Search - Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu :: Po'okela Chants

Discover your thirst for more Hawaiian music here

Erik G Olson | Greenfield, WI United States | 07/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD was even hard to find in Hawai'i when I was there in 2001. So it's great news that it is under distribution again. For every tradition of music, there are musicians who make it sound contemporary and fresh again. Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu is one of those. If you think hula is boring, or you flee from those tacky compilations played at mock Luau cookouts, you should check this out. More than half of the tracks on this CD are pretty serious chanting and drummimg. They draw on traditional lyrics, persons, and themes. Chanting as a word does not capture the range of things loud male voices can do. This CD has as much shouting out and heavy breathing as a rap. One track is whimsical: He Mele No Ka'uhinilele, the grasshopper song, our favorite song, is accompanied by acoustic guitar and slow drums. Another, Keaomelemele, is a keening dirge with heavy synth washes and reverb effects, and one of the few songs with female accompaniment (at least I think that's a female.) You will be able to get your head around these tracks more quickly than the others. But give them all time to grow on you, and work at finding out what the songs mean. For my wife and I, this has become our favorite album. When she is happy, she mumbles Hawaiian lyrics from it and smiles at me. Maybe we even learn a little vocabulary by now. We have actually lost our original copy from taking it on so many trips. Doubtless Ho'omalu received a lot of attention after the Disney tracks (in Lilo and Stitch). This is a good thing. However, those were not satisfying like this first album, and those tracks have not been played at our home since the day we played it seven times while stuck in a car wash (approximating an afternoon driving slowly around Kilauea watching for nene.) It is excellent news that Ho'omalu has finished another original album beyond this one. Also it seems that I get my other wish, as more music by Kamehameha Schools children is in distribution!Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu deserves to be heard. If you know nothing about Hawaiian music, this CD will make you interested."

Howzit?

Larry LaBrie | Alameda, California United States | 06/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am fortunate that I live in California, close enough to have my wife begin to dance in Mark's halau. He is amazing. His talents run far beyond what you hear on this CD. Lucky for you, you can hear him too, because it is available for you to buy, right now. I imagine if you are reading this, you are looking for a good CD. You have found it. It is a CD that once you get it and hear it, it will grow on you and you will not want your car and home to be without one. Honest, I need to replace my copy (my wife and I have our own so no fighting). Mine is pretty worn out. Reviews, I don't do them. But this time, I'm making an exception for an exceptional CD.
Question? what makes it so good? That's like asking what makes ice cream so good? All it's ingredients mixed to the right recipe. Mark's talents, skill, and soul are the ingredients; his ideas and visions are the recipe, and yes, you are right, the CD is like ice cream for the ear and connects to the soul.
Question? what are Mark's talents? Again, I am fortunate enough to also see them and hear them beyond the CD, but the music he creates is raw, real, and it hits you in a place you normally aren't familiar with music taking you, it's refreshing, and addictive.
Okay, enough, you get the point....so, check it out!"

Stunningly beautiful!

K. DeVore | Chicago | 01/20/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this many years ago during a trip to Hawai'i. I was hoping to find traditional chants unlike the lua hula. This was it. Mark Ho'omalu's voice is strong and even though I don't speak Hawai'ian, this music still calls to me. If you don't know what traditional Hawai'ian chants sound like, go to youtube and search "Kahiko Hula". That'll give you a good idea. Po'okela Chants is plain, it's simple, it's intricate, it's beautiful, and it's haunting. But note, if you're expecting ukeleles, you won't find them here."