On the Scene: Pomaika‘i Keawe Lyman carries on her family’s musical and cultural legacy

Pomaika‘i Keawe Lyman grew up in a prominent island family. Her grandmother Genoa Keawe was one of the foremost Hawaiian falsetto singers of the 20th century. Her uncle Gary Aiko was one of the islands’ great baritones, her grandmother’s niece Momi Bee Kahawaiola‘a was a member of the singing Bee Sisters. And her father, Eric Keawe, although not a professional, could also entertain onstage.

Her parents sent her to Punahou School (class of ’99). Next came a bachelor’s degree in economics at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Since then she’s balanced the responsibilities of marriage and motherhood with her commitment to her family’s cultural kuleana (area of responsibility).

Lyman, 38, was scheduled to represent Hawaii at “Indigenuity,” a celebration of “the ingenuity of indigenous artists,” March 27 at Farrington High School auditorium in Kalihi-Palama. The coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of “Indigenuity,” but Lyman is looking forward to other projects.

What would we have heard if “Indigenuity” had gone as scheduled?

I was going to be singing “Never Enough,” sung by Loren Allred, and a Lauren Daigle song, “Love Like This,” translated into the Hawaiian language by Puakea Nogelmeier. The translations are special because when you are translating a song from English into Hawaiian it’s never a literal translation. It’s taking the ideals (of the English lyrics) and then putting them into ‘ike Hawaii, the Hawaiian perspective. For example, when someone says in English, “I could have everything in the world, but if I don’t have you I’ll never have enough,” it’s beautiful in English, but from the Hawaiian perspective it could sound greedy — “I don’t have enough, I want to have it all.” A better translation of the emotion could be, “Without you, I am nothing. It’s because of you that I’m the person that I am.”

How does being Genoa Keawe’s granddaughter play into your approach to music?

I’m always concerned about how she would feel with everything that I’m doing, making sure that I have some kind of a confirmation that she would be proud and happy with how I’m moving in the industry — in representation of her name, of course.

Did she ever talk to you about that?

She never put any pressure on me. She always told me that if it was something that I enjoyed doing to do it. And just to make sure that I do it properly, to honor those that should be honored, and to always feature and recognize those who make it possible for me to do what I do. First and foremost, God, our Heavenly Father, but then my parents, my family, my children, my husband, and then even beyond that, the musicians who provide me with the music, and then the audience for being willing to listen and receive what offering I have to give.

Did you expect your children to follow you into music?

I never did put pressure on them to do it. Although I did make it a point to immerse them in the language. Now all four of them are far beyond where I was at their age. My oldest (daughter) and my youngest both play the steel guitar. My son, the older boy, plays the upright bass, and my (other) daughter dances hula. All four of them play the ukulele and sing, and speak Hawaiian. They know about our kuleana as a family and they embrace it and they love doing it.

You’ve recorded as a guest on several artists’ albums. When are you going to do your own?

I’m thinking 2020 is the year. I need to get in touch with my engineer and the musicians.