Customer Reviews

Hapa

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A friend gave me a CD of contemporary Hawaiian music as a gift. When I thanked him, he told me a little about HAPA. "HAPA?" I asked him. He had given me the wrong CD so I ordered the HAPA CD that he intended to give. I became a fan when I listened to the first song, "Haleakala Ku". The songwriting amd musical talents of Barry Flanagan mesmerize me. This CD lifts my spirits when I'm in a bad mood, it relaxes me if I'm keyed-up. I now have all of HAPA's CD's and there is one playing constantly in my home or car CD player.

The second time I was in Hawaii in 1996, I was introduced to this album by staff at the hotel where I was staying. It is a stunning debut album by two immensely talented musicians and singers. Hapa (which means part or half and is usually used in terms like hapa haole - half white) is a duo of singer/guitarists. One is Hawaiian and one is a haole, hence the group name. The music on the CD is a combination of original contemporary Hawaiian songs and instrumental cuts. From the first cut the album is a wonder. The guitar work is beautiful and both singers have marvelously sweet voices, familiar with traditional Hawaiian style and yet fresh and contemporary.

My favorite cut on the album, Ku'u Lei Awapuhi, get backing vocal help by Kenny Loggins, but Hapa doesn't need the help. This song is full of the beauty and longing that make up Hawaiian life. A beautiful effort!

I was born on O'ahu and moved to the mainland at the age of 10. My last school year there, we had a great May Day celebration at the school in which all the 4th graders (I was a 4th grader then) danced to "Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai". After that, I had to find the song and get the CD, which is this CD by Hapa. I loved the entire CD, and now, years after leaving the islands, it still sounds very wonderful. Favorites on this CD are "Haleakala Ku Hanohano", "Anjuli", "Ku'u Lei Awapuhi", "Lei Pikake", and the cover of John Lennon's "Oh My Love".

"Hapa," which means "half" in Hawaiian, refers to the fact that Keli'i Kaneali'i, one half of this duo, is Hawaiian, while Barry Flanagan, the composer of most of these songs and the lead guitarist, is a haole who lives in the islands and who has absorbed its culture into his bones. In addition, half the songs on this 1995 album are vocals and half are instrumentals, offering mellow music with gorgeous harmonies and creative slack key guitar arrangements.

Recording in multiple tracks, Hapa intensifies and adds depth to its vocal harmonies, on which Keli'i stars, using 12-string rhythm guitar and 6-string ki ho'alu guitar accompaniments, and, for color and emphasis, bass, harmonica, banjo, fiddle, guitar synthesizers, and even whistle. The intriguing instrumentals usually have composer Flanagan on lead guitar and Keli'i on nylon string rhythm guitar and 12-string rhythm guitar.

Vocal numbers celebrating the extinct volcano Haleakala, the plants of the sea, the fragrance of pikake, and the search for love (with two songs asking "where are you?") alternate with intriguing guitar instrumentals to create a soft, romantic, and moody CD without a harsh sound anywhere. "Ka uluwehi o ke kai," describing limu kohu on the rocks swaying in the ocean currents, has become a favorite hula song, while the other vocals have now entered the Hawaiian songbook as favorites.

Two of the most interesting songs are Flanagan's arrangement of John Lennon's "Oh, My Love," a plaintive arrangement on guitar which also includes stand-up bass, cello, violin, and viola, and "Ku'u lei awapuhi," a romantic ballad written by Emily Taylor and arranged by Flanagan, on which Big Island resident Kenny Loggins makes a surprise appearance, quietly providing the background vocals on all the choruses. Donating a portion of the proceeds of this album to a Hawaiian language immersion pre-school, Hapa hopes to help preserve the sounds of the Hawaiian language and its culture. Mellow, relaxing, moody music, Hapa's CD has some of Hawaii's best modern songs and slack key guitar instrumentals. Mary Whipple

Hapa Live
Namahana
Collection
Maui

I am new to hawaiian music or the group named Hapa, the first time I heard "Ku u lei Ku u ipo" was on a helecopter tour of Maui on Blue Hawaiian Helecopters. I just had to own this song from what ever the cd was from! Found out later from an employee of Blue Hawaiian Helecopters what the name of the group was aswell as the name of the album, a big thanks to those guys! Anyway, I just want to say is that if you nevered heard hawaiian music or thinking of buying a cd of hawaiian music, this is the cd to own! You just have to take the time to sit and listen to the whole album while dreaming your in Maui or other Island of paradice. This is a must have! I will be buying other Hapa albums in the future and continue the dream of my favorite island of Maui! Maui Noka Oi! (Maui is the best) George V.

Living in the islands since 1978, this is by far my favorite CD. Contemporary Hawaiian Music that literally fills your heart with warmth and a genuine Aloha spirit. Beautifully done! (I loved it so much I bought two more to give as gifts.)