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©2000 by Ely Music/Pub |
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Full Moon at Kalahuipua`aSaturday, January 22, 2000 From MOMI GREENE, Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i (Here) on the property of the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel in Kohala, Hawai`i (Big Island) it was cold, very windy and dry. We were all at a small cottage, the former home of Eva Parker Woods. It is fronted by the ocean and backed by the ancient fish ponds of King Kamehameha I. Today, this forest green and white trim plantation-era cottage houses Hawaiian artifacts and replicas, and is the place where Danny Akaka, Jr. teaches and practices Hawaiian cultural activities and customs. On or around each full moon, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel generously provides a place, some food and drinks, music, hula, singing and "talk stories" for whoever shows up to celebrate this special nocturnal event. Danny Akaka, Jr. shares his time, immense knowledge of Hawaiiana (a phrase coined by Aunty Nona Beamer for Hawaiian "things ongoing"), musical gift, vocal grace, chanting, voyaging insight, and love, to everyone. Every month entertainers either offer, or Danny asks, for someone to play, sing, hula or tell a story. This was a gathering for the first full moon of the new century. We were treated to one of Hawai`i's living treasures, Sonny Kamahele, Jr., and his "high C vocals" (falsetto) and rhythm guitar. Along with uncle Sonny was the richest voice today - Gary Aiko, playing stand up bass. Of course on steel was our pres' Alan Akaka. Although he started with half-frozen fingers from the wind chill, Alan just keeps on getting to a higher plateau of steel guitar mastery. Our master of ceremonies, Danny, Jr., always makes everyone feel at home. He has that Hawaiian heart that just keeps on giving. Full moons are mostly impromptu gatherings, and sometimes have surprises. The group began to play "Waipio", when uncle Kenny Brown (nephew of Francis I`i Brown) jumped up on stage to sing this song which was written for his grandmother Irene I`i. (ED NOTE: Another I`i, the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame composer, singer Victoria I`i Rodrigues is the mother of vocalist Nina Keali`iwahamana with whom Jerry Byrd has recorded over the years.) Near the end of the evening, Al Greene, Jr. arrived from his gig up the road at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, and joined everyone on stage with his new "toy", a blonde double-neck Canopus steel guitar. This was the very first time that student and teacher, Alan Akaka, duoed on stage playing "A Million Moons". If I had to use just one word to describe these Full Moon events, it would be "manuahi" (something freely given) from the hotel to the audience, sitting on the grass by the edge of the sea. 
HSGA * HAWAIIAN
STEEL GUITAR ASSOCIATION Homepage URL: www.hsga.org (hsga@lava.net) Last updated: 07/22/02 by Gerald Ross (gbross@umich.edu) |