produced by Lāna'i Boyz f/Records and is distmbted /by 01inda Road Distribu'tion. ■

isi»y jujit heii