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Click on album cover for high resolution jpeg. A collection of songs by legendary composer & hula master Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. |
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| Song List
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| Kawaikapuokalani Hewett's Notes
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| “Ho‘ola i ka Poli,” is a collection of my fondest memories from my distant and recent past put to song and performed by my daughter ‘Ohelo‘ulaokalani Hewett, Daniel Ho and me, Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. Each composition remembers a special person, a significant place, or the abundance of meaningful moments that bring healing to my heart. Like a beautiful and fragrant lei, they are beloved recollections that will grace my life always. They convey a love so deep it continually presses against my heart. They are about honoring the past. They are an expression of the flowing tears of happiness and sorrow that come with reminiscing. They are reflections on the world and my home nestled in the lehua groves of Ola‘a on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. They tell the story of the magnificent and brightly colored blossoms that adorn my homeland, Hawai‘i nei. Throughout my life and as far back as I can recall, there was always a song in my heart. I dealt with life’s lessons through music and poetry. Every trial was met with a tune. My childhood and teenage years were filled with hardship. I simply wanted to be a kid, but was given the sole responsibility of caring for my younger siblings at the age of twelve. My parents and grandparents worked to put food in our mouths and pay the bills to maintain a home. It was my duty to do my share, which at that time was no easy undertaking. The house needed to be cleaned, the breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared, and the clothes washed. My list of responsibilities went on and on and all I wanted to do was enjoy the outdoors and play. No matter what came my way, I would take on every challenge by singing a song. And when I didn’t know the words, I would make up my own. The only things I had were my voice, my faith in God, and the belief that in time things would get better. I sang my way through it all and I continue to do the same today. Music has healed my heart through the years and brought me a joy a thousand fold. I thank God for my heart. I know that it is blessed for it has brought peace and happiness into my life. God has provided me with a strong sense of understanding and compassion and I share it with you through my verse and melodies. I want for you to feel the same kind of peace. Hear me, feel me, and be inspired to drift off into your own healing and happiness. Ho‘ola i ka Poli… Healing My Heart. |
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| Song Notes
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| Lei Au I Ke Aloha O Ke Akua I wear God's love like a lei close to my heart. He is my inspiration, He is my light, He is my strength. He has anointed my life with a gift of song and my only desire is to share it and to bring a healing to your hearts as it has healed mine. Hawai'i Ku'u Home I wrote this song in Fujisawa, Japan, in December of 2008. My travels away from home only bring me closer to my love and appreciation for Hawai'i and all things that are reflective of our traditions and our people. You are truly the most unique of all the places in the whole world. Your beauty is incomparable and quite astonishing. I think of you constantly as you are ever in my thoughts. You are the land of my ancestors. You are the best! E Ku'u Ipo Ola'a Beauty Written in November 2008 at a hula workshop at my home in Ola'a, Hawai'i with my students from Kobe, Japan, Kuhai Halau O Ke'alaanuhea'opualani Pa 'Olapa Kahiko. I wanted to teach something memorable and new. I wrote this song to elaborate on the delicateness of the Ola'a Beauty, a unique flower that grows in the uplands of Ola'a. I would like to think that this blossom reveals itself only for me to enjoy and delight in, a special and infinite bloom. E Ku'u Lei Makua The love of my parents is an irreplaceable lei that will adorn my heart always. My parents gave me life. They cared for me and nourished me from the moment I was born. My lei of love. My precious lei. My unforgettable lei. The love of my parents. This song was written in memory of my father Alexander Kapilialoha Hewett. His love lives on in my memories. He is one of my heroes. Lei Ana O Maui My father was a very humble man who was raised in Waialua on O'ahu. He was a taro farmer and the family lo'i and kuleana lands are still there in Waialua today. Through his ancestors Kahalau and Kanahele'aumoku, he is a descendant of the Maui chiefs of old Hawai'i. I also lived on Maui for eleven years and worked at the Royal Lahaina Resort as the lu'au show director. During those years, I was able to reconnect with my Maui genealogy and the splendor of the island. Ka 'Opua Lei Lani This song focuses on the soft, delicate and regal 'ilima blossom. A cherished and astounding treasure, it takes thousands of blossoms to string a single lei of 'ilima. It is like the thousands of hours that parents lovingly dedicate to care for and raise children and grandchildren. I believe parents try their best to do all that they can for their children in hopes that they will grow to appreciate and honor the time and love invested in their upbringing. This song is for my mom, Alice Pualeilani Kana'e Hewett for her dedication to her children, her grandchildren and the children of the community of Kane'ohe who know her affectionately as “Aunty Alice.” Ia 'Oe Hawai'i Moku O Keawe I graduated from the University of Hawai'i Hilo Campus in 1978. I have so many good memories of attending college at that time--recollections that I will cherish for a lifetime. I had the opportunity to learn hula and chanting from Aunty Edith Kanaka'ole in Hilo. I was able to study with 'Iolani Luahine in Kona. I was able to learn lei making and dye making with Aunty Marie McDonald in Waimea. Most importantly, I gained genealogical insight and sense of place from my mother's and father's roots. My mom's 'ohana, the Komomua's are from Makapala and my dad's 'ohana, Kaneikawaiola are from Waimanu. All my love to Hawai'i, island of the chief Keaweikekahiali'iokamoku! E Ku'u Lei Mo'opuna For my grandchildren and children. My darling lei that I hold so dear. I am always with you. You are in my heart forever. You are the unfading blossom. The most precious lei. You were woven with love and now you highlight my life and my being. You so fragrant like a sweet flower. I will never tire of inhaling your presence. I am truly blessed! Te Tiare No Tahiti Written to commemorate my visit to Tahiti in December of 2007. I was honored at an “E Pili Kakou,” event in Tahiti hosted by the Haururu Organization and Kamalani Kia. The co-honoree for the event was Louise Kimitete, a very dear friend who once lived in O'ahu and would visit me at my performances with Palani Vaughn at the Ala Moana American Hotel. I had the opportunity to reconnect with very special people in Tahiti on this trip. This song and my aloha is for all of you. To Louise Kimitete and family To the Haururu Organization families To Tarona Teri'itahi and family To Vaihere To Albertine To Cecile To Popo To Tua Aloha! My Sweet Lei Poina'ole In December of 2008, I was in Fujisawa, Japan. I wanted to write a new song for my JAL hula team that would participate in the JAL PAK Hula Ho'olauna Competition in July 2009. My thoughts drifted back to Hawai'i one day many years ago as I sat in the same room at the Ala Moana Americana Hotel with kahuna Emma DeFries and Robert Beaumont, as she composed for Robert the song, “E Ku'u Sweet Lei Poina'ole.” Aunty Emma was one of my teachers and I often reminisce about the time I spent studying with her the traditions of hula and ho'_la. These recollections wove themselves into the words to this song in honor of kahuna Emma DeFries. You are the lei that I cherish in my heart. You are the lei so beautiful to behold. You are the lei that I caress constantly in my thoughts. You are the rose blossom blooming at Kilauea. You are my sweet lei poina'ole. You are my hali'ali'a! Hina I Ka Malama I composed this song more than 25 years ago. It is perhaps my most favorite piece due to the characters for which it was written. I rarely sing it as the story behind it gets me fairly choked up, but I wanted to record it just once and chose to do so on this project. It speaks of the love of the Maui chiefess Hinaikamalama for the Kaua'i chief 'Aiwohikupua. The two were unable to consummate their relationship on the night of their union due to the magical powers of his former wife, Poli'ahu, and her sisters Lilinoe and Kahoupokapuakane. The snow goddesses would overwhelm the abode of the newlyweds with either cold or heat whenever the two would try to embrace. Their tale of longing and unattainable love cries out to be told. |
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| Credits
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All songs written by Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. |
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