Music is just about as important as food in Hawaii. You will never go to any gathering where music is not heard. It is part of island life. And this is an aspect of Hawaii you do not want to miss out on. Do not let the fact that some of it is in a language you do not understand scare you away or make you feel like an outsider. It is beauty and joy and humor will transcend this if you let it.
For many people Hawaiian music is Don Ho, ukulele and steel guitar. They have only heard the hotel music of Hawaii. But there is much more.
The traditional ki ho`alu (slack key) and falsetto style is still alive, actually enjoying a renaissance, but then so is all music of the islands. There is Hawaiian reggae, called Jawaiian, as well as pop and rock performers. Some of these artists, like Kealii Reichel and Hapa, and recently Israel Kamakawiwo`ole, have made some inroads on the mainland. Below I have listed some of my favorites to get you started on your way to appreciating the new and traditional sounds of Hawaii. Google PR -
Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame: Gallery, biographies and articles about honorees, related events, and discussion forum for hawaiian musicians. The Hawaii All State Honor Choir 2000: Online forum and information from this all state choral group. Hawaii Music Festivals: Performance tours, music festivals, vacation packages, workshops and competitions for marching bands, orchestras and choir groups with a focus on improving technique and achieving better overall musicality. Island and tour QUAD Magazine: Honolulu based e-zine representing urban island music culture in Hawaii. Scene-information, interviews, reviews, and events listings. Mountain Apple Company: Honolulu, Hawaii label. Artists include Don Ho, Na Leo, and Island Warriors. Catalog, message board, discography, news, and links. NahenaheNet: News, reviews, and discussions. Bounty Music Hawaii Ukulele Guide: Links to related sites. Also Hawaiian Koa ukuleles, hula implements, and a chord chart. The TaroPatch Network: Information about learning Hawaiian slack key guitar, links to other slack key resources and a message board for announcements and discussions about slack key. Hawaiian Jamz: RealAudio shows and information from this group dedicated to promoting and preserving Hawaiian music and culture. Hawaiian Music: A directory of Hawaiian music websites: individual artists, organizations, ukelele and steel guitar resources. The TaroPatch Network: Information about learning Hawaiian slack key guitar, links to other slack key resources and a message board for announcements and discussions about slack key. Mountain Apple Company : Jon de Mello and Mountain Apple Company are involved in almost every facet of the music and entertainment industry, including publishing, producing, recording, distributing, and staging performances for scores of