Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show 704 Molokaʻi Sweet Home Music of Home, Heritage, Harmony... and a Journey into Exotica

This episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide celebrates one of the most enduring themes in Hawaiian music: love of home ('āina). From the quiet beauty of Molokaʻi to timeless Hawaiian standards, from contemporary voices carrying on the tradition to the fascinating world of mid-century Exotica, Show 704 takes listeners on a musical journey that explores how Hawaiʻi has inspired both those who call it home and those who dreamed of its distant shores.

Our featured artists include Ei Nei, Eric Lee, Kaleo Phillips, Martin Denny, and Hoʻokena, creating a program that blends authentic Hawaiian music with historical musical perspectives.

Opening

Welcome everyone to another edition of the Hawaiian Concert Guide! I'm Piko, and this episode is titled "Molokaʻi Sweet Home."

Tonight we're celebrating music rooted deeply in the Hawaiian Islands—songs about home, family, culture, and identity. Along the way we'll step briefly into the fascinating world of Exotica with Martin Denny before returning home again through the beautiful harmonies of Hoʻokena.

So let's begin our journey...

Ei Nei Molokaʻi Sweet Home

Album: Ei Nei, Look At Us

The show opens with a heartfelt tribute to one of Hawaiʻi's most beloved islands.

Molokaʻi has long been known as the "Friendly Isle," famous for preserving traditional Hawaiian lifestyles and remaining largely untouched by mass tourism. Unlike Waikīkī or Maui's resort communities, Molokaʻi represents old Hawaiʻi—a place where family, fishing, ranching, and community remain central to everyday life.

Musically, Ei Nei creates an intimate atmosphere using:

rich vocal harmonies
acoustic guitars
gentle island rhythm
restrained production

Rather than emphasizing technical virtuosity, the performance allows the lyrics and harmonies to communicate warmth and belonging.

The song immediately establishes the central theme of tonight's program:

Home isn't simply where you live—it becomes part of who you are.

Hiʻilawe (feat. Mālie Lyman)

Next comes one of Hawaiian music's enduring classics.

"Hiʻilawe" was written by the legendary Samuel Kalāinaina and celebrates the famous Hiʻilawe Falls in Waipiʻo Valley on Hawaiʻi Island.

Over the decades it has become one of the most frequently recorded songs in Hawaiian music, interpreted by everyone from Gabby Pahinui to contemporary artists.

Ei Nei's version is notable because it avoids trying to reinvent the classic.

Instead they focus on:

clean vocal blend
tasteful acoustic accompaniment
respect for traditional melody

The addition of Mālie Lyman adds another vocal texture while maintaining the song's traditional character.

This performance serves as a reminder that Hawaiian standards continue living through each new generation of musicians.

Eric Lee E Ola No Kākou

Album: The Islands Are Calling

Eric Lee has become one of Hawaiian music's most respected singer-songwriters.

"E Ola No Kākou" translates roughly as:

"May We All Live"

"Life for All of Us."

Rather than focusing on one island or one family, this song expands the show's perspective toward the entire Hawaiian community.

Musically we hear:

polished contemporary production
strong lead vocals
layered harmony
modern acoustic instrumentation

The arrangement remains distinctly Hawaiian while incorporating production values that make it accessible to worldwide audiences.

Its message is optimistic, inclusive, and deeply rooted in aloha.

Ke ʻAno O Ka Hawaiʻi

The title translates as:

"The Nature of Hawaiʻi"

"The Character of Hawaiʻi."

Although shorter than many songs in today's playlist, it delivers an important cultural statement.

Rather than describing scenic beauty alone, the lyrics explore the qualities that define Hawaiian identity:

aloha
respect
tradition
community
connection to the land

Musically it's concise and melodic, functioning almost like a musical reflection between larger works.

Kaleo Phillips Ka Lamakū

Album: E Mama

"Lamakū" literally means torch or beacon.

Within Hawaiian symbolism it often represents:

guidance
knowledge
leadership
passing wisdom from one generation to another

Kaleo Phillips delivers the song with emotional restraint rather than theatrical intensity.

His warm vocal style blends naturally with contemporary Hawaiian acoustic arrangements while remaining firmly grounded in traditional musical values.

It's another reminder that Hawaiian music often teaches as much as it entertains.

Kuʻulei Awapuhi / Magic Island

This medley beautifully combines two very different images.

The first half celebrates ʻawapuhi, the fragrant wild ginger flower often associated with affection and beauty.

The second half shifts geographically to Magic Island, the man-made peninsula adjoining Ala Moana Beach Park on Oʻahu.

The transition works surprisingly well because both songs celebrate cherished places through personal memories.

Arrangement highlights include:

smooth transitions
tasteful steel guitar textures
flowing rhythmic accompaniment
strong ensemble vocals

The medley creates a feeling of taking a leisurely drive through the islands, connecting people with places they love.

Exotica Segment

Tonight's Exotica segment offers an interesting contrast.

Where Hawaiian musicians perform music from within the culture, Exotica was largely created by American composers imagining distant tropical paradise.

Although not authentically Hawaiian, Exotica became enormously influential during the 1950s and helped introduce millions of listeners to sounds inspired by Polynesia and the South Pacific.

Martin Denny On a Little Street in Singapore

Album: Hypnotique

Martin Denny...