Episode 10: Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole & Kekuhi Keliʻikanakaʻole
Aloha nui e kuʻu ʻohana me kuʻu poʻe hoa,
Last year, while Hilo was bustling with the lively activity common during Merrie Monarch week, my mother and I, along with our hoa Shawn Pimental, performed a few of our original songs and shared some manaʻo with our friends at ʻŌiwi TV for their new music series Mele Ma Ka Lihiwai.
We began with a song so personal to our ʻohana and named for one of our kupuna “Hinamanouluaʻe.” We followed that with a song I wrote about Molokaʻi. The Helm ʻohanaʻs special connection to the ʻāina of Kalamaʻula is what motivated the lyrics for this song, “Molokaʻi Jam”. I also talked about the haʻawina or lessons I am still learning from one of my earliest compositions “Mele Haʻi Kupuna.” Our discussions with host Kīhei Nahale-a covered everything from our primal ear and melodic earthly vibrations to the realm of dreams.
We hope you enjoy our episode of Mele Ma Ka Lihiwai. You can find it at oiwi.tv or on demand on Oceanic Digital Channel 326.
Naʻu me ka haʻahaʻa,
Kaumakaiwa Kanakaʻole
About the Series
ʻŌiwi TV presents “Mele ma ka Lihiwai”, an original series celebrating the unique sounds of Hawaiʻi’s most renowned and talented musicians. Set along the shores of Hilo’s meandering Honoliʻi river, Mele ma ka Lihiwai brings together twenty-three celebrated artists performing traditional local favorites alongside new original compositions. Stringing these musical pieces together are talk story sessions about the inspirations and personal sentiments behind the diverse range of mele. Watch a new episode each week beginning in November on Oceanic Digital Channel 326 or online at oiwi.tv