Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 701 - A Return To Love
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show 701 Hoʻi Ke Aloha – A Return to Love Aloha mai kākou, and welcome to another beautiful journey through the sounds of Hawaiʻi. In this episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, we share a thoughtfully curated set of mele that flows from intimate contemporary recordings to treasured traditional expressions, with a playful stop in our Exotica segment along the way. Featured in this show are performances by Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter, Gregory Juan, Kamalei Kawaa, Les Waikikings, and Hoʻokena. Together, these artists bring forward themes of aloha, hula, cherished...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 700 - Les Waikikings
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Aloha, and welcome to a truly historic moment! Today we celebrate Show 700 of the Hawaiian Concert Guide. Reaching 700 episodes is often referred to as a "Golden Milestone" in broadcasting. It signifies excellence, resilience, and a legacy that has stood the test of time. To honor this occasion, we’ve assembled a playlist that spans the spectrum of the Hawaiian sound—from sacred ancestral chants to the whimsical "Hapa Haole" revival. The Legacy of the Land: Gregory Juan We open our 700th celebration with Gregory Juan, an artist whose work from the album Kauluwehi serves as a bridge...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 699 - 27 Pineapples
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show 699 Theme: He Mele Inoa Opening Set – Gregory Juan (Album: Kauluwehi) He Mele Inoa no Kauluwehi (1:49) Artist: Gregory Juan Album: Kauluwehi Language: Hawaiian We open Show 699 with a traditional mele inoa — a name chant honoring Kauluwehi. In Hawaiian culture, a mele inoa is more than a song; it is a formal proclamation of identity, lineage, and character. These chants carry mana (spiritual power) and often highlight the beauty, traits, and ancestral ties of the person being honored. Listen for: Traditional chant phrasing Sparse, respectful...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 698 - Hoʻomālamalama
Hawaiian Concert Guide
🌺🎧 Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show #698 Illumination, Identity & Island Imagination This week’s episode is built around a powerful theme: light, place, memory, and musical identity. From spiritually grounded Hawaiian mele to contemporary songwriting, slack key reflections, and a splash of mid-century exotica, Show #698 travels wide — and then brings us beautifully home. 🌿 Opening with Light – Kahiau Lam Ho We begin with the luminous voice of Kahiau Lam Ho, whose album Hoʻomālamalama (“to illuminate”) frames the emotional tone of this episode. ✨...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 697 - Tephra
Hawaiian Concert Guide
🌺 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...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 696 - Suno Suno
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show #696 Show #696 weaves together contemporary Hawaiian mele, masterful slack key guitar, a reverent royal prayer, and a playful detour into retro exotica—then returns home with modern harmonies and a closing affirmation of identity. Detailed Playlist “Kaulana ʻo Maui” — Kamalei Kawaa (1:20) Album: Mānaiakalani A short, vivid mele that celebrates the renown of Maui. Kamalei Kawaa opens the episode with a strong sense of place and cultural grounding, offering an inviting entry point into the show’s island-centered storytelling. Despite its brief...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 695 - Mele Kalikimaka
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show 695 Mele Kalikimaka: No Snow Posting Date: January 2, 2026 This episode presents a Hawaiian-centered view of Christmas—warm weather, ʻohana, ʻukulele-forward arrangements, modern island pop, cultural continuity, and local identity. The selections reflect how Christmas is lived and felt in Hawaiʻi and across the island diaspora, without reliance on winter imagery or snow. Playlist & Show Notes (Original Order) No Snow Anuhea — All Is Bright — 4:08 Hawaiian Share: 1 of 6 – in the share Added / Played: 01/02/26 A declarative opening track that...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 694 - Nano Banana
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 694 – Nano Banana Episode Synopsis Welcome to Show 694 – Nano Banana. This episode takes listeners on a sweeping musical journey across Hawaiian heritage: beginning with timeless mele rooted in the landscapes and stories of Waipiʻo Valley and the Hawaiian monarchy, moving through themes of aloha ʻāina and environmental stewardship, honoring the legacy and refinement of the Makaha Sons, venturing into the lush and cinematic world of modern Exotica, and finally returning home through the warm harmonies of Waipuna. The playful title “Nano Banana” reflects...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 693 - Hau'oli La Ho'omaika'i
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide – Episode 693 Release Date: November 28, 2025 Hosts: Piko & Terry Title: Hauʻoli Lā Hoʻomaikaʻi (Happy Thanksgiving) Episode Summary In this Thanksgiving edition of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, Piko and Terry open Season 20 with a heartfelt celebration of gratitude, ʻohana, and the spirit of aloha. Filled with contemporary Hawaiian music, slack-key warmth, acoustic duets, and even a touch of vintage Exotica, Episode 693 “Hauʻoli Lā Hoʻomaikaʻi” offers listeners a musical table of offerings for the holiday season. This episode is proudly sponsored by ...
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Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 692 - Whale Hoohoo
Hawaiian Concert Guide
Hawaiian Concert Guide – Episode 692 Release Date: October 17, 2025 Host: Piko Title: Whale Hoohoo Episode Summary In this episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, Piko takes listeners on a musical journey through contemporary Hawaiian mele, slack-key gems, and lush Exotica instrumentals. From heartfelt vocal collaborations to instrumental storytelling and a powerful closing chorus of “Hawaiʻi Aloha,” Episode 692 celebrates how music keeps the spirit of the islands alive across oceans. Track List & Song Notes “Hoʻomālamalama” (feat. Stephen Inglis) – Kahiau Lam Ho – 4:10...
info_outlineHawaiian Concert Guide – Show 699
Theme: He Mele Inoa
Opening Set – Gregory Juan (Album: Kauluwehi)
He Mele Inoa no Kauluwehi (1:49)
Artist: Gregory Juan
Album: Kauluwehi
Language: Hawaiian
We open Show 699 with a traditional mele inoa — a name chant honoring Kauluwehi. In Hawaiian culture, a mele inoa is more than a song; it is a formal proclamation of identity, lineage, and character. These chants carry mana (spiritual power) and often highlight the beauty, traits, and ancestral ties of the person being honored.
Listen for:
- Traditional chant phrasing
- Sparse, respectful instrumentation
- Emphasis on pronunciation and cadence
Honokahua Nani E (4:02)
Artist: Gregory Juan
Album: Kauluwehi
Language: Hawaiian
This song honors Honokahua, an area in West Maui known for its cultural and archaeological significance. The word nani means “beautiful,” and the song reflects deep admiration for the land.
Themes:
- Love of place (mele ʻāina)
- Natural imagery
- Cultural remembrance
Kamalei Kawaʻa – Album: Mānaiakalani
Hālaulani (3:31)
Artist: Kamalei Kawaʻa
Album: Mānaiakalani
Language: Hawaiian
A graceful contemporary Hawaiian composition. The title suggests heavenly or chiefly associations (lani meaning heaven or royalty). Kamalei blends traditional phrasing with modern melodic structure.
- Clean acoustic arrangement
- Strong falsetto phrasing
- Contemporary Hawaiian production style
Kālepa (3:22)
Artist: Kamalei Kawaʻa
Album: Mānaiakalani
Language: Hawaiian
“Kālepa” references a name — possibly a person or a poetic symbol. In many Hawaiian compositions, personal names stand in for cherished relationships or deeper metaphors.
- Storytelling lyric structure
- Light, flowing rhythm
- Clear enunciation of Hawaiian text
Kawika Kahiapo – Album: Kuʻu Manaʻo
Ka Makani Kaʻili Aloha (5:50)
Artist: Kawika Kahiapo
Album: Kuʻu Manaʻo
Language: Hawaiian
Translated as “The Wind That Snatches Away Love,” this song uses classic Hawaiian metaphor, where wind represents emotional change, separation, or longing.
- Rich acoustic guitar
- Emotional vocal phrasing
- Poetic metaphor rooted in natural forces
Kaulana Makapuʻu (4:43)
Artist: Kawika Kahiapo
Album: Kuʻu Manaʻo
Language: Hawaiian
Makapuʻu on Oʻahu’s eastern shoreline is known for its lighthouse and powerful ocean views. This mele celebrates place with vivid imagery — cliffs, winds, and sea spray.
- Pride of place
- Coastal imagery
- Deep knowledge of ʻāina
Les Waikīkings – Album: Hapa Haole with a Twist
Papio (2:13)
Artist: Les Waikīkings
Album: Hapa Haole with a Twist
Genre: Exotica
A playful instrumental shift. “Papio” refers to a young jackfish common in Hawaiian waters. This track blends vintage steel guitar textures and surf-era island rhythm.
The Hukilau (1:57)
Artist: Les Waikīkings
Album: Hapa Haole with a Twist
Genre: Exotica
A classic hapa haole standard celebrating the communal fishing tradition of the hukilau. The hukilau emphasizes cooperation — everyone pulling the net together.
Ho‘okena – Album: Ho‘okena 5
Hawaiian Soul (4:32)
Artist: Ho‘okena
Album: Ho‘okena 5
Language: Hawaiian
Written by Jon Osorio, this powerful anthem honors George Helm, a key figure in the Hawaiian cultural renaissance and the movement to protect Kahoʻolawe.
- Sovereignty
- Cultural revival
- Protection of land
Heha Waipiʻo (3:49)
Artist: Ho‘okena
Album: Ho‘okena 5
Language: Hawaiian
A closing tribute to Waipiʻo Valley on Hawaiʻi Island — a place of dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, and deep historical significance. “Heha” conveys awe and admiration.
- Tight multi-part harmony
- Traditional lyrical cadence
- Deep connection to ʻāina
Show 699 Flow Summary
- Traditional name chant and mele ʻāina
- Contemporary Hawaiian songwriting
- Emotional metaphor and wind imagery
- Retro hapa haole exotica interlude
- Cultural anthem and powerful harmonies
A beautiful arc — from honoring a name, to honoring land, to honoring culture itself.