Nā Koa Magazine Fall 2020

Fall 2020

nÄ koa kaulike pescaia A Hawaiian Prodigy Page 4

action!

Be sure to catch our media issue in March!

Kamehameha Maui senior Hezekiah Kapua’ala directs his newest project.

nā koa

................... FALL 2020........................................................................................................ from the editors ......................

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ON THE COVER Kaulike Pescaia

Maui-based falsetto Kaulike Pescaia is poised to become the next great thing.

Photos by Bailey Dagupion

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Maui Made

Meet Maui teens passionate about taking their music to the next level.

14 How-tos

Learn the basics of ʻukulele and songwriting techniques through Ellen Kehoʻohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast’s famous song Kaulana Nā Pua.

Music makers Aloha and welcome back to Nā Koa. It has been a moment since the last publication back in the summer.

I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who read our last issue, and to new readers, we welcome you.

Nā Koa has become a passion project for us, and we hope to continue to deliver high quality stories from around the island into the palms of your hands.

This round we are again including stories written by ourselves, but this time we have two other student journalists on board.

As a team, we collaborated on this issue and worked remotely using programs such as Zoom, Adobe Indesign, and Outlook.

In this fall edition, we will be exploring the stories of music, family, and education. From well-known

artists, to wise educators, to young prodigies, this edition will focus on the Maui music scene.

Our cover story on Dayle “Kaulike” Pescaia took us on an epic journey two years in the making. Begun by former editor Aaron Veincent in 2017, the story was picked up for this issue by this year’s seniors Chasey Ko’omoa-Sidney (who conducted the main interview) and myself (Max Bielawski) who merged the two.

Interviewing these musicians gave us a certain sense of hope for the future of music on Maui. Everything from Hawaiian to Metal, we got you covered.

Music is something that resonates with everyone, from memories with our families, to jamming out in a pair of headphones, music is a universal language that we can all understand.

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Maui Master: Rama Camarillo This master of music and teaching tells about his life and influence on the future generation.

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Camarillo Brothers

Two brothers share their story about perpetuating a family tradition.

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Jordan Soon

This young R&B and Hawaiian musician shares how he is paving the way for his career at 18 years old.

..................... about the editors ..............................................................................

Savannah Rose Dagupion, 17, is a senior at Kamehameha Schools

Maui. She was born and raised on Maui and has a passion for journalism. Her innovative, creative nature allows her to express herself through singing, playing instruments, drawing award-winning mandala, or planting succulents. She wants to major in journalism and become a journalist for a renowned magazine or news company.

Max Bielawski, 17, is a senior at Kamehameha Schools Maui. He was

raised on Maui and has a passion for environmental justice, politics and journalism. His dream for a better future drives him throughout his life.

He enjoys music, gardening, traveling, history and playing the French horn. He is planning to major in political science and to become a voice of political change.

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.............Kaulike Pescaia.......

A Hawaiian Prodigy

by AARON VIENCENT, MAX BIELAWSKI & CHASEY KO’OMOA-SIDNEY

He started by asking about my Hawaiian name and trying to make connections with other Hawaiian family names he knows, as Hawaiians do, Then the interview with a true musical prodigy could begin.

THE BEGINNING From the moku of Kamaʻole in Kīhei, Dayle Leroy Kaulike Pescaia III was born and raised in a family of fishers and influencers of music.

It seemed that 21-year-old “Kaulikeʻs” passion for music started in the womb.

“When my parents found out they were expecting a baby (me), my father told my mother that he only wanted Hawaiian music to be played,” Pescaia said.

While in the car at the age of two, he hummed along to the melody of Nā Palapalai’s Pili Kāpekepeke. It was from this incident that his parents discovered his interest in Hawaiian music. Who knew that this would eventually come full circle?

At four years old, he began his pursuit of music. Like many local children, he would play around with a souvenir floral ʻukulele

his father had bought from an ABC Store. After his father saw him constantly play with it for a year, he purchased a better quality ʻukulele and started teaching Pescaia to properly play it.

“I began listening to Hawaiian songs, copying exactly what I heard, singing the melodies, and strumming the chords,” he said.

Pescaia improved his music skills, and at the age of 7 he started performing at family gettogethers and private weddings, primarily for family and friends.

Around the same time, he began to compete in musical competitions.

A MENTOR EMERGES While attending Kamehameha Maui Middle School, Kaulike was introduced to musician Sheldon Brown through his English teacher, Brown’s daughter Sharolyn Pali. Brown became a mentor to Pescaia and introduced him to the recording world.

“Somehow she [Pali] found out that I play music, and she hooked me and her dad up, and we just started playing music together. I can’t even remember how we first started, but we just started playing music together, and I learned a lot

from him about performing.”

While still in middle school, Pesacaia was already playing with “Uncle Sheldon” at gigs like Picnic for Poki, where he says he performed with “these amazing Hawaiian musicians,” the Maui Waena Middle School festival, the Maui Swap Meet, Maui Tropical Plantation, private gigs, graduation parties, and “whatnot.”

Brown died in 2017.

“Oh, brah, I wish you could meet him. He was super nice, super patient. He actually introduced me to the recording world too. His friend has a recording studio in town, and he brought me in there, and they pretty much walked me through the recording process, and that’s where I learned. That’s actually where I started recording the album,” he said.

“A few years went by, and I studied more music, and I ended up having to to pull out of that project, so when I put this [album] together, ... I totally restarted, and I put new songs, something fresh.”

Sometime around his sophomore or junior year of high school at Kamehameha Schools Maui,

he decided to pursue music as a career. Having more opportunities to perform and the security of having those gigs made him sure of his decision.

FAMILY TIES Not only was Kaulike surrounded by music and supported to explore it, but he was almost bound to end up in the industry. He grew up in a family of talented musicians.

His cousin is William “Billy” Gilman, a popular falsetto singer and winner of the 1996 Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Storytelling and Falsetto Singing Contest. He was featured on the first Aloha Festivals Hawaiian Falsetto Contest Winners album and is one of the many talented musicians in Kaulike’s family.

“My musical inclination stems from that of my makua and kupuna. It is a kuleana of mine within my community and family,” Pescaia said.

To follow in their footsteps, Kaulike takes inspiration from his cousins Gilman and Bryan Lee and their renditions of Hawaiian falsetto songs and covers of Journey songs.

Kaulike performs for the second week of E Kūpaʻa Kākou, a weekly event streamed by the County of Maui to promote Hawaiian musicians.

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MULTI-TALENTED Pescaia plays ʻukulele, ʻuturere (Tahitian ʻukulele or banjo), guitar, bass, piano, cello, steel guitar, and various percussion instruments like conga, bongo and timpani drums.

His first experience playing steel guitar was in Papa Mele, Music Class, in high school.

“It’s not like I taught him anything. I just exposed him to other music–like from Lena Machado and also Kūhiō Beach sung by Sam Bernard, and that was it,” said his high school music kumu, Kalei Aarona-Lorenzo.

“His piano playing, singing and steel guitar playing at the 2018 ʻAha Mele left Aunty Marlene Sai raving about this talented kid.

She literally couldn’t stop talking about him.”

The icing on the cake is his vocals, a beautiful and smooth falsetto in the classic tradition of Hawaiian music.

“Being able to connect with [the audience] and bring happiness to [them] is also another sense of satisfaction, which in turn is why I enjoy playing music so much,” Kaulike said.

While playing, he always shows a clear passion behind his songs.

To achieve that, he said that he crafts a “little adventure [in his] mind” when he sings.

FATHER KNOWS BEST Kaulike says one of his biggest inspirations is his father, Daryl.

Despite his father not being in the music industry, he taught Kaulike about the business.

“I learned a lot from him, and that’s an important thing.

Hawaiian music is a pretty good industry to get into. You can make good money and have a lot of fun. There’s this good music, but having the business side to it is really important. People will burn other people, that’s how business goes. There’s a lot of dog-eat-dog in music, and Hawaiian music is no different,” Kaulike said.

He says being able to be conscious of what happens in business is important, and to him, his dad was important for that.

“We’re smart about spending money, so we don’t spend any more than what we have. I’ve grown up with that. …I won’t buy something unless I have that financial security.”

Kaulikeʻs first album, Kuʻu Huakaʻi, garnered four Nā Hōkū awards: Most Promising Artist of the Year, Hawaiian Language Performance, Hawaiian Music Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.

“It [writing music] makes you focus on what people do every day, makes you kind of think about how our world is, or what’s wrong about our world, what’s cool about our world, what we can improve on.”

One of Kaulike’s biggest motivators is his love for his family. His goal is to someday be “financially secure to the point where … we can move someplace where we’re comfortable, and we like it,” Pescaia said.

He hopes to one day buy a house for him and his parents.

“Sometimes, I get to sit with my father and listen to songs that he used to listen to growing up, which in turn influenced me in my singing and songwriting,” he said.

A COMPOSER After mastering the ‘ukulele, and teaching himself to play different instruments, Pescaia furthered his musical abilites and began writing and singing his own melodies, something that he said “came naturally.”

The songs that he has composed himself, which are his proudest works, are compositions of mele ʻāina, songs of the land, and mele pana, songs of places. These songs were written from his imagination

alone and represent his love for his culture.

Mostly, he writes in Hawaiian.

“As a Hawaiian lyricist and songwriter, it’s important for me to know stories and the history of Hawaiian culture as well as who my ancestors are,” he said.

Practicing every day to hone his skills, Pescaia plies the elegant poetries that are “exclusive to Hawaiian culture,” but he also tries out various genres to expand his range and be comfortable with playing just about anything.

“For some reason, I just had this never-ending hunger to learn more about the art I was exposing myself to,” he said.

Kaulike says many of the songs he has written recently were based on real-life experiences, many to an almost comedic effect.

“I wrote a song about not being able to fit in the emergency exit seats [in an airplane], I’ve written a song about people in an enamored phase, just, going around town and hooking up with the first person they see … it’s just reality, not that I experienced that,” he said.

Kaulike says he has a deep interest in writing songs about reality.

“It makes you focus on what people do every day, makes you kind of think about how our world is, or what’s wrong about our world, what’s cool about our world, what we can improve on.”

A RENAISSANCE MAN If he isn’t performing, Kaulike focuses on improving one of his skills in other areas like sound engineering, producing music, and Hawaiian storytelling. To stay ahead in a competitive market, he has constructed his own recording studio in his home.

There, he recorded his entire first album, playing and recording all of the instruments as well as the vocal tracks. He said he made it harder on himself than it had to be, constantly sending files, artwork, and the other components necessary to produce an album to his associates on Oʻahu.

He is working with other artists in-studio as well.

IKAIKA BLACKBURN Ikaika Blackburn has been another valuable mentor to Kaulike. Blackburn is a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winner and plays

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Photo used courtesy of Kamehameha Schools

Uncle Sheldon Brown and Kaulike Pescaia perform He Will Carry You at a Kamehameha Maui summer program in 2015. Looking at the photo, Brown’s daughter (Kaulike’s teacher) said, “Oh the memories!” ‘ukulele as a founding member of the band, Nā Hoa. Kaulike and Blackburn have performed in many shows, including performances in the mainland United States and even Japan.

“We’ve been playing music together for an eternity,” Pescaia said. “He taught me a lot about life, a lot about music, and musicianship.”

SHOOTING FOR THE STARS Kaulike has already performed at multiple gigs on-island and across the globe.

He has opened for legends such as Uluwehi Guerrero and has been tapped for collaborations with many major Hawaiian artists.

“They know he’s perfect, that’s why,” his former teacher Kumu Kalei said, “and reliable. There are very few musicians who are perfect like him.”

In October, Kaulike performed with Leomana at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards, where he was also a four-category nominee for his debut album.

Last December, he released Kuʻu Huakaʻi, and this year he was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Music Album of the Year, Hawaiian Language Performance and Most Promising Artist.

In November, his album reached number four on the Mele.com top 10 list.

These awards come after a long history of winning.

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When he was eight years old, Pescaia won first place at the 2008 Shower of Stars competition.

He placed first at the Hula Grill Youth ‘Ukulele Players Contest for five consecutive years from 2009-to-14, and as a freshman in high school, he won Male Vocalist of the Year, Best Overall Winner in the high school division, and Grand Prize Winner at the 2014 Brown Bags to Stardom statewide talent contest.

WHERE IS HE NOW? One of the last things Kaulike did in relation to this album was set up promotional shows and CDrelease concerts. Then COVID-19 hit.

“Everything was canceled right around the same time. My weekly gig that I was doing … they had closed down for renovations, and so that was right, perfect timing, just in time for the pandemic, but then all my other gigs pretty much got canceled. I was only doing a few gigs, here and there,” he said.

Now, Pescaia is making music from home and collaborating with other musicians.

Click here to hear him perform at the Halloween live stream All in Da Aloha concert.

Kaulike had planned to start working on a second album this year; but, a new job opportunity arose, and the album has been tabled for the time being.

FULL CIRCLE That new job opportunity?

Pescaia is in talks with local

recording legend Kuana Torres Kahele, a founding member of Nā Palapalai, the group that sang the first song that Kaulike hummed when he was just two years old.

“Kaulike and I have shared the stage together a number of times.

I have watched him grow as a young child, just starting out on the music scene, to the man and musical prodigy that he is today,” Kahele says.

Kahele had recently been faced with an open spot in his group after the sudden death of his friend and band mate Ioane Burns in September. He needed someone on guitar and back-up vocals.

When Kahele and Kaulike were conversing one day, Pescaia said, “I just offered myself ‘cause I grew up on their music, yeah?

And I’d grown kind of close to him and his band over the years, so I offered myself, and they took me in, and they sent me all these songs. All of Kuana’s songs, there must have been like 60 songs, and that’s not even half of the songs that he’s released, so I’ve been stuck in here studying the past few days.”

The opportunity comes at the right time for Kaulike.

“My shortly lived solo career felt like a lot of pressure. I’ve been doing solo for a long time, but I hadn’t released an album until last December so it’s barely even been a year since I released it, and the shows that I have gotten, it just feels like a lot of pressure,

and the more I think about it, it kind of stresses me out because now all the burden and all the responsibility falls on me because it’s my name.”

On the verge of superstardom, Kaulike said he welcomes the chance to perform with Kahele.

“I’m so young. I’m only 21. I didn’t feel like a solo career is a must right now. At one point I did because that was one of my only options, but with this new job opening up, I can actually take a break and just be in the shadow and back somebody else up and not be in the spotlight so much, so it’s kind of a relief, honestly,” he said.

“It really isn’t that often that someone like Kaulike comes along. There’s always just a very small handful (if any), every 10 years or so. Kaulike has the capacity to do so much. Sky is the limit! I look forward to seeing him blossom even more,” Kahele said.

Currently, Kaulike is attending the University of Hawaiʻi, Maui College. He is working toward an associate’s degree in liberal arts.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he used to perform nearly every Sunday at the Seascape Maʻalaea Restaurant located at the Māʻalaea Harbor Village and then at the Grand Wailea Resort. Now, Pescaia has been working towards releasing more music digitally.

“If I didn’t have music in my life, I don’t know what I would do with my time. Music allows me to be free and express myself through whatever words I want,” Pescaia said. “I don’t have to stick to certain ideas and try to please anyone but myself. It’s a practice that allows me to express myself freely, and I like being able to be open.”

Kaulike recognizes the importance of music and its ability to bring people together.

“If you can craft your own sound, make friends with anybody and everybody, and spend almost all day writing songs, recording music, and performing, you’ll be more successful than you could ever imagine,” he said, which is exactly what he is doing.

Keep up with Kaulike Pescaia on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube Music, and Spotify.

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By Dyllyn Kahalehau and Max Bielawski

Cruz Braun

17 School: Kamehameha Schools Maui, senior

Musical Activity: Production, Guitar, Bass, and Piano When he began: He has been singing and playing ʻukulele since he was a child. He started learning guitar, bass, and music production at the start of his freshman year.

Where his passion comes from: “I dance hula, and through hula I got to meet a bunch of professional Hawaiian musicians and I got to see the business of music...the performing the composing, and also the artform of it.”

Any musical heroes growing up?

“My hula brothers of Nā Wai ʻEhā… I grew up with them and I’ve always been around their music. Watching them go through their come up... They just came home with three Nā Hōkū Awards.

It shows that there’s potential in music if you really love it and if you really work hard.”

What’s your style?

“I think right now I’m still in the process of finding that. I’ve been making all kinds of different styles of music. I’m just trying to figure out what’s best for me, what style is the most fun, and what style of music I do best. I think at the end of the day it’s going to be a mixture of all the things that I like. A little bit of indigenous and traditional kind of music mixed in with some new stuff that I like.”

Has COVID-19 affected you?

“I think it ultimately benefited me a lot. Because of COVID-19 a lot of the stuff I would normally do was canceled. I just had all of this free time on my hands; It allowed me to build a studio in my home and it also just gave me a lot more time to work on my craft. Instead of doing sports or hula I’ve been doing lots of music lately and it’s ultimately helped me.”

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Find Cruz on Instagram @cruzz.b

Photo courtesy of Cruz Braun

Chase Fevella

19 Chase Fevella, the valedictorian of the Kamehameha Schools Maui class of 2018, performed at his high school graduation, playing a cover of Take On Me, making it the first time for him to both sing and play guitar in front of a large audience.

School: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, sophomore Major: Electrical engineering Instrument: Acoustic guitar How long?

6 years. “I haven’t taken any formal classes. Most of what I’ve learned is from listening and trying to replicate what I’ve heard. I’ve had three informal lessons: two with my uncle and one with slackkey master, George Kahumoku Jr. While playing for Kamehameha Schools Maui’s Hawaiian Ensemble, I greatly enhanced my understanding of music.

Style of guitar-playing: Slack-key guitar and Flamenco Inspiration: His uncle from Molokaʻi was staying at his house for a few days, and with him he brought his guitar.

“One morning I heard him playing a beautiful slack-key style song.

I got hooked and wanted to learn how to create that sound myself.”

Greatest influence: Jeff Peterson. “I was introduced to slack key when he was young, and as he got older he was able to mix classical and jazz guitar into his music. I like the idea not being confined to one particular style or genre.”

Favorite song to perform: Sleep Walk by Santo & Johnny Future: “I want to get back to performing more music after COVID-19 ends.”

Photos courtesy of Chase Fevella

Find Chase on Instagram @chasefevella

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Emily Tsuhako

20 School: University of North Texas High School: Maui High School, 2018 graduate Grade: Junior in college What is your major?

“I’m a major in music education (band track) with a focus on flute and voice.”

Why did you choose to major in music?

“I was exposed to music at a very young age, so when it came time to choose my major I always had teaching as a backup because my mom is a teacher. It just made sense for me to fuse both teaching and music together.”

Most memorable performance?

“The Kamehameha Tournament of Bands competition which was held on Oʻahu was my most memorable performance because that was when I received a boutonniere even though I thought I did terrible.”

Biggest influencer?

“My mom is my biggest influencer because she’s a teacher, and that’s why I got into teaching. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for her.”

Favorite song to play?

“I really like the Mozart Concerto in G Major and the Poulenc Sonata.”

What are your future plans after college?

“I plan to come home and teach either elementary music or high school choir.”

Find Emily on Instagram @tsuhakomusic and @ae.music.covers

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Mudcorpse

6 Schools: Maui High, Kihei Charter Group members: Cole (17) Maui High, Mason (16) Kihei Charter, and Ranon (18) Maui High School 2020 graduate.

What instruments do you guys play?

Mason on drums, Cole on rythm guitar and Ranon on bass.

What started the band?

“Our love of music and metal.”

Do you play original songs or does the band do covers?

“We produce originals, and occasionally we’ll do covers during shows.”

Favorite cover to perform?

Recreant by Chelsea Grin What is the band working on?

“We are curently working on our first album called Bodyfarm.”

Before COVID-19 where would the band perform?

“Before COVID-19, we were working a lot on new music and playing live shows as much as possible at request music in Wailuku and Vagabond Tattoo located in Kihei.”

Where do you see the band in 5 years?

“We see the band touring and graduating from musicians institute in 5 years as well as recording our second album.”

Biggest influencers?

“Our biggest influences are Lamb of god, Slipknot, Suicide Silence and Korn.”

Upcoming show: December 4, at Vagabond Tattoo, 7-9 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Mudcorpse

Find Mudcorpse on Instagram @mudcorpse_band. Also on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

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How-to: Play the ‘ukulele by savannah rose dagupion, editor The ʻukulele is a staple instrument in Hawaiian music. Almost everyone in Hawaiʻi knows how to play the ʻukulele--or at least a chord--but if you don’t, don’t stress! Here is a quick and easy tab on how to play the popular song “Kaulana Nā Pua” by Ellen Kehoʻohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast.

Kaulana Nā Pua by Ellen Kehoʻohiwaokalani Wright Prendergast is an important song

Kaulana Nā Pua C F C Kaulana nā pua aʻo Hawaiʻi F C Kūpaʻa ma hope o ka ʻāina G7 Hiki mai ka ʻelele o ka loko ʻino C Palapala ʻānunu me ka pākaha F C Pane mai Hawaiʻi moku o Keawe F C Kōkua nā Hono aʻo Piʻilani G7 Kākoʻo mai Kauaʻi o Mano C Paʻapū me ke one Kākuhihewa F C ʻAʻole aʻe kau i ka pūlima F C Ma luna o ka pepa o ka ʻēnemi G7 Hoʻohui ʻāina kūʻai hewa C I ka pono sivila aʻo ke kanaka

to the Hawaiian race because it talks about the annexation of Hawaiʻi.

Prendergast was a close friend to Queen Liliʻuokalani, and this song expresses people’s opposition to surrendering to the United States government.

Members of the Royal Hawaiian Band voiced their loyalty to Queen Liliʻuokalani and their unhappiness with the takeover of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Prendergast captured their feelings of rebellion through this song. Today, it still holds great importance to Hawaiians, being a source of inspiration and encouragement to perpetuate the culture despite past hardship.

With words like aloha ʻāina (love for the land) and kūpaʻa (stand firm), this song still has great relevance to today’s issues with the environment and the government. While this song is

powerful and meaningful, it’s still an easy song to learn how to play If you’re a beginner, start off by just strumming once and practice changing from chord to chord.

The better you get, the easier strumming will get.

Don’t worry about being a professional strummer right away.

Just follow the directions for using the “tabs” below to play this beloved favorite.

In tabs, the vertical lines represent strings, and the strings are numbered one through four from right to left. The horizontal lines are frets. Your fingers will be placed on the strings in the frets where the dots are.

C

F

• To play a C: Place your ring finger on the first string, third fret.

•

•

To play an F: Place your pointer finger on the second string, first fret, and place your middle finger on the fourth string, second fret at the same time.

G7

•

• • To play G7: Place your pointer finger on the second string, first fret; your middle finger on the third string, second fret; and your ring finger on the first string, second fret.

F C ʻAʻole mākou aʻe minamina F C I ka puʻu kālā o ke aupuni G7 Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku C I ka ʻai kamahaʻo o ka āina F C Ma hope mākou o Liliʻulani F C A loaʻa ē ka pono o ka ʻāina G7 Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana C Ka poʻe i aloha i ka ʻāina

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Local artist Jordan Soon plays his custom ‘ukulele, but you don’t need a special one like him to start playing! Learn more about rising star Jordan Soon in his story on page 19.

How-to: Identify Hawaiian song-writing techniques by savannah rose dagupion, editor Modern Hawaiian songwriters have termed techniques used in songs as “wehi mele.” The term came about when people started to analyze music even though these traits have been present throughout history. Wehi mele has been important for the survival of Hawaiian songs, making them more memorable and catchy. Let’s take a look at a popular Hawaiian song and see how five different wehi mele can enhance the meaning and musical value of it.

Inoa: Names of places or people.

Hōʻailona: Elements of nature as symbols, enhances meaning and evokes feelings.

Kaʻina: Ordering items (biggest to smallest, importance, east to west); connects the ideas of a song to keep it from being disorganized or disjointed.

Pīnaʻi: Ideas or lyrical elements that are repeated strategically for emphasis. Pinaʻi also connects verses by adding a common theme.

Kuʻina Kani: Equivalent to rhyming in English songs. Kuʻina kani is when the last part of a line sounds similar to the first part of the next line, could be the same vowel sound or possibly a perfect rhyme. This makes a song catchy and helps with flow.

Here, hōʻailona is used because pua (flower) symbolizes children.

Also, Hawaiʻi is an example of inoa.

Kaulana nā pua aʻo Hawaiʻi Kūpaʻa ma hope o ka ʻāina Hiki mai ka ʻelele o ka loko ʻino Palapala ʻānunu me ka pākaha

Famous are the children of Hawai`i Ever loyal to the land When the evil-hearted messenger comes With his greedy document of extortion

This verse has kaʻina because it goes in the order of the islands from Oʻahu’s perspective which is why it goes up the island chain and ends at Oʻahu. This verse also has many examples of inoa.

Pane mai Hawaiʻi moku o Keawe Kōkua nā Hono aʻo Piʻilani Kākoʻo mai Kauaʻi o Mano Paʻapū me ke one Kākuhihewa

Hawaiʻi, land of Keawe answers The bays of Piʻilani help Mano’s Kauaʻi lends support And so do the sands of Kākuhihewa

ʻAʻole aʻe kau i ka pūlima Ma luna o ka pepa o ka ʻēnemi Hoʻohui ʻāina kūʻai hewa I ka pono sivila aʻo ke kanaka

No one will fix a signature To the paper of the enemy With its sin of annexation And sale of native civil rights

ʻAʻole mākou aʻe minamina I ka puʻu kālā o ke aupuni Ua lawa mākou i ka pōhaku I ka ʻai kamahaʻo o ka ʻāina

We do not value The government’s sums of money We are satisfied with the stones Astonishing food of the land

Ma hope mākou o Liliʻulani A loaʻa ē ka pono o ka ʻāina Haʻina ʻia mai ana ka puana Ka poʻe i aloha i ka ʻāina

We back Liliʻulani Who has won the rights of the land Tell the story Of the people who love their land

Pinaʻi is represented in this song through the word ʻāina because it is mentioned in almost every verse. ʻĀina as pinaʻi in this mele is important because it emphasizes the meaning to Hawaiians.

ʻĀina and haʻina represent kuʻina kani because they have a similar sound. This leads the second line into the third line well.

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maui

master

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By Savannah Rose Dagupion

Camarillo influences generations “No be shame” is the number one rule in Rama Camarillo’s ʻukulele classroom, so you’d be surprised to find out that as a child, he himself had that same struggle with coming out of his shell to perform.

“Whenever guests came over to our house, it was always my brother and sister performing for them, and I would hide,” he said.

Now Camarillo is a well-known and respected ʻukulele teacher at Kamehameha Schools Maui middle school in Pukalani, Maui, but looking back at his childhood experience, this definitely didn’t seem like the career path he would take.

As a child, Camarillo’s relationship with music was like a hidden passion. It took a lot of time and practice being comfortable with playing the ʻukulele and singing in front of people. With a father who was a band and ‘ukulele teacher at his very own middle school, there was no escape from the inevitable music lessons.

“My dad was my teacher, so I couldn’t make any kine. …When it was time to sing in front of the class–I hated singing–so every time I would go up in front of the class, my knees would shake, but I couldn’t make my dad shame, so I had to do it.”

Unlike him, his siblings La Roma, George Jr., La Yanessa, and Davin and his parents, George Sr. and Connie, loved performing, singing and playing instruments.

They would sing at parties and even traveled across the country to display their talents.

“My family went to the Smithsonian in 1989 to represent Hawaiʻi and the Filipino culture.

My brothers played the mandolin and bandurria, my dad played upright bass, and my mom and sister sang,” he said.

He mentioned that they got the opportunity through being recognized at performances for playing Rondalla music–Filipino music played by an ensemble of stringed instruments.

Because his siblings were so immersed in the family tradition of

music, Camarillo ended up learning and honing his own skills. During middle school and high school, his brother would help him get better at the ʻukulele, mastering the songs that their father taught.

“I was a slow learner, so my brother was very patient with me when he taught me. That’s why I don’t get mad if my students don’t get it right away because I am the same way,” he said.

This ended up being influential on his career. When Camarillo moved to Maui after graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, he started the first ‘ukulele program at Lāhaina Intermediate while also teaching 6th-grade

the mainland.

“I told myself that before I retire, I wanna take the kids to the mainland, and it happened when Josh Kahula (lead singer of Nuffsed) guys were in the 8th grade. That year we were fortunate enough to perform at Disneyland,” he said.

Camarillo described this performance as an opportunity of a lifetime.

Despite his success with his Kalama ʻukulele band, Camarillo moved on. After about 20 years of teaching at Kalama, he was obtained a new position at Kamehameha Schools Maui middle school, where he teaches

His dedication to basketball turned out to be a good influence because he got a full-ride basketball scholarship to the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo.

There, he studied elementary education, hoping to put his love for sports and basketball expertise to use as a P.E. and health teacher in his future.

“Both of my parents were teachers, so I think I basically went into education because of my parents,” he said.

Unintentionally, he fell into his family tradition of being a music teacher. When Camarillo got his teaching degree, he never thought he’d teach ʻukulele like his father

Camarillo instructs his ʻukulele students at Kamehameha Maui. In his decades as a teacher, Mr. Camarillo has influenced thousands of students, some, including his own sons, even went on to musical fame.

English. He then transferred to Kalama Intermediate in their second year after opening.

At Kalama was where his student ʻukulele bands became successful, and many of his past students are famous musicians today. They would perform all around Maui and even traveled to Hilo to connect with another ʻukulele class taught by his brother–who had taken over their father’s position as ʻukulele teacher at Waiakea Intermediate after 35 years of his teaching there.

He also landed his class a gig on

ʻukulele to this day; however, this is different from what he thought he’d do.

Throughout Camarillo’s early years, he was dedicated to sports, mainly basketball, especially in his teen years at Hilo High School. His team got to travel to Kansas City, Oregon and Washington, and they went to Japan twice.

“We’d been going to the state tournaments, and I remember my sophomore year we went to the finals and lost by four points!” he said.

and brother.

“My degree was more for P.E. or health, but when I got the opportunity to teach ʻukulele, it was like the stars aligned,” he said.

The tradition has even been passed on to his sons, Kalaʻe and Kamaka, who have been creating their own music and making their mark on music in Hawaiʻi.

Today, Camarillo still maintains his iconic curriculum, like teaching his students how to play Under the

(Camarillo cont. on page 18)

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(Camarillo cont. from page 17) Double Eagle March behind their heads or letting students express themselves in a little talent portion during performances. Ironically, these were the exact lessons that he dreaded when he was in his father’s class.

“All the songs that I teach are the songs that I’ve learned from my dad and my brother; like Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White.

Who plays that?” he said. “...but it feels really good to be able to teach what I’ve learned as a kid.”

Unfortunately, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, he was forced to modify his curriculum.

Typically he would be able to have his class play all together and listen for flaws, but now that he has to teach over Zoom, the process is

more difficult.

Because everyone has different connectivity, it is almost impossible to play a song in sync. Virtual meetings also make it difficult to do small groups for singing and playing assignments.

“Over Zoom, because I can’t hear them sing and play, it’s easier for them to be shame,” he said.

Despite all the changes, Camarillo is still able to encourage his students and help grow the next generation of amazing musicians.

With Kamehameha Schools slowly integrating in-person learning again, Camarillo is able to demonstrate his passion for music and teaching live to his middle schoolers.

Performing and singing for the middle school ‘ukulele band is still up in the air, but Camarillo

continues to push through. He describes that a challenge right now is grading because someone can be the most excellent player, yet find difficulties working in group settings, especially through virtual classes.

Camarillo has left a mark on many students’ lives. He taught kumu hula and musician Nāpua Greig, Glenn Awong from Maoli, Vince Saures from Malino, Mika Kane (who got a prestigious grant to study under ʻukulele legend Byron Yasui), Greg and Ed Juan from Nā Wai ʻEhā, Marja Apisaloma from Ahumanu, Nā Hōkū award nominees Lukela Kanae and Koa Mattos from Kūikawā, and many more talented legends of today.

“Rama Camarillo is a big part of the reason why I pursued a musical

career. He inspired me, gave me the confidence I need, and gave me a great foundation to build on,” Joshua Kahula said.

Not only are people appreciative of him, but Camarillo is appreciative for being able to teach so many successful people.

“It makes me feel good knowing I was a small part of their education,” he said.

Grounded in family tradition, plentiful life experiences, and expressing himself through music rather than words, Camarillo has made an impact on many lives, even those who aren’t musicians.

He plans to teach as much as he can in the future and have his legacy inspire young people to lead successful lives and “no be shame.”

You can find Camarillo on Facebook, @rama.camarillo.

“I wasn’t expecting to win at all,” Kamaka said. “I was just stoked to have been nominated. It was a surreal feeling.”

Kalaʻe also said that he felt “incredibly honored, blessed, and grateful to receive such a prestigious award.”

Music has been the one constant in their lives; however, growing up they couldn’t help but immerse themselves into athletics, like their father.

“I definitely had other hobbies; sports being the one I became most passionate about. My passion for sports... led to me playing on the men’s volleyball team at U.H. Mānoa. When my collegiate sports career was over, music was still there for me,” Kala’e said.

Sports also helped push Kamaka in the music direction.

“I chose music because my basketball skills definitely weren’t good enough to take me past the college level,” Kamaka laughed.

As children, they both admired their father’s career and imagined that they’d follow in his footsteps; however, funnily enough, their father needed help to get them to pick up an ‘ukulele. He got an idea from a friend about how to get his sons to play.

“One day I asked my friend Kevin Brown from The Waiʻehu Sons, ‘How’d you get your son to play?’ and all he told me was to leave the instruments out of their case and around the house, and

eventually the boys picked it up,” Rama Camarillo said.

Now, Kamaka and Kalaʻe are music teachers, Kamaka at Kaiser High School and Kalaʻe at Kapālama Elementary. They have

for Henry Kapono at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center for a drivethru concert,” Kalaʻe said.

As for Kamaka, he says that he’s been “continuing to write and work on the craft for the individual music career. As for teaching, it’s just been a lot of brainstorming and experimenting with different ways of trying to keep the kids engaged with music in the classroom.”

They both agree that they never expected to work together, but are grateful for all the combined and individual success. Kalaʻe says that he realizes how blessed he is to have a sibling who shares the same passion.

Family tradition this strong isn’t common, which makes the Camarillo family unique. The Camarillo sons are not only pursuing their passions, but they’re adding to their family’s story.

“I never thought that I’d be doing music like how I am now. ...

I never really tried to pursue music until my senior year of high school that’s why, so I sort of started pursuing the music dream late. It’s cool that my brother and I are able to jam with each other because it’s also what my dad and his siblings did and also what my grandpa did with his siblings too. It’s like we’re continuing the tradition and it’s a proud type of feeling,” Kamaka said.

You can find Kamaka and Kalaʻe on thier websites.

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Camarillo brothers keep tradition strong by savannah rose dagupion, editor

Kamaka and Kalaʻe Camarillo are a pair of brothers who are 3rd-generation award-winning musicians and teachers, and they both agree that without their family’s influence, they couldn’t imagine they’d have gone down this path.

Their grandfather, George Camarillo Sr., taught ‘ukulele at Waiakea Intermediate; their uncle, George Camarillo Jr., took over their grandfather’s position after their grandfather retired; their father, Rama Camarillo teaches ‘ukulele at Kamehameha Schools Maui middle school; their aunty, Lehua Kalima, is a singer for the multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning group Nā Leo Pilimehana; and they have many more legendary family members whose talent is being perpetuated through them.

In fact, last month each brother won a 2020 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award.

Kamaka won R&B Album of the Year with his album S.O.U.L.: Songs of Unexpected Life, and Kalaʻe won Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year with his album Feel at Home.

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Photo used courtesy of Rama Camarillo

Rama Camarillo and his sons Kala’e and Kamaka get together at the MACC after a performance. their solo music careers, but when they come together they are known as The Camarillo Brothers.

Under pandemic conditions, they say work has been interesting, but their grind hasn’t stopped.

“I have been doing a lot of livestreams for different hotels and events and am trying my best to adapt to the times we’re in. I just had the honor of performing a livestream concert at Hawaiʻi Theatre with Robi Kahakalau.

Most recently, my brother and I got to come back to Maui to open

Jordan Soon, a new Maui voice

by Max Bielawski, editor

As a child, Jordan Soon would sing and play ʻukulele in front of his family, and from there, his passion for music became a career.

Recently, Soon released his first single, Flashlight, on November 4, his birthday, at the young age of 18. Currently Soon is a senior at Baldwin High School.

“I just really wanted to put out music, because at this time it’s so hard for everyone, and I believe that music is just like medicine,” Soon said.

Soon says his song is about having a flashlight to guide your way.

“The people around you are the flashlight that’ll help you get through dark times,” he said.

Soon says he got interested in music at a young age. He used to sing karaoke and play the ‘ukulele with his family.

“My uncle plays ʻukulele all the time, and we always sing karaoke. We are always musically talented. It’s like a family thing.

Music has been at every party or every get-together. Music had to be there, or else it wasn’t really a get together,” he said.

Soon hasn’t taken any music classes while in school, but he did take both vocal and piano lessons on his own time.

“Music has always been a part of my life. I never really knew what I could do with music until I met other musicians and saw their passions, and you could do a lot with your vocals.”

Soon started his musical career when he was offered to join Girl Meets Boy at the beginning of 2017. The band consisted of Soon and four of his peers.

“This was really the first time I ever sang in public,” he said.

The band performed multiple gigs, including a performance at the Maui AgFest, Baldwin’s Block Party, and multiple other private events.

“That’s when I realized that I could do music as a career, so I decided to branch off into my own music.”

From there, Soon entered the music scene professionally in late 2017 at the age of 15, when he

Photos used courtesy of Jordan Soon’s Music

Above, Jordan Soon performs at the BOB BASH in the Lahaina Civic Center in 2019. Below, Soon performs at an opening for Kalani Peʻa’s Snow Fall Concert at the Queen Kaʻahumanu Center in 2017. started to book his own gigs. The brand that he created is known as Jordan Soon’s Music.

He was offered by Nā Hōkū Award winning artist, Kimié Miner, to open for her at Wailuku’s First Friday back in 2017. This is where Soon was able to take off with his career.

To Soon, Miner is his biggest mentor. Soon had only done a few gigs at the time. For him, performing at the First Friday performance was a giant stepping stone in his career.

“That was my first time introducing Jordan Soon to Wailuku. It was so good to meet my community because that’s where I am from. That was when I realized I could really do this,” Soon said.

Soon sings both R&B and Hawaiian music, but prefers to sing R&B, the category where his newest single is listed.

Currently, Soon has surrounded himself with a team to help his music career. His producer, Robert Tsuhako, helped him produce his single. Along with Tsuhako, coproducer Liz Morales is another resource for him.

Because of COVID-19, Soon has seen a lot of changes in his schedule. A few weeks ago, Soon

performed in a livestream at the Grand Wailea, which was to support local vendors.

“Right now I’m just trying to stay inspired and get inspired, and just create music,” he said.

Soon says he has plans to release an original song sometime in January.

He plans to go to school in Hawaiʻi for business in order to learn more about the business side of his music career.

You can find Jordan Soon on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and Spotify.

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Kaulike Pescaia

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