Hawaiian Music

Final Blog about Hawaiian Music by Rita Dunn

What would be your ideal place to visit for a fun get-away destination? Well, many of you may have thoughts like “Hawaii” especially after seeing these pictures of beautiful Maui, Hawaii. As I mentioned before I am part Native-Hawaiian, and my grandmother grew up on the Big Island of Hawaii. My grandfather was in the Air force and was stationed in Hawaii where he met my grandmother (or what I call her “Tutu” meaning “Grandmother” in Hawaiian). They married and traveled around the world then came back to North Carolina where he lived (before his military life). Even though we do not live in Hawaii, we still enjoy staying connected to our relatives. (Some relatives live on Oahu, Maui, Molokai, and the Big Island.) 

Picture of my O'hana (or family) and me

I absolutely love the Hawaiian culture, and so I am excited to share a bit about music and dance in Hawaii.

Before Hawaii became part of U.S territory, Kings and Queens once ruled the island of Hawaii. Many of them were very musical and composed Hawaiian songs. Some of the composers were women. Princess Like’Like’ wrote the song, Ku'u Ipo I Ka He'e Pu'e One for her daughter, Princess Kaiulani. 

Also, Queen Kapiolani wrote a beautiful love song for her husband, King Kalakaua. 

 

 Queen Liliuokalani wrote “The Queen’s Prayer as a prayer of forgiveness for the Americans taking Hawaii and making it U.S territory.

King David Kalakau wrote the National Anthem of Hawaii called Hawaii Ponoi

Almost five years ago, my sister and I went to Hawaii, and we performed a concert at the Historical Kawaihao Church (The Church of the Monarchs). There we played traditional Hawaii Songs written by the Monarchs. (Here's a link to hear part of the concert.) 

https://www.facebook.com/105017957623547/videos/2572727276293951

Instruments: 

Ukulele:

Hawaii has so many different instruments, yet everyone knows the four-stringed ukulele is associated with Hawaii. However, Manuel Nunes from Portugal originally invented a small, guitar like instrument called the braga. The Portuguese brought the ukulele to Hawaii in the mid-1800s. There were various ukulele makers, but Samuel Kamaka became the most famous ukulele maker in the world and invented the unusual pineapple-shaped ukulele. Neat fact- Samuel Kamaka happens to be my great-grandfather’s brother! :) 

Samuel Kamaka 

Prominent musicians brought more attention to the ukulele as a real instrument. For example, the last king of Hawaii, King David Kalakaua saw the importance of the ukulele and “promoted the ukulele as a Hawaiian instrument and used it at royal functions.”   Also, the last queen of Hawaii, Queen Liliuokalani known for her prominent musical abilities, considered the ukulele the national instrument of Hawaii. She wrote the famous song “Aloha Oe” or “Farewell to Thee” that people know very well today. 

Here is a video of my mother, sister, and I playing the song in memory of our Hawaiian friend’s father.https://www.facebook.com/100043693712836/videos/169641164502340   

Here are some other videos you can hear of us playing the ukulele. 

" I'll Remember You" https://www.facebook.com/105017957623547/videos/225615058793244

"The Very Thought of You" https://www.facebook.com/100043693712836/videos/174853990647724

SPECIAL NOTE: The ukuleles we are playing in the videos were made by our great uncle Richard. He gave us his ukuleles when we visited Hawaii several years ago. 

Musical groups have made the ukulele famous in Hawaii including The Sons of Hawaii group founded by Eddie Kamae (ukulele virtuoso of the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance) won a Lifetime Achievement award.

Musical groups made the ukulele famous in other parts of the United States. Lyle Ritz became famous for performing Jazz style ukulele, and he got inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2007.

Musical groups have made the ukulele famous outside of the United States. For instance George Harrison performed his ukulele with the Beatles music group, and he considered the ukulele his favorite instrument.  Here is a video of George Harrison playing the ukulele

Another artist, Jake Shimabukuro, ranks as the most famous ukulele player in the world. Two neat stories, Jake Shimabukuro held a concert in Greenville, SC and I got to meet him and have him sign my soprano ukulele. 

Just a couple years ago, he came again but I could not go to his concert. I did happen to be in downtown Greenville on the night of his concert, so my sister and I tried to meet him again outside near his tour bus. His bodyguard or assistant saw us and told said he wasn’t greeting fans that night, so I just gave him our music business card and asked him to tell Jake we were fans and were sorry we couldn’t see him. Just a little while later we were driving home and got a phone call with Hawaii area code…. It was Jake Shamabukaro! I was so excited and couldn’t believe I got to talk to him on the phone!

Jake Shimabukuro performing with our relatives, the Kamaka's (the most famous ukulele making company in the world)  

The ukulele is probably my favorite Hawaiian instrument which is why I shared so much information about the ukulele. However, I do need to mention other Hawaiian instruments.

 The Hawaiian steel guitar:

This is another common instrument. In order to play the instrument, you face the guitar flat and use a guitar slide across the frets to make the steel guitar sound Here is a video from PBS that gives more information on the instrument.

The Ihu or the nose flute:

This is a unique instrument that you blow into with your nose. Historically the Hawaiians got the idea to play this instrument with their nose because of the biblical belief that God gave life to Adam by breathing into his nostrals.

Here is a demonstration of the Nose flute

Here is an example in Ancient Chants.

One of my favorite artists, Keola Beamer use the Hawaiian nose flute at the beginning of this song.

Percussion Instruments: Ipu (drum)  

The ipu drum is an instrument commonly used in Ancient songs or hula dances. The instrument is a gourd or sometimes two gourd glued together, and the player hits the ipu with their hand and hit the instrument on the floor to create the beat. Here is a demonstration of the Ipu.

 ‘Uli’Uli (shaker) 

This instrument is a set of two gourds you place in your hand. The outside is adorned with fancy feathers for decoration while the inside has dried seeds or pebbles to form a sort of rattle. 

Demonstration of Uli, Uli

 ‘Ili’Ili rocks

This instrument is four lava rocks you clasp in your hands (two in each hand) and hit together.

Demonstration:

  Pu’ili  Sticks 

This instrument comprises of two bamboo sticks (one in each hand) which you hit back and forth.

Demonsatration:

Here’s a picture of the Hawaiian instruments which my grandmother gave to my sister and me. These were her instruments, and her mother specifically made the U’li' Uli’ (shakers).

Hula Dance

In addition to music, dance or hula is also a big part of Hawaiian culture. There are two different styles of hula, ancient chants which are more serious consisting of Hawaiian chanters (singers) singing and playing percussion instruments. The modern hulas are more easy-going, the singers do not chant, and the instruments are more mellow (or stringed instruments) Hula is a language which dancers tell a story with their hand and feet gestures. In Hawaii, hundreds of hula dancing groups of Hawaii compete at the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival held on the Big island. Famous Hawaiian singers and musicians also come and perform live for the dancing groups.

Here is an example of an Ancient hula chant about the last Princess of Hawaii, Kaiulani.

Here is an example of modern hula.

My sister and I learned hula from our grandmother at age eight, and then during high-school, we took hula from a hula halau. We still enjoy dancing the hula for luaus and special parties, and we have danced hula both here (on the mainland) and in Hawaii. 

Here is a few video clippings of us dancing hula for our grandmother’s 80^th birthday party.

Hanalei Moon

Waikiki

I’ll Weave a Lei of Stars for You

Below are some fun pictures of us dancing hula or posing with the Hawaiian instruments. 

                                  Here's a picture of us in Hawaii when we were two years old.  You can see the various Hawaiian instruments beside us. (Sorry I couldn't figure out how to rotate the photo.) 

                     More Famous Singers and Artists: 

There are many famous singers and artist, but I will highlight some of my favorite. 

Alfred Apaka was a singer from the 1940s, and one of the top songs he sang was "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" which of course is sung at Hawaiian weddings. (My parents had someone play the song at their wedding.) Elvis Presley also sang the song in the movie called Blue Hawaii. 

Hawaiian Wedding Song Alfred Apaka 

Hawaiian Wedding Song Elvis 

 

George Helm was a famous singer from Molkai, Hawaii. He “was one of the greatest Hawaiian falsetto vocalists, and played fast, complex guitar parts while singing in an "almost inhuman" vocal range.” He was "a young Hawaiian activist and a skilled and talented musician that used his voice to inspire a revolution of consciousness during the 1970s native rights movement, now known today as the Hawaiian Renaissance."

“Sweet and Lovely”

He had a niece, Raiatea Helm who is currently one of Hawaii's popular artists.

“Sweet and Lovely”

 

                                    Raiatea Helm singing with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.

                                    Another famous group is the Brother’s Cazimero

                                     Here’s two of their songs for you to enjoy.

“Home in the Islands”

“Pua Hone”

 

                                      Various famous artists collaborated on recording Kaulana Pua which was a song of protest against the annexation of Hawaii. 

For my final video, I thought I'd share an example of syncretism! This song is called Na Vaqueros by Hanu and is a mixture of Hawaiian and Spanish. The dancers are dancing hula which looks a bit like Spanish flamingo. Also, Hawaiian singer Kauana Torres sings lyrics that are Spanish and Hawaiian! :) 

Thank you all so much for taking your time to read about Hawaiian music. I know my blog is really long since I enjoyed sharing tons of information on Hawaii. I hope you enjoyed learning more about the amazing music and culture of Hawaii!

Bibliography 

“Famous Lyrics by Lyle Ritz.” https://www.lyrics.com/artist/Lyle-Ritz/11542.

 Farrent, Dan.“12 Hawaiian Musical Instruments You Should Know” https://hellomusictheory.com/learn/hawaiian-instruments/

 “George Helm” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Helm

 “HAWAIIAN SOUL - film screening.” https://mauiarts.org/show-info.php?id=789#:~:text=Real%20life%20Hawaiian%20hero%20George%20Helm%20Jr.%2C%20a,movement%2C%20now%20known%20today%20as%20the%20Hawaiian%20Renaissance.

San, Ohta. Ukulele O Hawaii. Honolulu, Kamaka Hawaii, Inc., 1973. 

 “The Sons of Hawaii.” https://www.discogs.com/artist/3261098-The-Sons-Of-Hawaii

  Whatley, Jack. “The Beatles’ George Harrison Believed Everyone Should Have an Ukulele,” Far Out, https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/beatles-george-harrison-tom-petty-ukulele-story/