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Hawaiian Music
The music of Hawai?i includes an array of traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Hawaiian folk music to modern rock and hip hop. Hawai?i's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size. Styles like slack-key guitar are well-known worldwide, while Hawaiian-tinged music is a frequent part of Hollywood soundtracks. Hawai?i also made a major contribution to country music with the introduction of the steel guitar.
Traditional Hawaiian folk music is a major part of the state's musical heritage. The Hawaiian people have inhabited the islands for centuries and have retained much of their traditional musical knowledge. Their music is largely religious in nature, and includes chanting and dance music. Hawaiian music has had an enormous impact on the music of other Polynesian islands; indeed, music author Peter Manuel called the influence of Hawaiian music a "unifying factor in the development of modern Pacific musics".
Are there different types of Hawaiian Music?
Many people that live outside of Hawaii think of Hawaiian Music as Don Ho favorites like Tiny Bubbles and the soothing sounds of the steel guitar. If this is all you know about Hawaiian Music, you are missing some great music. Hawaii probably has more musical artists and entertainers per capita than most other states and countries. Music is an integral part of the Hawaiian culture and is expressed in many forms including:
- Hapa Haole - These are typically songs written in English about Hawaii that are popular on Waikiki, in Lu'aus, and in American movies.
- Slack Key - Unique Hawaiian Guitar Style with 'slacked' or loosened strings
- Steel Guitar - Probably the most recognized style of Hawaiian Music
- Ukulele - Popular instrument that has been an important influence on Hawaiian Music
- Falsetto - Popular vocal style (We recommend Dennis Pavao and the Ho'opi'i Brothers)
- Jawaiian - Hawaiians have taken the Raggae sounds from the Caribbean and added a unique Hawaiian sound to it.
- Contemporary - Popular sounds of today often with a mixture of Hawaiian and English Lyrics. This style started to become very popular in the 1970's.
- Traditional -Hawaiian Lyrics, typically with Ukulele, Guitar, or Steel Guitar
- Chants - An integral part of the Hawaiian culture that is often merged with many of the different types of Hawaiian Music
Many artists combine these forms of music, sometimes even in the same song.
What is the History of the Ukulele in Hawaii?
When the Portuguese arrived around 1879 to work in the sugar cane fields, they brought the braguinha. The Hawaiians were impressed at the speed of Joao Fernandes fingers as he played this instrument. One story has it that the Hawaiians called the instrument 'ukulele', which means jumping flea in English, the vision that they saw as his fingers jumped across the instrument. Others say that it was the way that Edward Purvis, an English Army officer, jumped when he played the braguinha. There are many other stories about how the instrument got its name. The ukulele quickly became popular among the Hawaiian people and became a central part to their music. In the 1920's and 1930's the instrument was popular with the Waikiki beachboys. To this day day, when most people think of the Ukulele, they think of Hawaiian Music. For a complete history on the Ukulele, visit Brudda Bu's A Little Uke History. If you want to listen to some great Ukulele music, pick up any CD by the following artists:
- Ka'au Crater Boys - Troy Fernandez is da best!
- Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
- Herb Ohta 'Ohta-San'
- Pure Heart - One of the newest hit groups in Hawaii
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