Star-studded Mana Maoli follow-up looks like early Hoku front-runner

“ISLAND STYLE — ‘OIWI E E MEDLEY”

Various Artists (Mana Maoli)

Mana Maoli’s first big music video project won this year’s Na Hoku Hanohano Award for best music video. This is the second video from the organization, released Sept. 25, and it looks like the immediate front-runner for 2018.

The visuals are a mix of gorgeous scenic panoramas and relatively close-up shots of various performers out in the country, near the ocean, on school campuses and in Waikiki. The performers are a cross section of established hitmakers and Hoku Award winners, young artists, and hundreds of children and teenagers from island schools.

The songs are two separate pieces of music like back in the days of 45-rpm vinyl records. Back then, the “A side” was the side radio stations were supposed to play and the “B side” was filler. Here, both songs are justifiably “A sides.”

Hawaii residents recognize “Island Style” as the musical signature of Hoku Award-winner John Cruz, who is seen singing it. The song has been an island favorite since Cruz released it on his first locally recorded album in 1996. It is relevant here as a requiem for his father, Ernie Cruz Sr., and brothers, Guy and Ernie Jr., who died within a few months of each other in 2016.

It is also a reminder that the Cruz family can be mentioned along with the Beamers, Fardens, Kamakahis, Keawes and Pahinuis as having contributed to and influenced Hawaii’s music scene for two or more generations.

Two members of the Keawe ohana — Pomaika‘i Keawe Lyman and her daughter, steel guitarist Malie Lyman — are among the participants.

The cavalcade of talent also includes Jack Johnson, Kamakakehau Fernandez, Paula Fuga, Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom, Lehua Kalima & Shawn Pimental, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Tavana McMoore, Josh Tatofi and Eli-Mac.

“‘Oiwi E” is dedicated to kumu John Keolamaka‘ainana Lake (1937-2004), who wrote Hawaiian lyrics for a Maori melody. Lake’s lyrics call on Native Hawaiians to stand together.

Mana Maoli completes the project with almost three minutes of outtakes, rehearsal footage and annotation.

Mana Mele will provide a personal digital copy of the video to those who make a donation of any amount to parent organization Mana Maoli, which provides culture-based music and multimedia education programs for schools on Oahu and Kauai. For more information, including Lake’s lyrics and their English translations, visit manamele.org.

See photos from the video premiere in Honolulu at 808ne.ws/IslandStylePremiere.