Hapa

Hapa

<i>Hapa</i>, pidgin for "half," often refers to bi- or multiracial individuals in Hawai'i. It's an apt name for singer Keli'i Ho'omalu Kaneali'i and singer/songwriter Barry Flanagan's group and their 1995 self-titled debut album. An exhibition of and introduction to the "Maui sound," <i>Hapa</i> proves that traditional Hawai'ian music and modern rock can indeed be blended into something both hip and enduring--something they continue in their follow-up album <i>In the Name of Love</i>. The noninstrumental tracks are in Hawai'ian--some traditional, some translated by Flanagan--with English and Hawai'ian texts in the liner notes. This is truly an essential album for any Hawai'ian-music enthusiast. <i>--Erik Macki</i>