“Lana‘ikaula Lana‘i (Music for the Hawaiian Islands Vol. 5)”

Kuana Torres Kahele

(Kahele KTK231)

Multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Kuana Torres Kahele picks up where he left off in 2015 on the way to making good on his unprecedented commitment to record and release seven full-length albums of newly written songs — each one about a different Hawaiian island. The first two albums in the series, “Hawai‘i Keawe (Music for the Hawaiian Islands Vol. 1)” and “Kahelelani Niihau (Music for the Hawaiian Islands Vol. 2),” were released roughly six months apart in 2014. The next two, “Pi‘ilani Maui (Music for the Hawaiian Islands Vol. 3)” and “Manookalanipo Kaua‘i (Music for the Hawaiian Islands Vol. 4),” followed like clockwork in 2015.

With this collection of 11 newly written songs and oli (chant) written over several months in 2016, Kahele shares his aloha for the island of Lanai. He had originally planned a six-album series, with a single album for Molokai and Lanai — but residents of both islands lobbied effectively. “Lana‘ika‘ula Lana‘i (Music for the Hawaiian Islands Vol. 5)” is the fifth in what is now a seven-album series. Albums for Molokai and Oahu will complete the project between now and the end of 2018.

In the meantime, “Lana‘ika‘ula Lana‘i” reaffirms Kahele’s place as one of the most prolific Hawaiian songwriters of his generation. His compositions describe island landmarks, honor alii and other people with ties to the island, and recall local legends.

“‘Iliahi Alo‘e” compares the woman who was the island’s oldest resident to an extremely rare and cherished sandalwood tree. (She died in January at the age of 101.) “Kaulula‘au” is the story of the young chief who was banished to Lanai and destroyed the ghosts and other malevolent beings that lived there.

As with previous albums in the series, Kahele sings most of the vocal parts and accompanied himself on ukulele, rhythm guitar, acoustic bass and ipu. Casey Olsen, back once again as Kahele’s steel guitarist, is joined by Imua Garza (lead guitar) and Zachary Lum (piano); Kale Chang adds backing vocals.

Kahale created a special bond between his Niihau album and Niihau by setting music to lyrics that had been written by previous generations of Niihau residents. On the Maui album he featured a Maui resident musician. Here he opens and closes the album with oli (chants) performed by Lanai residents and recorded there.

Kahele sets an excellent example for younger artists with the thoroughness of his annotation. The liner notes include the Hawaiian lyrics, basic English translations and background information.

Visit kuanatorreskahele.com.