Click the arrow in the picture above for a music video preview of our CD
This campaign has closed but we fell short of our goal -- we have opened a second campaign at http://igg.me/at/NOHMolokai
Read on for more background...
Help Na Ohana Hoaloha - your family of friends - bring the spirit and message of aloha
to a world stage this summer
Here's what your contribution will do --
- Support the production of "Kai Moku - The Changing Tide" -- our new CD
- Support the band's European Tour launching the CD, June 30 - July 17, 2015
- Support our gift of aloha to senior diplomats from over 170 countries on July 7
Scroll down to see and hear our progress on the Kai Moku CD
Mo'olelo Ko Makou - "Our Story"
Front Row: Julia Hoe, center - Pat Benda, left - DJ Pelekai, right
Back Row: left to right - Uncle Willy Aki, Bully Aki, Scotty Schaefer, George Benda
Photo by Dewitt Jones
Julia Hoe in performance at Paddlers Inn, Molokai, Hawaii -- Photo by Marta Evry
Uncle Willy Aki, the band crooner mesmerizing the audience -- Photo by Marta Evry
Spreading
Aloha Every Sunday Afternoon
Na Ohana Hoaloha, a Hawaiian Music band based on Molokai,
Hawaii, has always had one basic goal: spread the aloha. Playing a live performance every Sunday
afternoon, Na Ohana Hoaloha has entertained thousands of local residents and
visitors since its inception in 2004.
The music, hula, and audience involvement offered by the band make its
weekly performance a “must attend” event for many.
The founder of the band was Ku’ulei Perez, a respected
kupuna (elder) of the Molokai community.
She set a high bar for band members of respecting Hawaiian tradition and
keeping a positive, constructive attitude with a constant focus on sharing the
spirit of aloha in ways that engaged as well as entertained the audience.
Led today by Julia Hoe, one of the founding members and a
respected kupuna in her own right, Na Ohana Hoaloha carries on those important
precepts.
The band is not paid for
its performances.
Tips are used to
keep the band operating with any balance used to support local charitable
concerns. The band frequently
volunteers at fundraising events on Molokai and makes other contributions.
Quality of performance is important to Na Ohana
Hoaloha. This has manifested in an
upwelling of creativity from band members, expressing themselves in original
music and hula choreography. In 2013, band member DJ Pelekai shared his wisdom about the
traditions of hula in a video by PF Bentley. In
2010, the Band released a DVD,
“Pretty Old for Our First Time”, as a
fundraising project for Akaula School, an important contributor to education on
Molokai.
Each Sunday, Na Ohana Hoaloha continues to welcome all who come to hear and participate. The tradition of sharing Hawaiian aloha perpetuates.
Pahu Hope Ko Makou - "Our Goal"
Spreading Aloha on a World Stage
Presently the band is producing a CD, “Kai Moku - The
Changing Tide”, for release during the Na Ohana Hoaloha 2015 European
tour, where the band will share Hawaiian culture, music, and hula on a world stage. The tour, beginning in England and continuing throughout Continental Europe, will reach
thousands of people from around the world. The anchor events will occur in Geneva, Switzerland:
- On July 7, the band will perform to an audience of over 1,000 diplomatic represenatives of over 170 missions to the United Nations in Geneva
- On July 8, the band will perform for several hundred representatives of island nations in a cultural exchange
Scheduled events will reach an audience from around the world. The combination of the band's performances and the gift of "Kai Moku" to the international community will engage and embrace audiences to leave a lasting message of aloha.
It will be Hawaiian Music for the
world.
Arriving in London and staying in Bristol, the band plans to
tour small venues in England.
These will include pubs and other informal places of gathering, where
“Hawaiian Night” will draw local residents to listen and participate in the
sharing of the band’s aloha.
The band plans to travel through Paris to Geneva,
Switzerland. There, scheduled
events centered around the extensive international community will bring
Hawaiian music and cultural practices to the world stage. Na Ohana Hoaloha is partnering with Ka ’Imi Switzerland, a Swiss Hula
Halau, organized independently but under the international roof of Ka ’Imi
Naauao O Hawaii Nei Institute. With dancers from Switzerland, Germany
and Austria – all students of Maui-based Kumu Hula Roselle Keli’ihonipua Bailey– it
will be a truly international celebration of Hawaiian culture.
Ka 'Imi Switzerland Hula Halau performs with chant and ancient forms of dance
After the anchor event, the band plans to remain on the
continent to perform additional events.
These events will again offer local residents a glimpse of Hawaiian
culture. Additionally the
relationship between the band and the local halau will demonstrate that the
spirit of aloha can stay alive and well in the context of inland, continental
communities.
Arcing from the spark of
these events, the spirit of aloha offered by Na Ohana Hoaloha may spread to
countries around the world. It
will reach diverse audiences and influential leaders in the global
community. It will bring Hawaiian
culture, music, and hula to the world.
All contributions graciously donated to our Indiegogo campaign will be used for the following:
- Record and produce the "Kai Moku" CD
- Share the CD as a gift of Aloha to the world diplomatic community
- Travel expenses associated with getting our band to the world stage
Watch the Tide Rise on "Kai Moku"
Join us on the adventure of recording and producing Kai Moku
– The Changing Tide as we put together our ideas for sharing aloha on a world
stage. See how an old fashioned Hawaiian
band brings its music to life with a combination of ancient instruments and
modern recording technology.
Here’s the play list, and you can listen to drafts as they
progress…
Track
|
Song Title
|
Story
|
Link to
Listen Now
|
1
|
Mokio Sunrise
|
Band
original, inspired by the land and work of the Molokai Land Trust on the
North Shore of Molokai
|
Mokio
Sunrise
|
2
|
Na Mele Ohana Hoaloha
|
Band
original, the story of DJ's paternal & maternal grandparents and an homage to all our kupuna (elders)
|
Na Mele Ohana Hoaloha
|
3
|
He Mele Ho'omano
|
Band
original, an homage to our kupuna (elders)
|
He Mele
Ho'omano
|
4
|
Miloli'i
|
Composed
in the 1930s by John Makuakane, this song tells the story of a trip from a
fishing village all the way to San Francisco
|
Miloli'i
|
5
|
Holoholo Fun
|
Band
original, inspired by a favorite dog pal of the band, spreading the spirit of
his doggy happy dance
|
Holoholo
|
6
|
Papohaku
|
Band
original, inspired by the three mile long white sand beach on the West End of
Molokai
|
Papohaku
|
7
|
Pa'akai O Molokai Mele Paikau
|
Band original,
a march to ease the burden of gathering and carrying sea salt from the rocks
during the summer
|
Pa'akai
|
8
|
Na Eha Hoku Polani
|
Band
original, inspired by the four strong women who have moved the group forward,
our “hoku” (stars)
|
Hoku
|
9
|
Mokio Medley
|
Band
original, an instrumental interlude inspired by the moods of the wild lands
of the West End of Molokai
|
Mokio Medley
|
10
|
Aloha Au I Ku'u Ohana
|
Band
Original, a tribute to DJ's immediate family
|
Aloha
Au I Ku'u Ohana
|
11
|
Sundrops
|
A band
original inspired by a walk in the restored native coastal ecosystems at
Mokio
|
Sundrops
|
12
|
Lau Hala Hula
|
A band
original, inspired by the story of a lau hala weaver
|
Lau
Hala Hula
|
13
|
Storm and Peace
|
A band
original inspired by the archeological sites at Mokio, and what it must have
been like to weather a hurricane in ancient times
|
Storm
and Peace
|
14
|
Ko'ula
|
A song
by Alvin Isaacs, Sr, a family song about Kaua’i around Hanapepe
|
Ko'ula
|
15
|
Change the World
|
A band
original, motivated by a broken finger and inspired by the need to keep going
|
Change the World
|
16
|
Na Ohana Hoaloha
|
A band
original, an expression of the Hawaiian spirit of the band
|
Na
Ohana Hoaloha
|
Here’s the story in pictures, you can watch us work and play…
Auntie Julia in the Porcelain Studio
Bully and George lay down rhythm tracks
Bully gets frustrated
Lunch break -- Pat's famous "Haleakala Pizza"
Bully back at work on the sound board
Sista listens to the mele (songs)
Auntie Julia in full voice
Pat works out t'rung line
DJ lays an ukulele track
Scotty adds a layer of guitar
Pat lays a vocal track
Julia, Scotty, and DJ bring in harmonies
Bully and Scotty work on just the right sound mix
Another session -- Bully thoughtful with his easter candy See's lollypop:
George in the porcelein studio for some serious vocal work:
Bully working it:
Jimmie the dog decides to help George sing:
Jimmie's view of George in the porcelein studio:
George starts laying on the ornamentation guitar tracks:
DJ recharges by making another pot of coffee:
DJ works out solo work for his ballads:
More to come...
Ka Makana - Our Gift to You
While we graciously accept all donations large or small, we would like to send as thanks the following gifts:
- Makana $10 or more: Na Ohana Hoaloha luggage tag
- Makana $25 or more: Na Ohana Kai Moku CD
- Makana $300 or more: Signed Dewitt Jones hula print
- Makana $750 or more: Original WaveArt painting
Mahalo - "Thank You"
A big heart-felt warm mahalo from our band to you for your support.
Your generosity and support is the "Mana", the "Power and Spirit" behind our music.
Aloha,
Na Ohana Hoaloha