Press Kit

New CD, Nā Mele Moku ‘O Keawe Celebrates Hawai‘i Island Through Song

Hilo, Hawai‘i’s Big Island (September 6, 2007) – The Big Island Visitors Bureau announces a new Hawaiian music CD released this week exclusively features songs and musicians from the Island of Hawai‘i.

The CD, titled Nā Mele Moku ‘O Keawe (Songs from Hawai‘i Island), is a group effort between Keoki Kahumoku, Daniel Ho Creations and the Big Island Visitors Bureau. Proceeds from the CD, which retails for approximately $15, will be used to support Kahumoku’s educations programs that perpetuate Hawaiian music on the island.

“I have always dreamed of bringing together our gifted musicians here on Hawai‘i Island and creating a beautiful compilation of Hawaiian music, which tells the stories of our island,” said George Applegate, BIVB’s executive director.

BIVB will distribute copies of Nā Mele Moku ‘O Keawe to meeting planners, travel wholesalers and travel agents who are key to the vitality of the island’s visitor industry.

“We are also excited to give back to the community through this project, by helping someone who gives so much to educate our island’s keiki about Hawaiian music,” Applegate said. “The funds raised will help Keoki share his passion for our heritage and music.”

Three-time Grammy Award winner and Hawai‘i Island resident Keoki Kahumoku, together with BIVB Senior Director of Marketing Kristin McGrath, and local boy-turned-Grammy Award-winning producer Daniel Ho, of Daniel Ho Creations in Los Angeles, teamed up to make the CD happen. The songs, which are as varied as Hawai‘i Island itself, celebrate different regions of Hawai‘i’s largest, most geographically diverse island.

For instance, Saddle Road tells the story of the infamous high-elevation road between East and West Hawai‘i, and was written and sung by Dana Leilehua Yuen. Ka Lā Hui Pua‘a, written by Larry Kimura, is performed by Daniel Kahikina Akaka, Jr. (Kalāhuipua‘a, which translates to “Gathering of the Pigs,” is the Hawaiian place name of Mauna Lani Resort, where Akaka works as director of cultural affairs.) And Keālia, the South Kona ranching district, was written by Lottie Koko‘o Kahumoku, and is performed by Keoki Kahumoku, a master slack key guitarist, singer and ‘ukulele player.

“Hawaiian songs boast about the beauty that surrounds us and experiences that tell stories of how we live as people,” says Kahumoku. “Our hope is that songs such as these continue to inspire others to live with much aloha.”

For more information and to purchase the CD, please visit www.danielho.com. Two of Ho’s previous projects were awarded the Grammy for Best Hawaiian Music Album of the Year: Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume One (2006) and Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar – Live From Maui (2007).

The CD will also be available at most Hawai‘i music and bookstores, including Borders.

NOTE: BIVB recognizes the use of diacritical markings, i.e., glottal stop (‘), macron (ā), in place names of Hawai‘i, such as Kīlauea. However, BIVB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses.

High-resolution digital images of the CD cover available upon request or by visiting www.danielho.com

Media Contact:
Jessica Ferracane
President, Irondog Communications LLC
Representing the Big Island Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 1093
Kurtistown, HI 96760
Cell: (808) 895-5740
Home office: (808) 968-0624
Email Inquiries