Customer Reviews

Pua 'ena - Glow Brightly

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While visiting the Hawaiian islands, I have become very fond of the Hawaiian music and a certain style of singing, that I didn't know what to call. I hurt my knee in Hawaii and upon returning home to Seattle, had to have knee surgery. When I woke up in the recovery room, I heard this wonderful Hawaiian music and thought I was dreaming about being back in Hawaii. I asked the nurse where the music was coming from and she said she'd just been to the islands and had brought this CD home. She wrote down the title for me and it was Pua'ena by Dennis Kamakahi. I ordered it right away from Amazon.com and have loved listening to this music regularly. It puts me back in paradise; when I'm having a bad day I put it my Pua'ena CD and escape to the islands. Dennis has such a beautiful voice and his soft tenderness in singing about the place he loves and the wife he loves - it's really wonderful.

Dennis Kamakahi is probably the greatest Hawaiian song-writer alive today. In addition, he has a marvelous rich voice and is a master of the ki ho'alu (slack key for you malihinis out there) guitar. In this CD he plays a lot of his own songs and some traditional favorites as well. Kamakahi has learned from the greats, including Gabby Pahinui, and you can hear the Gabby influence in such songs as "Ipo Lei Manu". Kamakahi's vocal virtuosity is beautifully displayed in "Ahulili" and "Apapane". For anyone who loves real Hawaiian music, this CD is a must-have.

Skillful guitar plus a pure voice! This CD is my cure for road rage--puts me in that "hang loose" kind of attitude. Liner notes have stories about each song plus which key he plays it in, but no translations.

I've been listening to Hawaiian music for 40 years and some of the most poignant and beautiful songs ever written in the genre have been by the Reverend Dennis Kamakahi. First coming to prominence in the Hawaiian music scene with Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii, here he reprises some of the songs he wrote and first performed with them as well as other original compositions and traditional Hawaiian standards with the simple, pure beauty of one man, his voice and guitar. Playing the 6 and 12 string guitar in his masterful slack-key style (ki hoalu or Hawaiian finger-picking) in assorted tunings, he transports you by virtue of his beautiful vocals and flawless instrumentals to the soul of Hawaii, from the hot, dry plains and verdant upcountry of leeward Kaua'i (Koke'e - one of my all-time favorite songs, but I spent my childhood summers on Kauai, so I'm biased) to the misty waterfalls and mountain peaks of Moloka'i (Wahine Ilikea). If you're a long-time fan of Hawaiian music you probably already have this CD; if you don't or are new to the genre, this will quickly become one of your favorites. Sixteen tracks and 68 minutes of Hawaiian slack-key and vocal virtuosity by one of the true masters! Superb liner notes by Jay Junker and George Winston complete the package.

Dennis Kamakahi not only is one of the best slack key (ki ho`alu) guitar players, but a song-writer beyond compare. The sensual imagery in his songs coupled with his melodic voice help you to keep that Aloha feeling even when you are far away from the `aina. There is no more poetic a song than Wahine Ilikea. I love the line, "Wahine Ilikea i ka poli o Moloka`i". Ooooh -- chicken skin. You know it is a classic when you see how many others have reorded that beautiful song. Koke`e is a mele pana (place song) that leaves you yearning to stand on that lookout, gazing at Kalalau. Ka Opae is a bouncy tune and even more jolly when you read the story behind the song. Dennis got his start with Eddie Kamae as one of the Sons of Hawai`i after Gabby Pahinui left the group. He was a young one at only 19 or 20 years old, but Eddie obviously was able to spot talent. Dennis also respects the `olelo (the language) and does it justice with his understanding of the kaona. Thank you, Uncle Dennis, for this amazing piece of musical artistry.

I listen to Rev. Dennis play and sing and I'm transported to a mountain top on Kauai or a remote beach on Maui. His voice is melodic with a casual attitude toward structure and more emphasis on the spirit of what he's doing.

Wahine Ilikea is probably the biggest "hit" of the CD. It's a great song filled with a sense of beauty and satisfaction for a true love.

The first cut is a timeless song written by a Hawai'ian Queen in the 1800's.
Dennis sings it with a newness and energy that sets the timbre of the whole CD.

It's a fabulous CD and well worth the investment.

I too was bitten by the Hawaiian music bug during a trip to Oahu in Feb. 2002. I picked up this CD because I loved the song Wahine 'Ilikea. On this CD, Rev. Kamakahi interpets his own songs and traditional songs in a quiet way which is very intimate. It's just him and his wonderful slack key guitar playing. The way in which he sings with great feeling really touches my heart. I love other Hawaiian musicians and CDs too, but this one remains at the top of my list because of its simplicity and beautiful melodies.

I agree with the other reviewers that, no matter what your state of mind, this CD will put you in "Island Time" before the first song is finished. Pua 'ena is tied with the Buena Vista Social Club as my all time favorite CD. Dennis' voice combined with his guitar work are absolutly beautiful - it really does "Glow Brightly".

Dennis Kamakahi is probably one of the finest slack string artists living, and this album is one of his best. Truly superb.

I have only recently developed a respect and appreciation for Hawaiian music. On a trip back from Maui last fall, I listened for 6 straight hours, and have been hooked ever since. Dennis Kamakahi is definitely my favorite arist. He has a wonderful voice and plays an awesome guitar. I love this album. I really like all of the tracks on it. I would buy any other albums of Dennis', and have bought four of them so far. No regrets on any of them. I recently saw him perform at the Rialto Theatre, and he was awesome.