Waikiki Beach Walk® is pleased to introduce its new CD: Ku Ha'aheo, To Cherish With Pride - Volume 1 in the Na Mele Aloha 'Aina Collection. A celebration of the grassroots appeal of Hawaiian music, this CD provides a sampling of different styles. Although the instrumentation and themes may vary, each artist shares a passion for nuances and elements that make their music unique to the islands.
As an official performance home for the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame, Waikiki Beach Walk is honored both to host award-winning artists for our performance exhibitions and to promote up-and-coming talent through projects like this CD. We hope you enjoy listening to Ku Ha'aheo as much as we did producing it and encourage you to further explore the virtuosity and creativity of the featured artists.
GET A FREE COPY OF THE KU HA`AHEO CD!
Just make a purchase at any shop or restaurant at Waikiki Beach Walk then take the coupon and receipt of purchase to a participating merchant located on the second level at Waikiki Beach Walk.
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MAILE LEI
Wear this lei, maile lei
Maile lei for this occasion
Fragrant sweet, color green
Leaves entwined, like a vine
Beautiful lei
Rare beauty is the lei called maile
Sweet fragrant woven leaves of green
Rare maile symbol of ali`i
Lei of our Hawai`i
Lei we all love
Wear this love
BEN VEGAS, Maile Lei/Pupu Hinuhinu Medley
Ben Vegas, a former member of the Krush and 505, has recorded a number of hits including "Maile Lei," "Puanani," "Tropical Beauty" and "I Wanna Be Her Man." His latest single, "What If It's True" is currently playing on local Christian radio. Ben has also written for, recorded with, and/or produced some of the most popular artists in the islands, including Keali'i Reichel, Na Leo, Keahiwai, Ho'okena, and many more. His mainland work included performances with Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Olivia Newton-John, Kenny Rogers and Lou Rawls. In addition to touring and recording, Ben can be seen performing with Hoku Award Nominee Maila Gibson. She and Ben co-wrote and co-produced her CD entitled "More," one of Ben's favorite projects. Currently, Ben and Maila perform around town including local hot spots, Gordon Biersch and Kincaid's.
KA PUA E
Gardenias blooming bright
Hibiscus oh so white
Auhea wale `oe
Ka pua e
Your lips are oh so red
Like the bird of paradise
Auhea wale `oe
Ka pua e
Flowers are blooming all over
Blooming all over Hawai`i
They smell so sweet
They aren't very big
They'll thrill you through and through
Ha`ina `ia mai
Lei pakalana
Auhea wale `oe
Ka pua e
NA WAI 'OLU, YVONNE & NANI KEAHI, Ka Pua E
Music has always been part of the family for sisters Yvonne and Nani Keahi, who founded Na Wai 'Olu. The girls learned not just ukulele, guitar and hula from their parents, but also the ability to sing from the heart. Kanikapila with family and friends meant good food, good times and plenty of great Hawaiian music. Na Wai 'Olu continues that musical legacy today by entertaining at parties, luaus or just jamming in the backyard.
PAPA (MOTHER EARTH)
Sweet and lovely are her mountains so high
Kiss of her morning sky
Her beauty brightens up my day
A tropic blue is her ocean so wide
A dancing sea so alive
Her sandy beaches all of white
Papa dreams, her dreams that do come true
Just listen to her spirit as she talks to you
Papa lives, her breath is everywhere, around you
Just feel her love surround you as she greets you too
Papa is like Tutu, she's your mama too
Feel her touch, her caressing breeze
Feel so I live and free
Like the forest and her trees
Feel the earth, feel her warm embrace
It's her Hawaiian ways
Fragrant flowers in the leis
Papa cares for every leaf and every rock
A mother to the birds and bees and creatures too
Papa sleeps under the moon and the stars
She sings a haunting chant with loving melodies
Papa is like Tutu, she's your mama too
BLAINE KAMALANI KIA, Papa
Blaine Kamalani Kia began his professional musical career in 1984 and soon became one of the most sought-after solo guitar vocalists in Waikiki. A multi-talented cultural icon recognized for his expertise throughout the islands, Blaine Kia is currently a Kumu Hula (hula teacher), cultural director, musician and actor. He has entertained former President George Bush, Prince Charles and Princess Diana and performed the art of hula for former President Bill Clinton and the Emperor of Japan. His lifelong passion for Hawaiian traditions led Blaine Kia to found the Ka Laua'e Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission to promote preservation, conservation, and perpetuation of the hula. An avid songwriter and producer, Blaine Kia's latest CD with his current band Kekaniwai, is titled, "Moea - From this moment Onward."
GREG SARDINHA, My Sweet Sweetie (Instrumental)
Greg Sardinha has taken a life-long interest in the steel guitar
to a successful session and solo recording career. Known as a player who takes the steel guitar to places it's never been before, Greg Sardinha has recorded with Ipo Kumukahi, Sean Naauao, Cyril Pahinui Band, Hawaiian Style Band, Kalapana, Na Leo, Darren Benitez and many others. After years of studio session work, Greg Sardinha finally released his first solo album in 2006 entitled "Hawaiian Steel VOL 4 - Artistry of Greg Sardinha." Besides live performances and studio session work, Greg also has a recording studio called Sma'Kine Recordings, and a record company, Keala Records.
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