Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show 704 Molokaʻi Sweet Home Music of Home, Heritage, Harmony... and a Journey into Exotica
This episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide celebrates one of the most enduring themes in Hawaiian music: love of home ('āina). From the quiet beauty of Molokaʻi to timeless Hawaiian standards, from contemporary voices carrying on the tradition to the fascinating world of mid-century Exotica, Show 704 takes listeners on a musical journey that explores how Hawaiʻi has inspired both those who call it home and those who dreamed of its distant shores.
Our featured artists include Ei Nei, Eric Lee, Kaleo Phillips, Martin Denny, and Hoʻokena, creating a program that blends authentic Hawaiian music with historical musical perspectives.
Opening
Welcome everyone to another edition of the Hawaiian Concert Guide! I'm Piko, and this episode is titled "Molokaʻi Sweet Home."
Tonight we're celebrating music rooted deeply in the Hawaiian Islands—songs about home, family, culture, and identity. Along the way we'll step briefly into the fascinating world of Exotica with Martin Denny before returning home again through the beautiful harmonies of Hoʻokena.
So let's begin our journey...
Ei Nei Molokaʻi Sweet Home
Album: Ei Nei, Look At Us
The show opens with a heartfelt tribute to one of Hawaiʻi's most beloved islands.
Molokaʻi has long been known as the "Friendly Isle," famous for preserving traditional Hawaiian lifestyles and remaining largely untouched by mass tourism. Unlike Waikīkī or Maui's resort communities, Molokaʻi represents old Hawaiʻi—a place where family, fishing, ranching, and community remain central to everyday life.
Musically, Ei Nei creates an intimate atmosphere using:
- rich vocal harmonies
- acoustic guitars
- gentle island rhythm
- restrained production
Rather than emphasizing technical virtuosity, the performance allows the lyrics and harmonies to communicate warmth and belonging.
The song immediately establishes the central theme of tonight's program:
Home isn't simply where you live—it becomes part of who you are.
Hiʻilawe (feat. Mālie Lyman)
Next comes one of Hawaiian music's enduring classics.
"Hiʻilawe" was written by the legendary Samuel Kalāinaina and celebrates the famous Hiʻilawe Falls in Waipiʻo Valley on Hawaiʻi Island.
Over the decades it has become one of the most frequently recorded songs in Hawaiian music, interpreted by everyone from Gabby Pahinui to contemporary artists.
Ei Nei's version is notable because it avoids trying to reinvent the classic.
Instead they focus on:
- clean vocal blend
- tasteful acoustic accompaniment
- respect for traditional melody
The addition of Mālie Lyman adds another vocal texture while maintaining the song's traditional character.
This performance serves as a reminder that Hawaiian standards continue living through each new generation of musicians.
Eric Lee E Ola No Kākou
Album: The Islands Are Calling
Eric Lee has become one of Hawaiian music's most respected singer-songwriters.
"E Ola No Kākou" translates roughly as:
"May We All Live"
or
"Life for All of Us."
Rather than focusing on one island or one family, this song expands the show's perspective toward the entire Hawaiian community.
Musically we hear:
- polished contemporary production
- strong lead vocals
- layered harmony
- modern acoustic instrumentation
The arrangement remains distinctly Hawaiian while incorporating production values that make it accessible to worldwide audiences.
Its message is optimistic, inclusive, and deeply rooted in aloha.
Ke ʻAno O Ka Hawaiʻi
The title translates as:
"The Nature of Hawaiʻi"
or
"The Character of Hawaiʻi."
Although shorter than many songs in today's playlist, it delivers an important cultural statement.
Rather than describing scenic beauty alone, the lyrics explore the qualities that define Hawaiian identity:
- aloha
- respect
- tradition
- community
- connection to the land
Musically it's concise and melodic, functioning almost like a musical reflection between larger works.
Kaleo Phillips Ka Lamakū
Album: E Mama
"Lamakū" literally means torch or beacon.
Within Hawaiian symbolism it often represents:
- guidance
- knowledge
- leadership
- passing wisdom from one generation to another
Kaleo Phillips delivers the song with emotional restraint rather than theatrical intensity.
His warm vocal style blends naturally with contemporary Hawaiian acoustic arrangements while remaining firmly grounded in traditional musical values.
It's another reminder that Hawaiian music often teaches as much as it entertains.
Kuʻulei Awapuhi / Magic Island
This medley beautifully combines two very different images.
The first half celebrates ʻawapuhi, the fragrant wild ginger flower often associated with affection and beauty.
The second half shifts geographically to Magic Island, the man-made peninsula adjoining Ala Moana Beach Park on Oʻahu.
The transition works surprisingly well because both songs celebrate cherished places through personal memories.
Arrangement highlights include:
- smooth transitions
- tasteful steel guitar textures
- flowing rhythmic accompaniment
- strong ensemble vocals
The medley creates a feeling of taking a leisurely drive through the islands, connecting people with places they love.
Exotica Segment
Tonight's Exotica segment offers an interesting contrast.
Where Hawaiian musicians perform music from within the culture, Exotica was largely created by American composers imagining distant tropical paradise.
Although not authentically Hawaiian, Exotica became enormously influential during the 1950s and helped introduce millions of listeners to sounds inspired by Polynesia and the South Pacific.
Martin Denny On a Little Street in Singapore
Album: Hypnotique
Martin Denny became known as the father of Exotica.
This piece isn't Hawaiian at all—instead it evokes Southeast Asia through a mixture of:
- vibraphone
- unusual percussion
- lounge rhythms
- atmospheric orchestration
Denny's genius wasn't documentary realism.
Instead he created musical travel postcards, inviting listeners to imagine distant exotic locations.
The recording captures the optimism and fascination with world travel that characterized post-war America.
Voodoo Dreams
One of the darker tracks in Denny's catalog.
Rather than emphasizing melody, this piece builds atmosphere through:
- tribal percussion
- dramatic orchestration
- mysterious harmonies
- rhythmic tension
It's cinematic rather than traditional.
Within today's episode, it serves as a fascinating historical contrast before we return to authentic Hawaiian voices.
Hoʻokena He Hawaiʻi Au
Album: Nā Kai ʻEwalu
Few vocal groups have represented modern traditional Hawaiian music more beautifully than Hoʻokena.
"He Hawaiʻi Au" simply means:
"I Am Hawaiian."
This is perhaps the strongest statement of identity in today's playlist.
Immediately listeners notice:
- rich four-part harmonies
- effortless vocal blend
- beautiful dynamic control
- traditional Hawaiian phrasing
After the Exotica segment, this recording feels like returning home.
The contrast is intentional.
Instead of someone imagining Hawaiʻi, we hear Hawaiians singing about themselves.
Ka Puʻulena
We conclude tonight with another treasured Hawaiian classic.
"Ka Puʻulena" has been performed by generations of Hawaiian musicians and remains one of the repertoire's most beloved mele.
Hoʻokena's arrangement showcases everything that makes the group exceptional:
- impeccable harmony
- emotional sincerity
- traditional interpretation
- outstanding ensemble balance
Rather than adding unnecessary embellishment, they allow the song's natural beauty to shine.
It is a fitting conclusion to an episode centered on home, identity, and cultural continuity.
Closing Thoughts
Tonight's playlist followed a musical arc that began on Molokaʻi, traveled through contemporary Hawaiian songwriting, paused briefly in the imagined tropical landscapes of Martin Denny's Exotica, and ultimately returned home through the timeless harmonies of Hoʻokena.
The contrast reminds us that Hawaiʻi has inspired musicians around the world for generations—but there remains something uniquely powerful about hearing these stories told by those whose roots run deep in the islands.
Whether you're listening from Hawaiʻi or halfway around the globe, we hope tonight's music has brought a little aloha into your home.
Mahalo for joining us on Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 704. Until next time, mālama pono, and aloha!
