{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 697 - Tephra","description":"\ud83c\udf3a Hawaiian Concert Guide Show #697 \u2013 Contemporary Voices, Classic Spirit & a Touch of Exotica In this episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, we take a graceful journey through modern Hawaiian songwriting, timeless mele, masterful slack key guitar, and even a playful detour into vintage exotica. Show #697 highlights the deep respect today\u2019s artists have for tradition\u2014while confidently adding their own voices to the ongoing Hawaiian musical story. \ud83c\udfb6 Kamalei Kawaa \u2013 M\u0101naiakalani We open the show with Kamalei Kawaa\u2019s soulful and reverent work from his album M\u0101naiakalani. The title track sets the tone with poetic Hawaiian language and a sense of spiritual grounding that immediately draws the listener in. \u201cM\u0101naiakalani\u201d A reflective and uplifting mele that speaks to divine sustenance and guidance, carried by Kamalei\u2019s smooth, confident vocals. \u201cLei Pakalana\u201d (feat. Kamaehu Kawa\u2018a) A beautiful collaboration celebrating the fragrant pakalana lei. The song weaves romance, place, and memory together, enhanced by the warm blend of voices and traditional musical sensibility. \ud83c\udf3f Kahiau Lam Ho \u2013 Ho\u02bbom\u0101lamalama From one of Hawai\u02bbi\u2019s most respected young voices, Kahiau Lam Ho delivers songs rooted in faith, \u02bbike kupuna (ancestral knowledge), and lyrical elegance. \u201cKa Lehua I Milia\u201d A gentle, poetic mele centered on the beloved lehua flower\u2014symbolic of love, resilience, and connection to the land. \u201cE Mililani O Iehova\u201d A powerful expression of spiritual devotion, blending Hawaiian language hymnody with Kahiau\u2019s signature clarity and emotional depth. \ud83c\udfb8 Kawika Kahiapo \u2013 Ku\u02bbu Mana\u02bbo Slack key guitar artistry takes center stage with Kawika Kahiapo, whose playing is both technically brilliant and emotionally expressive. \u201cLife in These Islands\u201d A thoughtful instrumental that paints a musical portrait of island life\u2014its rhythms, calm, and complexity\u2014through Kawika\u2019s masterful guitar work. \u201cAloha Kaua\u201d Translating to \u201clove of war\u201d or \u201cconflicted love,\u201d this piece balances tension and beauty, reflecting Kawika\u2019s ability to tell layered stories without words. \ud83d\uddfa\ufe0f The Waitiki 7 \u2013 Adventures in Paradise We then take a playful and unexpected turn into exotica with The Waitiki 7, a band known for reviving and reimagining mid-century tiki lounge sounds. \u201cOctopus Menagerie\u201d Whimsical, cinematic, and fun\u2014this track feels like a soundtrack to a surreal underwater adventure. \u201cMood Indigo\u201d A lush and moody reinterpretation that blends jazz roots with exotica flair, adding a sophisticated twist to the show\u2019s flow. \ud83c\udf0a Ho\u02bbokena \u2013 Ho\u02bbokena 5 We close the show by returning to the heart of Hawaiian music with Ho\u02bbokena, whose harmonies and musicianship remain timeless. \u201cAloha Mai e Pele\u201d A respectful and evocative tribute to Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and creation, delivered with sincerity and cultural reverence. \u201cKa Wahine Lewa i ke Kai\u201d A lively and well-loved mele celebrating the grace and strength of a woman moving through the sea\u2014an uplifting way to conclude the episode. \ud83c\udfa7 Final Thoughts Show #697 is a wonderful snapshot of Hawaiian music today\u2014deeply rooted, spiritually aware, musically adventurous, and joyfully expressive. From heartfelt mele and virtuosic slack key to a splash of exotica fun, this episode honors the past while celebrating the present. Mahalo for listening, and as always, keep Hawaiian music playing wherever you are \ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udfb6 ","author_name":"Hawaiian Concert Guide","author_url":"http:\/\/www.hawaiianconcertguide.com","html":"