Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 22, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 2005 — Naʻauao's latest is PURE HAWAIIAN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Naʻauao's latest is PURE HAWAIIAN

By Manu Buyd Public lnfūrmatiūn Directūr |t's certainly not the norm that a former Nā Hōkū winner of Best Reggae Alhum would also be at the front line of traditional Hawaiian music, but Sean Na'auao has found a way to be adept at both. With his release of Ka 'Eha Ke Aloha, Na'auao adds to the body of Hawaiian language compositions in a well-produced, self-produced CD. The inclusion of the Dionne Warwick cover "I'll Never Love This Way Again" compliments rather than detracts from the overall Hawaiian theme, showing Na'auao's diversity of style and taste. A quick run through the project's play list reveals that aloha is predominant in the songs: love for people and places, an overriding characteristic in many - if not most - Hawaiian songs. The title cut is a gem by eomposer/ performer/ kumu hula Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, saying "Uwē au i ka 'eha a ke aloha" (I weep pained by love, my beloved). Although perhaps melancholy in its refrain, the selection is arguably one of Hewett's most vividly descriptive mo'olelo. Awakened by a dream on a moonlit night, his descriptions of numbness in the freezing Lilinoe

rain of Maunakea and the profusion of lehua at Hāmākua are captivating images from Hawai'i island. "Ka Pilina," another Hewett mele describing the sweet serenade of 'i'iwi and 'apapane birds, won the haku mele Hawaiian composition award on Na'auao's Neutralize It CD a eouple of years back. These Na'auao-performed mele fortify the collection of Hewett classics, whieh also include "Ka Wai Lehua 'A'ala Ka Honua," "Lā'ieikawai, Hōpoe" and "Poli'ahu." One particularly powerful Na'auao composition on his latest effort is "He Lei Makana." With an almost anthem-like melody, the words describe a woman of great strength and character, whose path is righteous. "Answer to your calling, the well-known rose blossom, this is a lei of love sewn just for you." Light-hearted mele are also featured, including a reggae-influenced rendition of "Pāpālina Lahilahi," Keli'i Tau'ā's "Mokokaikala" (Motorcycle) includes a playful, revved up refrain of "vrmm, vrmm, vrmm" that kids will especially piek up on. "No Hawaiians No Aloha" has Sudden Rush flare with pāleoleo (Hawaiian rap) by SR principal Keala Kawā'auhau.

Another guest artist, Greg Sardinha, provides smooth steel guitar on "Ni'ihau o Kahelelani," an original expressing aloha for the island "whose beauty is like no other."

Finally, Na'auao's - i performance of Queen Kapi'olani's love song for her royal husband, King Kalākaua, gives new life w to one of the most beautiful wt Hawaiian compositions ever. S "Ka Ipo Lei Manu" recalls images and landscapes from the island ■ that the composer was perhaps most familiar with: Kaua'i, land V of her royal ancestors. "Ha'ina ka I puana, no Kalani hele loa" (tell the refrain for the chief gone forever) is j an acknowledgment of Kapi'olani's |i grief in learning of her husband's untimely death in San Francisco in e 1891. But Na'auao's performance is anything but kaumaha. It is uplifting, | catchy, powerful and very well done. Ka 'Eha Ke Aloha is produced by ® Poi Pounder Records. For information on additional Na'auao recordings,

MELE 'AILANA • ISLAND MUSIC SCENE

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