Hoku Award-winner Kahiapo creates benefit anthology

“ALOHA AUTISM”

Various Artists (Pono)

Multi-Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner Kawika Kahiapo is the producer and driving force behind this economically packaged anthology released to benefit the Hawaii Autism Foundation. Joining him are 13 other Hawaii recording artists — almost all of them are also Hoku Award winners — whon have each donated a previously released song for the project. Giving credit where it’s due, the contributors are Blayne Asing, Nathan Aweau, “Brother Noland” Conjugacion, John Cruz, Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom, Johnny Helm, Jack Johnson, Robi Kahakalau, Henry Kapono, Makana, Na Leo, Jake Shimabukuro and the duo of Imua & Tiffa Garza.

Makana’s contribution is a beautiful instrumental, Kapono represents his first solo hit, “Stand In The Light,” with a more recent recording, and Shimabukuro shares a selection from the soundtrack from the just-released film, “Go For Broke.”

Kahiapo covered production costs with a Kickstarter campaign so, with no costs to recoup, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Hawaii Autism Foundation for distribution to organizations that provide services to people with autism.

Visit alohaautism.com.

“THE LEGACY OF MUSIC”

Kahulanui (Kahulanui LLC)

Four years ago this month a Big Island group named Kahulanui (“the big dance”) was a finalist for best regional roots music album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards — the only finalist in the category from Hawaii. The group was officially a self-contained quartet of singer/musicians led by Lolena Naipo Jr., but it recorded and often performed with a four-piece horn section. They specialized in the Hawaiian and hapa haole standards of the Territorial Era played as big band island swing. Their album, “Hula Ku‘i,” didn’t win the Grammy but it helped heighten awareness of Hawaii’s big band era both in the islands and on the mainland.

This three-song sampler is a preview of the group’s next album, which is expected sometime soon. The highlight here in terms of historical significance is “The Eating of The Poi.” The song’s lyrics were first published in 1888, and it is the first known hapa haole song. ‘Elua Kane revived it in 1995 and Kahulanui does well by it here.

“Analani E,” written by Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs in the early 1940s, and a medley of hapa haole songs with Maui ties complete this delightful sampler.

Visti kahulanui.com.