“The Moment” — The Kaimana Band (Kaimana Music 016)

With credits going back more than a quarter-century, multitalented Rodney Bejer (bass, ukulele, vocals) provides a solid foundation for any contemporary local group. Add John Ornellas (guitar, vocals) and Eric Folk (drums, percussion) and you have the Kaimana Band. This is their debut as recording artists.

Bejer is the primary songwriter; he wrote or co-wrote four of the 10 songs on this nicely crafted calling card. The title song expresses perfectly the dreams and emotions of a wedding day and will surely become a popular theme for island weddings. Ornelles gets the composer’s credit on “Island Sweetheart,” a contemporary hapa haole song that also could become a local classic.

“Standing in the Rain,” originally recorded by Franz Kahele in 1987, is neatly revived with an arrangement that spotlights Ornelles’ technique on guitar and musician-engineer Pierre Grill’s skill as a pianist. It’s hard to go wrong with Kui Lee’s musical signature, “I’ll Remember You,” and the trio does a beautiful job on it. They also step decisively away from Hawaii’s music with a smooth remake of “One More Day,” a chart-topping country hit for Diamond Rio in 2000.

Kawena Mechler adds a woman’s voice to “Kau Keha i Luna,” and kumu hula Chinky Mahoe chants and plays ipu heke on “Ka Makani ‘o Waimea.” Grill’s engineering of the ipu makes the instrument really stand out when the song is heard on headphones.

The trio boosts the energy level with two songs perfect for a brisk hula: “Inikiniki Hula,” by Mechler and Bejer, and “Pauoa Liko ka Lehua,” which is attributed to Emma Bush although probably not written by her.

For lyrics and English translations of the Hawaiian songs, email kaimanaband@gmail.com.

“The Ocean Road” — Steve Grimes (Low Fat Music)

Luthier Steve Grimes has been making musical instruments in Hawaii since 1982, and he did it for 10 years before that on the mainland. To make instruments, a craftsman must be able to play them. Grimes’ second album shows his talents as a musician, songwriter and recording artist.

Most of his compositions are mellow in mood and built around melodious acoustic guitar. Grimes sings of the politically turbulent 1960s (“Twenty”), shares life lessons (“It’s All Good”) and calls everyone to care about the great whales (“Where in the World Are the Whales?”). Drummer Kerry Sofaly and electronic percussion help drive home the ecological message of “Malama Your Mama,” and pianist Eric Verlinda takes the lead in bringing cocktail lounge ambience to Grimes’ remake of “This Will Make You Laugh,” a hit for the Nat King Cole Trio in 1941.

Visit grimesguitars.com.