"In the Zone" at EKK - February 19, 2007, Island School

		Mike Kaawa, Brother Noland and Brittni Paiva. Photo by Tashi Diebel.

The instrumentalists were split up into three groups with a cozy trio getting personal attention from Mike Kaawa on the veranda, the novice ukulele group with Brother Noland in the main room learning how to set sail on a voyage with "Pa'ani Ukulele" and the intermediate/advanced ukulele players out on the lanai with Brittni. I thought a small circle of ukulele players would end up outside, but it was amazing how many of them considered themselves intermediate or advanced . . . looks like the past few years of instrumental hour is paying off.

Mike Kaawa. Photo by Tashi Diebel.

By the time everyone regrouped in the main hall, it was standing room only and this trend continued on through the evening until there were many folks lining the veranda outside and looking in through the jalousies to sing. One of them was Uncle Arthur De Fries whose deep booming harmony I instantly recognized from inside the room.

Closing down Hamura's after the show, I asked Brother Noland, could you hear Arthur's harmonizing from the outside?His beaming reply was, "No. . . . I was really IN THE ZONE!" And indeed he was; Brother Noland was at his masterful best, working the audience and navigating first-time EKK presenters Mike and Brittni through an evening of fast-paced singing, great musicianship, amazing pa'ani, husky group singing, jokes, hula, wala'au, and lots of laughter.

Mike led off with his deep rich Hawaiian Boy voice and 12-string guitar singing "No Ke Ano Ahiahi" about King Lunalilo returning from America on the black-shrouded ship, a song full of descriptions. Noland followed with "For You and I" about the local boy ploys of hitching a ride by hiding the surfboard in the bushes and when a car stops, all the other boys and surfboards pile on for a hitch. Brittni followed with her amazing ukulele virtuosity on "Radio Hula", the song she taught the "advanced" ukulele players.

		Mike Kaawa, Brother Noland and Brittni Paiva. Photo by Tashi Diebel.

Mike took us on a town-by-town tour of the Big Island with "Hilo Hanakahi" and although the song has a mournful bluesy melody, the beat is so catchy and swing like; I always find myself bouncing around when Mike sings.

On the Kona side of the Big Island, Noland took us to his childhood home hangout where he and his friends dove off the cattle chutes into the shark-infested waters of Kawaihae Harbor. Noland describes the hilarious "who jumps first?" initiation rites scenario that so-called brave young souls have to go through to prove they are da man. Although the kupunas kept the aumakua information from them until they were old enough to understand, he later found out that if you jumped into the harbor and were not bitten by sharks, then the shark is one of your aumakua. "Kaulana Kawaihae", a song written for his God child Lalanapunani, was so rich with Noland singing the lead, Mike singing the echo phrases, and Brittni coming in with quiet and very sensitive "picking" on her ukulele.

	From Our Backporch to Yours.

Mike then shared one of his favorite songs "Kaua'i Beauty" written by Henry Wai'au, music by Andy Cummings, made popular by Gabby Pahinui. He describes learning this most beautiful song while eating stew with Gabby as his wife was frying fish; even today Mike enjoys singing this song with Gabby's sons. The audience sang their hearts out, Brittni came in with a stunning pa'ani, and Noland finishes with, "We should do this everyday!"That is how good this song made everyone feel.

Noland and Mike teased Brittni, "Sing, Brittni, Sing!" but she came back with an instrumental "Smooth Operator" instead. "Coconut Girl" by Noland put everyone into a party mood before the break. . . the break was like one huge noisy party with everyone greeting old friends and the CD table was like the Zooper sale.

By the time the break was over, Brittni had mustered up enough nerve and sang a haunting "Pua Karauna" by Keith Haugen, about Queen Lili'uokalani and her favorite flower, the crown flower. What a beautiful sweet rendition of the song that she sings with Hawaiian music superstar Melveen Leed on her CD "Brittni".

	Brother Noland Works the Crowd.

One of Mike's signature song is "He Wehi No Ke Kai" about the Niihau type shells that he and his wife Malissa gather on the beach to share with friends. Like many of Mike's songs, it has such a beat and to that he adds his instrumental vocals. . . "pum pum pa pa pa pum PUM. . . " Such fun!

One of Brother Noland's favorites is from Eugene Ka'opiko of Miloli'i who left behind a legacy of songs. . . this one about the oio, opelu, and ama'ama fish; fishing and "filosophy" are two subjects that Noland loves and when he rolls it all together and serves it up in a song, it is definitely ONO!

He then invited someone to come up and dance Dennis Kamakahi's well known hula favorite "Wahine 'Ilikea" and Po'ai Galindo was up on the floor in an instant; everyone was awestruck by her mesmerizing hula with her long hair flowing down past her knees like a waterfall and her movements as graceful as a bird in flight.

Noland decided Po'ai needed to take the "hula test" and she had to be able to dance the next number which was very basic to passing the test -- "Papalina Lahilahi" (My Baby's Got Rosy Cheeks) . . . and it's not these two, pointing to his face. Po'ai passed the hula test with flying colors and flinging hips. Even Noland was stunned and had to remark how SHY she was in the first verse and by the time she came to the third verse, she was swinging her hips this way and that. Of course, Noland could not resist imitating her naughty hula hips.

All too soon, the pumpkin hour was nearing and Brittni brought the wonderful evening to a climactic finish with her "Glass Ball Slack Key" and the audience reciprocated with thunderous applause and cheers. "Hawaii Aloha" brought everyone back to Earth and a good feeling of appreciation for the wealth of song gifted to all.

Carol Kouchi Yotsuda, E Kanikapila Kakou 2007
Celebrating 30 years of "bringing ARTS to the people and people to the ARTS

E Kanikapila Kakou Hawaiian Music Program is funded in part by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua'i Office of Economic Development, and Garden Island Arts Council supporters. Space generously provided by Island School.

Garden Island Arts Council programs are supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawai'i and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.