Beyond Tiny Bubbles

Beyond Tiny Bubbles

Beyond "Tiny Bubbles"

Ask most visitors about Hawaiian music and they'll likely break into a lighthearted rendition of "Little Grass Shack." When they're finished, lead them directly to a stereo.

First, play them a recording of singer Kekuhi Kanahele, whose compositions combine ancient Hawaiian chants with modern melodies. Then ask them to listen to a CD by guitarist Keola Beamer, who loosens his strings and plays slack-key tunes dating to the 1830s. Amaze them with the ukulele stylings of young Jake Shimabukuro. Delight them with a sampling of Sean Naauao's breezy, often-whimsical local ditties. Treat them to the traditional and contemporary Hawaiian sounds of Kealii Reichel, a fixture on Billboard Magazine's World Music charts. Enthrall them with the soothing melodies of the Brothers Cazimero, still going strong after more than 30 years in the Hawaiian music industry. Share a recording by falsetto virtuoso Amy Hanaialii Gilliom, or play the late Israel Kamakawiwoole's version of "What a Wonderful World," which has appeared on scores of feature films and national television series. "Brother Iz," who died in 1997, was a native Hawaiian with a voice so pure, most of his songs were recorded simply with voice and ukulele. His last album, Alone In Iz World,was released posthumously.

These artists, like many others, are proving just how multifaceted Hawaiian music has become. They're unearthing their island roots in the form of revered songs and chants, and they're reinterpreting them for today's audiences. Granted, "Little Grass Shack" does have its place in the history books. After Hawaii became a U.S. territory in 1900, the world discovered its music thanks to touring ensembles who turned heads with swaying hips, steel guitars, and pseudo-Hawaiian lyrics. Once radio and movies got into the act, dreams of Hawaii came with a saccharine Hollywood sound track.

But Hawaiian music is far more complex. It harks back to the ancient islanders who beat rough-hewn drums, blew haunting calls on conch shells, and intoned chants for their gods. It recalls the voices of 19th-century Christian missionaries who taught islanders to sing in four-part harmony, a style that's still popular today. The music takes on international overtones thanks to gifts from foreign immigrants: the ukulele from Portuguese laborers, for instance, and the guitar from Mexican traders. And it's enlivened by a million renderings of "Tiny Bubbles," as entertainers such as Don Ho croon Hawaiian-pop hits for Waikiki tourists.

Island music came full circle in the late 1960s and '70s, when a few dedicated artists began giving voice to a resurgence of interest in Hawaiian culture, history, and traditions.

Today's artistic trailblazers are digging deep to explore their heritage, and their music reflects that thoughtful search. Musicians go one step further by incorporating such time-honored instruments as nose flutes and gourds, helping them keep pace with the past.

Check ads and listings in local papers for information on concerts, which take place in indoor and outdoor theaters, hotel ballrooms, and cozy nightclub.