Island of Peace

McMaster, Doug & Sandy

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 18, 2003)
• Original Release Date: September 18, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Aloha Plenty
• ASIN: B0000DEYH0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: No customer reviews yet. Be the first.
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #425,570 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

E Komo Mai (Welcome) to our slack key ‘ohana (family). Mahalo (thank you) for your support of the rare and beautiful Hawaiian tradition of slack key guitar. When you are visiting Kauai, come share a sunset or enjoy one of our concerts. When you are away from Kauai, you can always stay in touch through our website and free email newsletters. This nahenahe (soft and sweet) music will help you stay connected to the peace and tranquility of old Hawaii. Simple beginnings are at the root of many traditions. The sunset serenade by Doug & Sandy McMaster by Hanalei Bay tradition began by just watching the sun set and playing slack key guitar. First they were joined by Betty, the dog from next door. Betty loved to go to the beach. Then Betty introduced Doug & Sandy to Edith, another neighbor, and Edith began joining them. After they made their way to the park, Edith would sit on the bench, swinging her legs with her arm wrapped snuggly around Betty as Doug & Sandy serenaded the sun to bed. The magic of community kept them coming back night after night and simple joys became celebration ritual. Visitors and locals began to discover their little sunset ‘ohana and the community expanded reaching hearts and souls from all walks of life and all corners of the world. The magic of these experiences are documented in many a guest book. Many have tried to put it into words. One man said, "This is as close to heaven as you can get and still be alive." It’s true, the vista is always magnificent and sometimes indescribably beautiful. Soft, magical, and sweet, ki ho’alu (slack key) guitar, was created by the people of Hawaii in the early 1800’s. In ki ho’alu music, the hands enter into a beautiful and intricate dance through which the essences of the mystical islands of Hawaii are expressed. Slack key music is filled with mana ("spiritual force") and aloha ("divine breath, presence"). It expresses innermost feelings and honors the ‘aina (land), creatures, events, and ancestors. As you listen, you can feel it touch you and open your heart to help you feel the essence of Hawaii. Doug McMaster has been playing slack key since a young child. Given this gift, he has the kuleana (responsibility) to ho’omau (continue the tradition) through sharing the music and stories, creating new songs in the old style, and recording. Sandy McMaster is a musician, writer, artist, and computer expert. She fell in love with the man and his music over twenty years ago. Together they are dedicated to sharing the beauty of ki ho’alu and the islands creating Aloha Plenty experiences for all. They have released 4 instrumental slack key CDs (Hanalei Sunset, Kauai Homecoming, In A Land Called Hanalei, and Island of Peace), an audio music documentary (Slack Key Story), and a Hanalei Sunsets Screensaver. By touching the hearts of visitors to the islands, they help spread the aloha spirit throughout the world.

Product Description

200 years ago in Hawaii... there were no plantations, no ranches, no missionaries, no visitor industry, no hotels, no radio, no multitracking, no singing (only chanting), no overdubbing, no lyrics to engage the talking head, no record company formulas... no entertainment industry...

There were a few Hawaiian men and women who were the original recipients of a "new" instrument called a guitar. Sitting in the peaceful splendor of their environment, they created a unique art form called ki ho'alu -- Hawaiian slack key guitar. They were inspired by simple, natural wonders... the little crabs skittering to and fro on the beach, the moon shimmering off the deep seas, the mist swirling around the mountains, the honu (sea turtles) riding the giant rolling waves, the soft whispering tradewinds, the ua lani pili (rains from the near heavens), ...

Island of Peace, the newest release by Doug & Sandy McMaster, is ki ho'alu in this real old style. Nothing more, nothing less. Enhanced to include a FREE video, screensaver, photo gallery, and more when you put the CD in your computer. The video is a little taste of the magical sunsets by Hanalei Bay on the mystical island of Kauai.

One of our favorite tracks is the title song, Island of Peace, which was a gift from a baby humpback whale that was born in the middle of Hanalei Bay on February 18, 2002 as we and our sunset slack key 'ohana watched on and serenaded the sun to bed. The name Island of Peace was the gift of a visiting monk.