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E Kanikapila Kakou - New Faces & New Sounds please all!

It wasn't the rains...it wasn't the winds...it was Na Kama and young Barry Kimokeo that just blew us away.

Unpretentious, lively, fun, and super talented musicians, Na Kama started the evening with a selection of the songs on their latest CD, titled "Na Kama." Eric Lee said he was so emotionally affected by the way the people of Kaua'i bounced back after Hurricane Iniki devastated the island in 1992 that he composed the song "Come and See Hawai'i." Not only was the inspiration so appreciated by islanders, the incredible harmony of Danny Naipo, Brian Mersberg, and Eric Lee was as smooth and sweet as honey.

To Introduce an oldie, Danny says he has to be careful about using the word "older" and instead needs to say "mature". They began to play a song from the 50's...and from watching the audience, you could tell that the audience was largely "mature". Na Kama's music can also be intense.

Danny introduced a song from their new CD called "Pehea La", a song from a woman's point of view on how you ask someone if they're available. He said that local girls are direct and will come up to them, even in front of their wives or girlfriends and boldly ask, "Get chance o' what?" and this is what the song was about.

They introduced their "secret weapon" - young Barry Kimokeo - who joined them on the stage with his own "secret weapon", a guitar that was simply an extension of himself. Shy and nervous at first, he was fine when he sat down with the guitar in his hands. "Holo Wa'apa" about the early style of canoe travel demonstrated that Barry was gifted beyond his years. When Barry played a medley, "Twelfth Street Rag/Sweet Georgia Brown", a young couple from the Big Island could not resist boogieing in the back. He could handle that guitar like nobody's business, getting sounds of amazement out of everyone.

Danny told everyone to close their eyes when Barry played the next song and we would swear that the horses were galloping through the room and indeed, they did. Barry played "Ghost Riders in the Sky" with all the bells and whistles and thundering hooves that he could pull out of his guitar.

At the end of the first half everyone jumped up in unison to give them a standing ovation; I was afraid they all thought it was the end and would leave, but they all knew better.

Instead they mobbed the four musicians and, I swear, this is what I saw with my own eyes -- four "mature" women beelined their way to twenty-one year old Barry and asked him, "Get chance o' what?" When I looked at the other three musicians, "mature" women were all taking their chances and asking Barry, Brian, and Eric the same thing. We all sure got a lesson beyond music tonight...BE DIRECT!

During intermission, Malcom Tam who's been coming every week, walked up to me and started to say something. His face was animated but the words just don't come out. He was speechless trying to tell me how good these guys were. Finally, at the end of the evening he was able to find the words to tell me how incredible their musician-ship was.

Songs written by Eric Lee and other composers were sung for the singing portion of the evening. They played "Nani Wai'ale'ale" at a speed that we could sing and then sang it in the tempo they do in concerts...quite a different song. They also invited hula dancers up and with everyone's prompting, Keola Alalem danced to a slower version of " Nani Wai'ale'ale" and "Ka'ulu Wehi O Ke kai".

Danny explained about the different kinds of seaweeds found in Hawai'i and said he was sure there were hula dancers who knew the next song and when he played "Papa Lina Lahi Lahi", Fran, Deborah, and Ashley took to the dance floor and Danny surprised everyone by jumping off the stage and joining the hula dancers.

When Na Kama was recording for the Food Network Sam Choy's show, they decided to sing a song that they knew the Makaha Sons would not be recording that day; so they sat around outside and were rehearsing the song. Out comes John Koko and kids them, "You sound like us; knock it off!" Earlier this weekend, John Koko was singing high praise for this young group that the Makaha Sons have taken under their wings. Not a surprise...they are good.

One thing these past two seasons of "Musical Ohana" have demonstrated over and over again is the great atmosphere of support, respect, admiration, and sharing that goes on among the composers and musicians -- veterans encouraging and mentoring new talents, young composers paying tribute to those who inspired them, and also, that Hawaiian music is impacted by all kinds of music and impacts other music as well.

Where did you find these guys? Can you bring them back? I am sure this group will fly over to Kaua'i anytime as they loved the EKK audience and the whole concept of EKK.

Monday, April 3, we move into the last four weeks of EKK 2006 with Kauai's own talents -- Carlos Andrade, Pat Cockett, Pancho Graham, and Fred Lunt -- better known as NA PALI.

E Kanikapila Kakou Hawaiian Music Program is funded in part by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua'i and Garden Island Arts Council supporters. Promotional efforts are funded in part by the Atherton Family Foundation. Space generously provided by Island School.

Carol Yotsuda

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