Search - Na Kama :: Kamakolu

"Kamakolu", Na Kama's third album release, is their first full-length album devoted to the Hawaiian language. Staying ever true to their sound, Na Kama presents seven original compositions, four classics and a chant taken from band member Brian Mersberg's own family collection.

Kamakolu features special guests: Mihana 'Aluli Souza on "E Maliu Mai", written by her mother, Irmgard 'Aluli, who is also featured in the song's introduction. Brian's kumu hula, Kaha'i Topolinski performs the Mersberg family chant, "Kaulana 'O Kohala."

Casey Olsen is showcased with both steel guitar on "E Maliu Mai" and the dobro guitar on "He Mana'o Ko'u Ia 'Oe." Kit Ebersbach, who is a long time friend and one of Na Kama's engineers for the recording (the other is popular island engineer, Milan Bertosa), performs piano on Ku'u Pua Lovely," an original composition by Hailama Farden (who also assisted in the band?s Hawaiian language performance).

To bring warmth and soothing in the ballads of "Kamakolu" the Galliard String Quartet performs the beautiful symphionic strings that really make the slow songs come alive.

Kamakolu (the "trinity"): a unique expression to share the musical talents of the new Na Kama, Brian Mersberg, Eric Lee and Danny Naipo. Kamakolu is a personal family name referring to the spiritual trinity of God, as well as a family name given to the third child in an immediate family. As the third project of Na Kama, this CD is fittingly named "Kamakolu." The masterful voice of Brian Mersberg affixed to the instrumental and vocal talents of Eric Lee is now enhanced by the incomparable musicianship of Danny Naipo, whose high harmonies add clear balance to the already sound blend of this established group. "Kamakolu" is synergism! And synergism is Na Kama! - Hailama Farden