Ha’aheo Nā Kanaka Paniolo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAEenK-acgw It's been a little over two weeks since the debut of my new single Ha'aheo Nā Kanaka Paniolo from my upcoming album 'Song for Waimea' and I couldn't be happier with the reception it has received. The highlight has been the realization of one of my dreams when my song was played on KAPA radio …

Ikua Purdy Wins!

I just recently discovered some awesome pieces of historical information on the fascinating blog http://nupepa-hawaii.com/. If you are interested in Hawaiian history or the Hawaiian language, I suggest you click on the above link and follow this blog that digitizes and translates Hawaiian newspapers from the past. In researching the Frontier Days rodeo competition from 1908 in Cheyenne, …

Unearthing Secrets of the Ranch

Always more to learn, always more to discover. Knowledge is like a bottomless well that you can always draw more water from. Today was a day in which I was able expand even further my understanding of the paniolo and their history in Waimea. The day started out normal enough, as I covered the basics of …

The Sources of Our Songs

This coming week I have the honor and privilege of leading a group of students around the island exploring the meaning and history of Hawaiian mele and the places they are about. In four days we will visit four different areas of the island and learn a song or two that tells a story about …

The Story Behind “Paniolo Music”

Putting together an album of music is hard work. From the writing of the songs, to getting them recorded, to mixing and mastering the music, taking the photography, designing the artwork, writing liner notes; all this takes persistence, dedication and patience. But above all, what it requires is support and help from friends and family …

Who Are the Paniolo?

Paniolo are the cowboys of Hawaii. Obviously there wouldn’t be cowboys without cattle, so it is important to start with the introduction of the first cattle in Hawaii when discussing the history of the paniolo. For a much more detailed and descriptive history of cattle in Hawaii it is mandatory that I mention the comprehensive …

Slack Key Tunings…Why???

I was doing some reading about open tunings and I started to realize that I've often felt the commonly held descriptions of the development of slack key guitar in Hawaii are lacking. The common story goes that the Mexican cowboys who came here to teach the Hawaiians how to rope cattle came with their guitars …

The World Cup That Is Hawaiian Music Part 3: Los Vaqueros

MEXICAN RANCHERA AND JALISCO SON MUSIC Shortly after the establishment of the Christian religion in Hawai`i the next major influence on Hawaiian music came in the 1840s in the form of Mexican vaqueros who came here to teach the Hawaiian people the basics of how to care for and manage the cattle that had grown …