🌺 Hawaiian Concert Guide Show #697 – Contemporary Voices, Classic Spirit & a Touch of Exotica

In this episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, we take a graceful journey through modern Hawaiian songwriting, timeless mele, masterful slack key guitar, and even a playful detour into vintage exotica. Show #697 highlights the deep respect today's artists have for tradition—while confidently adding their own voices to the ongoing Hawaiian musical story.

🎶 Kamalei Kawaa – Mānaiakalani

We open the show with Kamalei Kawaa's soulful and reverent work from his album Mānaiakalani. The title track sets the tone with poetic Hawaiian language and a sense of spiritual grounding that immediately draws the listener in.

"Mānaiakalani" A reflective and uplifting mele that speaks to divine sustenance and guidance, carried by Kamalei's smooth, confident vocals.
"Lei Pakalana" (feat. Kamaehu Kawa'a) A beautiful collaboration celebrating the fragrant pakalana lei. The song weaves romance, place, and memory together, enhanced by the warm blend of voices and traditional musical sensibility.

🌿 Kahiau Lam Ho – Hoʻomālamalama

From one of Hawaiʻi's most respected young voices, Kahiau Lam Ho delivers songs rooted in faith, ʻike kupuna (ancestral knowledge), and lyrical elegance.

"Ka Lehua I Milia" A gentle, poetic mele centered on the beloved lehua flower—symbolic of love, resilience, and connection to the land.
"E Mililani O Iehova" A powerful expression of spiritual devotion, blending Hawaiian language hymnody with Kahiau's signature clarity and emotional depth.

🎸 Kawika Kahiapo – Kuʻu Manaʻo

Slack key guitar artistry takes center stage with Kawika Kahiapo, whose playing is both technically brilliant and emotionally expressive.

"Life in These Islands" A thoughtful instrumental that paints a musical portrait of island life—its rhythms, calm, and complexity—through Kawika's masterful guitar work.
"Aloha Kaua" Translating to "love of war" or "conflicted love," this piece balances tension and beauty, reflecting Kawika's ability to tell layered stories without words.

🗺️ The Waitiki 7 – Adventures in Paradise

We then take a playful and unexpected turn into exotica with The Waitiki 7, a band known for reviving and reimagining mid-century tiki lounge sounds.

"Octopus Menagerie" Whimsical, cinematic, and fun—this track feels like a soundtrack to a surreal underwater adventure.
"Mood Indigo" A lush and moody reinterpretation that blends jazz roots with exotica flair, adding a sophisticated twist to the show's flow.

🌊 Hoʻokena – Hoʻokena 5

We close the show by returning to the heart of Hawaiian music with Hoʻokena, whose harmonies and musicianship remain timeless.

"Aloha Mai e Pele" A respectful and evocative tribute to Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and creation, delivered with sincerity and cultural reverence.
"Ka Wahine Lewa i ke Kai" A lively and well-loved mele celebrating the grace and strength of a woman moving through the sea—an uplifting way to conclude the episode.

🎧 Final Thoughts

Show #697 is a wonderful snapshot of Hawaiian music today—deeply rooted, spiritually aware, musically adventurous, and joyfully expressive. From heartfelt mele and virtuosic slack key to a splash of exotica fun, this episode honors the past while celebrating the present.

Mahalo for listening, and as always, keep Hawaiian music playing wherever you are 🌈🎶