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ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE!

Ending the 23rd EKK season on a very high note was a special evening with father-son favorites, Dennis and David Kamakahi, joined by Shane August of Santa Monica and Kilauea. They recently recorded a new CD entitled “Music in the Key of Slack”. Shane shared a new arrangement of Dennis’s “Pua Hone” which Dennis really loved; this led to collaboration on a new album. The CD includes a lot of “slide” by Kenny Emerson and even some background singing by Bono of U2 on a song titled “Ride the Waves.”

Shane set the lighthearted mood for the evening by announcing that tonight’s program was a fundraiser for Robin Kamakahi’s gaudily-decorated cell phone antenna which was chewed up by her feral Chihuahua.

David led off teaching “Pane Mai” a lively composition by Robert Cazimero that brought out the best in the audience. First-time EKK presenter Shane was properly impressed with the many voices raised in song.

Last season, David shared songs from his first album at EKK; it was the world premiere of “Pa’ani” which went on to capture him a Na Hoku Hanohano award. He is presently working of his second album. “Don’t think about awards as that will take the pressure off.” (sound advice from Dad).

With a busy touring scheduled slated and his first trip to NY, David will be occupied with performing with Dennis at the Lincoln Center in New York City on August 16 and at the Smithsonian in DC. This invitation came as a result of Dennis’s work with the Nisqually Indian Tribe in Tacoma, Washington.

Shane chose to teach “Love Carries On”, a song that brings in the most written responses from his listeners. Dennis wrote one verse in Hawaiian for the new album. At a young age, Shane decided to join the band and came home with a trumpet. His mom asked him to find something quieter, so he came home the next day with drumsticks. His Mom shut up. Since then he has become accomplished in fifteen musical instruments and often plays many different parts on a single recording.

While on a recent trip to the West Coast, a friend showed Dennis a vintage 78 record album on which “Nani Kaua’i” written by Lizzie Alohikea is recorded. “Take care of that album!” advised Dennis. As we sang the song, Mehana Blaich got up to dance the hula. Eyes opened wide by Mehana’s graceful and sensuous hula, Shane pipes up, “We don’t see that kind of dancing in LA; they get up on the bar to dance!”

Introducing “Lihu’e” by Annie Koulukou, Dennis said he’s always asked why he does not teach his own songs. He said he likes to share the older songs that are rarely taught as they speak about the places that we live in, and certainly “Lihu’e” must rank as one of the most beautiful songs ever written about this area. “Lihu’e” is about missing someone so the music and the lyrics convey deep love in poetic phrases about romantic places where lovers had possibly spent time. My favorite line is “I ka ne’e mai a kia ua Paupili” (In the moving of the Puapili rain) as my own home is in the path of that Paupili rain.

Ironically, Dennis’s own compositions are so often taught or performed by other musicians and many of his songs are so popular that many think that the songs are already in the public domain.

This evening, Dennis requested that all recorders and video-cams be turned off as they were singing the songs from their yet-to-be-released new CD entitled “Music In the Key of Slack”. Keeping it light but with teeth in it, I told audience that we would sic Robin’s feral Chihuahua on any equipment turned on. They got the point.

Dennis and David thrilled everyone with a fast-paced “Oni A Ka Moku” about the double meaning adventures on a boat ride. What a tongue twister! Shane best described it, “The words were coming at me so fast, I decided to sit this one out.”

Dennis explained slack key to the first time visitors. “It’s open tuning played by a one-man band. The thumb plays the bass, this finger is the harmony man, and this finger is the soloist….if one finger gets cut off, you don’t have a band.”

With Dennis on slack, David on Ukulele, and Shane on keyboard, the trio sang Shane’s “Deep Blue Sea” about being far away from the one you love even if he/she is standing right next to you. Shane got teary-eyed at the end saying, “I want to break down when I remember why I wrote this song.” Pregnant moment of silence…I piped up, “Get chance o’ what?” Huge laughter and everything was lighthearted again.

A new song entitled “Wahine No Molokai” written by Dennis is definitely a potential Merry Monarch hula mele and just needed some dancers to complete the imagery. It’s very likely the next Dennis Kamakahi classic to join the ranks of all the wonderful hula songs that dancers love….and WE HEARD IT FIRST!!!

“Wahine Ilikea”, one of Dennis’s best-loved hula mele with a new arrangement by Shane brought the regal Sabra Kauka up to dance the hula. Shane sang some high notes that even he did not know he could sing…definitely had on his tight underwear.

Growing up in Hawai’i, Shane finds that today there are many changes in the attitudes of ownership; he hears more of this is MY land, My mountain, MY koa tree, My this…My that…My…and this sentiment is embodied in “A Part of Me”. It was arranged with David on Ukulele, Dennis on guitar and Shane on keyboard. Such a timely song.

Of course, no concert is ever complete without “Koke’e” but this time it’s a new arrangement with Shane on the very high notes. Dennis shares his love for Koke’e where the tree snails or Pupukanioe climb up the trees and turn their shells to face the wind creating a high sustained voice like a steel guitar.

Dennis said he dedicated “Koke’e” and another song to the philanthropists from New York at the dedication of the first phase of the Koke’e Discovery Center which they had heavily funded. He told them it would be so wonderful if kids could come and stay here in dormitories to experience Koke’e but Dave Boynton needs more money to do that. The lady from NY said, “Oh…?” and took out her checkbook and wrote a check for $100,000 to fund the dormitory, asking that the state match the amount. Ah…the power of music….

I was so engrossed in the music I forgot my duties as emcee, so when the musicians said “Pau!”, I looked at them, looked at the stunned audience…a few voices shyly called out “hana hou”, so I said, “If you want more, you have to shout…HANA…” and everyone yelled, “…HOU! HANA HOU!”

Then followed a story for which I have heard many different versions from different musicians but never from the source himself.

Dennis’s recent west coast tour took him to Anchorage, Alaska on his birthday. He proudly presented them with a surprise…David. He then turned to David and said, “If I did not go to Tacoma, you would not be here today.” The whole audience tipped slightly forward, hanging on the edge of their seat to hear the story and Dennis continues, “It’s not what you’re thinking…” and told about his first experience playing music in a federal penitentiary on McNeil Island. The concert was arranged by Ed Parker, Karate teacher for Elvis, who impressed upon Dennis that if anything went wrong, this will NEVER happen again. Going through metal detectors and getting stamped on his finger among other security measures were new experiences. As inmates sat with their families for one day to enjoy the concert, Dennis was greatly moved by the occasion. The concert ended and it was time to leave and when he heard the clanging of the metal doors slamming behind them, Dennis was emotionally impacted. That night in Tacoma, he wrote “Pua Hone” as a marriage proposal. The song as arranged by Shane was deeply moving and a wonderful HANA HOU. We then sang our final “Hawai’i Aloha” of the season.
I have been asked over a dozen times this week, “So, what are you going to do on Monday nights?”

Very likely I will sit on the steps of Island School with a lei on my head, fanning myself with song sheets and munching on Michael’s chocolate chip cookies, rice krispies treats, mochi cakes, and waiting to see who shows up.

And even more likely, a number of folks with Hawaiian music withdrawal symptoms plus my cookie monster volunteers will show up and sit with me on the steps waiting to see if some musicians might just show up to jam.

Yes, after twelve weeks of wonderful Hawaiian music and stories from many of our amazing musical talents, we certainly will miss our E Kanikapila Kakou ohana and the experiences we shared this season.

Carol Yotsuda

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