Now considered one of the seminal Polynesian albums, the 1972 debut by Hawaiian trio
Hui Ohana introduced the world to twin brothers
Ledward and Nedward Kaapana along with their cousin
Dennis Pavao. As suggested by the album's title, the group represented a sort of reclamation of traditional Hawaiian music, infusing the old island sounds with a youthful fervor and an inherent grace. With their thrilling three-part harmonies -- usually delivered in effortless falsetto -- and the emergence of
Ledward as a slack-key guitar ace,
Hui Ohana put their own stamp on the Hawaiian sound, blending in electric bass and guitars dripping with reverb. Standouts like "Nani Waimea" and "Kaloaloa" are among the album's more dynamic cuts, full of nimble guitar work, strong vocals, and inventive breakdowns. Elsewhere,
Ledward's graceful handling of wistful slack-key instrumentals like "Salomila" and "E Liliu E" lay the groundwork for the guitar legend he would eventually become. ~ Timothy Monger