Country icon Dolly Parton has teamed with Felix Cavaliere to record a new version of their popular song “My Hawaii,” as a benefit for the survivors of the Maui fires. Courtesy image

Country icon Dolly Parton has teamed with Felix Cavaliere, co-founder of The Rascals to record a new version of their popular song “My Hawaii,” as a benefit for the survivors of the Maui fires.

Dolly Parton. Courtesy photo

“My Hawaii” is available for digital download and streaming on Amazon and Spotify. All proceeds will go to the Maui United Way – Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund that provides financial assistance to community members who experienced loss and devastation from the fires in Lahaina and Kula.

In a spoken section during the new version, Cavaliere says “there are no words to describe what is in your heart,” and Parton adds, “that is so true when your heart has already seen the magic of all islands.”

Felix Cavaliere. Courtesy photo

Songwriter Hall of Fame and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Cavaliere’s connection with Hawaii is special, going back to 1966, when The Rascals landed in Honolulu.

With the intent of bringing love and joy to all his songs, Cavaliere went back to the studio to record “My Hawaii” from the “Once Upon A Dream” album. His new release features an added Nashville flare with Parton adding her heartfelt vocals.

“This song is a token of love and gratitude to the people of Hawaii, especially Maui,” Cavaliere said. “Words and music cannot do justice to their strength and beauty. We must continue to help them and support them.”

With No. 1 songs like “Good Lovin'”, “Groovin'”, “A Beautiful Morning”, “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long”, “People Got To Be Free” and “How Can I Be Sure”, The Rascals are considered the best ‘blue-eyed soul’ group to come out of the 1960s.

They immortalized their affection for the Aloha State with songs such as “Island in the Sun,” “A Beautiful Morning,” and the special homage, “My Hawaii,” which mentioned Maui.

While it wasn’t released as a single, “My Hawaii” was played by radio stations throughout the islands, and The Krush had a local hit with their version. “Coming to Hawaii at least twice a year, as part of our fee, they gave us extra tickets for our families,” Cavaliere said in a previous Maui News interview. “So it developed a real love for the islands, and that’s what inspired ‘My Hawaii’.”

As a solo artist, Cavaliere connected with a new generation of fans with his hit “Only A Heart Sees” in 1979. In 2019, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall Of Fame. Cavaliere’s message of peace, love and happiness endures in his music and is a reminder to never stop listening for the world’s beauty.

Over the years, Cavaliere’s songs have been recorded by Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, George Benson, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, and Maui’s Marty Dread.

Cavaliere would like to thank everyone who donated their time and compassion to make this song happen including Dolly Parton, Obi Steinman, Tom Rutledge, Richard Dennison, and Danny Nozell. Mike Severs played guitar and ukulele, bass guitar was Alison Prestwood. Steel guitar was played by Dan Dugmore and Pat Severs, and Catherine Marx played keyboards.

“My Hawaii” on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfRH_4qX-60.