Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 3, 1 March 2004 — 'Footprints' a reflection of George Kahumoku Jr.'s life [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

'Footprints' a reflection of George Kahumoku Jr.'s life

By Manu Boyd "W" istening to George Kahumoku's "Footnrints in Ihe Pof recording of .

B J im w ,.-i i , ■ Hawaiian tunes and awe some stories, you'd never guess that it was recorded thousands of miles

away in concerts and smaller gigs throughout California. For two years while working " towards a master's degree in education on the continent

Kahumoku performed hundreds of gigs in 38 states and abroad. Since ^ then, he has returned home and now

lives on Maui. The CD project is decidedly different from a typical studio recording, and breathes life and mana into songs with anecdotal introductions filled with humor, insight, experience and just the right amount of kolohe. His voice is richly

Hawaiian and his kī hō'alu guitar superb and seemingly effortless. Kahumoku's introduction to the old-time Kalapana, Hawai'i, song, " Mokiihiihi " is vividly

descriptive. He easily recalls small-kid time

memories and describes the Kalapana hlaek sand heaeh

and Queen's Bath, overeome years ago by lava. Musician/composer Daniel Ho joins in on 'ukulele on a beautiful

W rendition of "Amazing

Grace." Ho and Kahumoku have collaborated many times

before, and produced ' Hymns oj Hawai 'i featuring some favorite church songs. Many years ago, Kahumoku performed with Aunty Edith Kanaka'ole, and is featured on her "Hi'ipoi i ka 'Āina Aloha " recording. On " Footprints," Kahumoku performs the

Kanaka'ole classic, "Ka Uluwehi o ke Kai ," a standard in hula repertoire. The project ends with "Aloha 'Oe," Queen Fili'uokalani's love song for the "rose buds of Maunawili." Kahumoku's "A Hawaiian Life " — a eompilation of short stories on growing up, life experiences and his struggle between Hawaiian and Western cultures, from whieh he pulls the best from eaeh — shows his talent as a writer and communicator. Of his stories, Aunty Nona Beamer, Hawaiian cultural authority, wrote the following: "I loved these stories, always honest and straightforward, and often hilarious. George is pono, a good Hawaiian man. These stories take us into his mind and heart." Visit www.kahumoku.com for information on Hawaiian slack-key and the many products and accomplishments of a remarkable and industrious Hawaiian. To enjoy George Kahumoku Jr. live, visit the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua on Tuesdays for two shows at 6 and 8:30 p.m. ■

Mfi f 'Aii ana

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