{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 701 - A Return To Love","description":"Hawaiian Concert Guide \u2013 Show 701 Ho\u02bbi Ke Aloha \u2013 A Return to Love Aloha mai k\u0101kou, and welcome to another beautiful journey through the sounds of Hawai\u02bbi. In this episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, we share a thoughtfully curated set of mele that flows from intimate contemporary recordings to treasured traditional expressions, with a playful stop in our Exotica segment along the way. Featured in this show are performances by Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter, Gregory Juan, Kamalei Kawaa, Les Waikikings, and Ho\u02bbokena. Together, these artists bring forward themes of aloha, hula, cherished places, treasured lei, beloved flowers, and the enduring beauty of Hawaiian poetry and song. Episode Overview We begin with two selections from Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter\u2019s Ho\u02bbi Ke Aloha - EP, setting a warm and inviting tone for the episode. Her recordings offer a graceful balance of modern polish and deep Hawaiian feeling, drawing the listener into songs that feel both personal and rooted in place. From there, Gregory Juan\u2019s album Kauluwehi carries us further into the heart of Hawaiian composition, with mele that suggest affection, honor, and poetic imagery. Kamalei Kawaa follows with songs from M\u0101naiakalani, including material inspired by native flora and enduring love. Our Exotica segment offers a change in color and texture with Les Waikikings and their lighthearted, lounge-inflected hapa haole stylings. To close the show, Ho\u02bbokena reminds us why their harmonies and emotional depth remain so beloved in Hawaiian music. Playlist P\u0101lolo \u2013 Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter Album: Ho\u02bbi Ke Aloha - EP Duration: 3:17 Ipo Hula \u2013 Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter Album: Ho\u02bbi Ke Aloha - EP Duration: 3:09 He Mele no Ka P\u0101o\u02bbo \u2013 Gregory Juan Album: Kauluwehi Duration: 2:42 He Lei no Hi\u02bbilei \u2013 Gregory Juan Album: Kauluwehi Duration: 3:21 Pua \u02bb\u0100hihi \u2013 Kamalei Kawaa Album: M\u0101naiakalani Duration: 4:06 Forevermore \u2013 Kamalei Kawaa Album: M\u0101naiakalani Duration: 3:13 Exotica Segment Intro \u2013 pik00 Category: Promo Duration: 4:10 Pagan love song \u2013 Les Waikikings Album: Hapa haole with a twist Duration: 2:46 Aloha means I love you \u2013 Les Waikikings Album: Hapa haole with a twist Duration: 2:08 Nou e Keali`i \u2013 Ho'okena Album: Ho'okena 5 Duration: 3:30 Pua 'A'ali'i \u2013 Ho'okena Album: Ho'okena 5 Duration: 3:38 Track Notes P\u0101lolo \u2013 Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter This opening selection gently establishes the mood for the program. With a title that invokes P\u0101lolo, the song feels grounded in a sense of place and memory. The performance carries a warm, personal quality, inviting the listener into the episode with tenderness and quiet strength. Ipo Hula \u2013 Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter A title like \u201cIpo Hula\u201d evokes affection, beauty, and movement. This track continues the soft, graceful opening set and feels naturally connected to the language of dance and love. It is a fitting companion piece to \u201cP\u0101lolo,\u201d extending the emotional intimacy of the first portion of the show. He Mele no Ka P\u0101o\u02bbo \u2013 Gregory Juan Gregory Juan brings a more traditional compositional sensibility, and this mele carries the weight of tribute and poetic intention. Songs beginning with \u201cHe Mele no\u2026\u201d often feel dedicated, purposeful, and rooted in the Hawaiian practice of honoring people, places, or cherished subjects through song. He Lei no Hi\u02bbilei \u2013 Gregory Juan The imagery of the lei is central in Hawaiian poetic expression, symbolizing love, honor, remembrance, and adornment. This song suggests something lovingly woven together and offered with care, continuing the episode\u2019s recurring themes of affection and connection. Pua \u02bb\u0100hihi \u2013 Kamalei Kawaa With \u201cpua\u201d in the title, this mele turns our attention toward the floral world so often celebrated in Hawaiian song. Native plants and blossoms carry rich symbolic meaning, and this track adds a sense of natural beauty and delicacy to the program. Kamalei Kawaa\u2019s performance helps bridge traditional themes with a contemporary recording sensibility. Forevermore \u2013 Kamalei Kawaa This selection broadens the emotional palette of the episode with a title that speaks directly to lasting love and devotion. Following \u201cPua \u02bb\u0100hihi,\u201d it serves as a modern reflection on enduring affection while remaining at home in the overall flow of the show. Exotica Segment Intro \u2013 pik00 Our Exotica segment intro signals a shift in atmosphere, opening the door to a more playful and stylized musical space. It gives the show a fun mid-episode change of pace while still keeping the island mood alive. Pagan love song \u2013 Les Waikikings Les Waikikings bring a retro lounge flavor to the episode with this exotica-inflected hapa haole performance. The sound recalls an earlier era of island-themed popular music, where romance and escapist imagery were part of the appeal. It offers a contrasting texture to the more deeply rooted Hawaiian selections elsewhere in the show. Aloha means I love you \u2013 Les Waikikings This charming and direct title captures the accessible, sentimental appeal of the hapa haole tradition. Placed after \u201cPagan love song,\u201d it keeps the Exotica segment light and nostalgic before the program returns to more emotionally grounded Hawaiian harmonies. Nou e Keali`i \u2013 Ho'okena Ho\u02bbokena\u2019s unmistakable vocal blend brings immediate depth and resonance. This track feels reverent and heartfelt, and the group\u2019s delivery reminds listeners why they remain one of the most respected names in contemporary Hawaiian music. Their harmonies add emotional gravity as the episode moves toward its conclusion. Pua 'A'ali'i \u2013 Ho'okena Closing with a flower song is especially fitting for this episode. The \u02bba\u02bbali\u02bbi is often associated with resilience and steadfastness, making this an especially meaningful ending. Ho\u02bbokena sends us out with beauty, strength, and a deep sense of Hawaiian identity. Featured Artists Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter Gregory Juan Kamalei Kawaa Les Waikikings Ho\u02bbokena Closing Mahalo for joining us for Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 701. This episode is a musical lei woven from songs of love, flowers, hula, memory, and enduring aloha. From the contemporary voices of Christy Leina\u02bbala Lassiter, Gregory Juan, and Kamalei Kawaa, to the nostalgic charm of Les Waikikings, and the rich harmonies of Ho\u02bbokena, this show celebrates the many colors of Hawaiian music. E m\u0101lama pono, a hui hou, and thank you for supporting the music and artists of Hawai\u02bbi. ","author_name":"Hawaiian Concert Guide","author_url":"http:\/\/www.hawaiianconcertguide.com","html":"