HAPA – “Maui”
Finn, 2005

HAWAII – One of the most successful groups in contemporary Hawaiian music, the duo of Barry Flanagan (guitars) and Nathan Awaeu (vox/bass/ percussion) keep things varied, upbeat, and fun. This album is very contemporary in the NPR/Starbucks-friendly folk-pop sense, but it has plenty of authentic island flavor that’s neither dumbed-down nor inaccessibly “exotic.” Vocals are in Hawaiian, Tahitian, Tokelau, and English.

Fo’s Picks: 11… also 1, 4, 5, 6, 12

1. 3:27 – fast layered acoustic guitars, sweet vocals. Jangly and exciting.
2. 2:44 – funky instrumental with lots of tricky bass work. Light and fun.
3. 3:32 – upbeat, folksy, about canoes. Sung in Tokelau. Neat steel guitar in there.
4. 3:07 – relaxed slack-key guitar, an island blues instrumental. Could be longer.
5. 5:38 – very pretty lullabye-ballad, slow and gentle. Lovely high-pitched vocal.
6. 3:44 – slow chorus vox, fast Tahitian banjo (sounds like a banjo/ukelele hybrid)
7. 4:24 – Every Hawaiian album must have one Bob Marley cover. That’s the law.
8. 4:05 – slow homage to Queen Liliu’okalani, mellow and uplifting
9. 4:06 – cute slack-key Hawaiian cowboy thing, intentionally cheesy drum machine
10. 2:45 – midtempo: happy, folksy ode to Lahaina, Maui; high vocals
11. 1:48 – slam poetry/rap about new Hawaiian culture, with jazz & chant backing!
12. 2:22 – laid-back Tahitian ballad about Hawaii, nice banjo under the guitar

[Fo] - 11/16/05