Hawaiian Concert Guide Show 701 - A Return To Love

Hawaiian Concert Guide – Show 701 Hoʻi Ke Aloha – A Return to Love Aloha mai kākou, and welcome to another beautiful journey through the sounds of Hawaiʻi. In this episode of the Hawaiian Concert Guide, we share a thoughtfully curated set of mele that flows from intimate contemporary recordings to treasured traditional expressions, with a playful stop in our Exotica segment along the way. Featured in this show are performances by Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter, Gregory Juan, Kamalei Kawaa, Les Waikikings, and Hoʻokena. Together, these artists bring forward themes of aloha, hula, cherished places, treasured lei, beloved flowers, and the enduring beauty of Hawaiian poetry and song. Episode Overview We begin with two selections from Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter's Hoʻi Ke Aloha - EP, setting a warm and inviting tone for the episode. Her recordings offer a graceful balance of modern polish and deep Hawaiian feeling, drawing the listener into songs that feel both personal and rooted in place. From there, Gregory Juan's album Kauluwehi carries us further into the heart of Hawaiian composition, with mele that suggest affection, honor, and poetic imagery. Kamalei Kawaa follows with songs from Mānaiakalani, including material inspired by native flora and enduring love. Our Exotica segment offers a change in color and texture with Les Waikikings and their lighthearted, lounge-inflected hapa haole stylings. To close the show, Hoʻokena reminds us why their harmonies and emotional depth remain so beloved in Hawaiian music. Playlist Pālolo – Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter Album: Hoʻi Ke Aloha - EP Duration: 3:17 Ipo Hula – Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter Album: Hoʻi Ke Aloha - EP Duration: 3:09 He Mele no Ka Pāoʻo – Gregory Juan Album: Kauluwehi Duration: 2:42 He Lei no Hiʻilei – Gregory Juan Album: Kauluwehi Duration: 3:21 Pua ʻĀhihi – Kamalei Kawaa Album: Mānaiakalani Duration: 4:06 Forevermore – Kamalei Kawaa Album: Mānaiakalani Duration: 3:13 Exotica Segment Intro – pik00 Category: Promo Duration: 4:10 Pagan love song – Les Waikikings Album: Hapa haole with a twist Duration: 2:46 Aloha means I love you – Les Waikikings Album: Hapa haole with a twist Duration: 2:08 Nou e Keali`i – Ho'okena Album: Ho'okena 5 Duration: 3:30 Pua 'A'ali'i – Ho'okena Album: Ho'okena 5 Duration: 3:38 Track Notes Pālolo – Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter This opening selection gently establishes the mood for the program. With a title that invokes Pālolo, the song feels grounded in a sense of place and memory. The performance carries a warm, personal quality, inviting the listener into the episode with tenderness and quiet strength. Ipo Hula – Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter A title like "Ipo Hula" evokes affection, beauty, and movement. This track continues the soft, graceful opening set and feels naturally connected to the language of dance and love. It is a fitting companion piece to "Pālolo," extending the emotional intimacy of the first portion of the show. He Mele no Ka Pāoʻo – Gregory Juan Gregory Juan brings a more traditional compositional sensibility, and this mele carries the weight of tribute and poetic intention. Songs beginning with "He Mele no…" often feel dedicated, purposeful, and rooted in the Hawaiian practice of honoring people, places, or cherished subjects through song. He Lei no Hiʻilei – Gregory Juan The imagery of the lei is central in Hawaiian poetic expression, symbolizing love, honor, remembrance, and adornment. This song suggests something lovingly woven together and offered with care, continuing the episode's recurring themes of affection and connection. Pua ʻĀhihi – Kamalei Kawaa With "pua" in the title, this mele turns our attention toward the floral world so often celebrated in Hawaiian song. Native plants and blossoms carry rich symbolic meaning, and this track adds a sense of natural beauty and delicacy to the program. Kamalei Kawaa's performance helps bridge traditional themes with a contemporary recording sensibility. Forevermore – Kamalei Kawaa This selection broadens the emotional palette of the episode with a title that speaks directly