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It’s likely to be one of the highlights of the year on Saturday in the Castle Theater when Project Kuleana presents the screenings of some epic short films and performances by Hawaiian artists featured in them, including Palani Vaughan, Mike Ka’awa, Sonny Lim, Ernie Cruz Jr., Kainani Kahaunaele and Napua Greig.
Project Kuleana is the creation of three Native Hawaiians, Sean Naleimaile, Kihei Nahale-a and Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, who believe that kuleana (responsibility) is the essence of Hawaiian music – kuleana to the aina (land) and to the ancestors who developed a powerful connection to the land.
They began the project with the hope that it would serve as a catalyst for others to recognize their responsibility to allow music to become a cultural priority, and remind others, of Hawaiian descent or not, that they have a right to learn the history of Hawaii and a responsibility to perpetuate the cultural legacy.
Their first video production, a very powerful version of Eleanor Kekoaohiwaikalani Wright Prendergast’s protest classic “Kaulana Na Pua” (“Famous are the Flowers”), was released in 2013. Shot on four islands, it’s a remarkable achievement, featuring around 25 Hawaiian musicians captured live, performing lines from the song in their own communities.
Composed in 1893, the mele was written for members of the Royal Hawaiian Band who protested the violent overthrow of Queen Lili’uokalani and the Hawaiian Kingdom.
“Famous are the children of Hawai’i,” it begins. “Ever loyal to the land, When the evil-hearted messenger comes, With his greedy document of extortion.”
The video included performances by Vaughan on Oahu, Keali’i Reichel in Paia, Cruz at Iolani Palace, Sam Ako in Lahaina, Greig at Makena, Kekuhi Keali’ikana-ka’oleohaililani on Hawaii Island, Brother Noland on Oahu, Lim in Waimea and steel guitarist Ed Punua on Kauai.
“It’s definitely been a labor of love for everyone involved,” says Naleimaile. “We’re just three musicians who have daytime jobs, and we just had an idea to do it. It’s still a huge learning process. We’re just fortunate to have really good friends that are very talented.”
So far the historic video (which won the Audience Award for Best Hawaii Short Film at the Maui Film Festival) has racked up close to half a million views on YouTube.
“We worked with the 4 Miles video production company on the first one and sound engineer Dave Tucciarone, who has won a whole bunch of Hoku Awards,” Naleimaile continues. “And on the second project, we worked with Oiwi TV, and they were really cognizant in representing our vision on video.”
The trio followed up with another groundbreaking video, Liko Martin’s sovereignty anthem “All Hawai’i Stands Together,” which also included participation by Maui’s Reichel and Greig, who sings the line, “To stand as one beneath the sun, blessings from Haleakala.”
The Hawaiian project was inspired by the musical movement Playing For Change, which utilizes music to connect people and communities around the globe with a message of peace.
Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Johnson and a small crew traveled around the world filming various street musicians, and recording each of their parts, before blending it all together to create unique versions of classic songs like Bob Marley’s “One Love” and Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.”
With more than 150 musicians from 25 countries involved, the Playing For Change Foundation provides resources (facilities, supplies, educational programs, etc.) to musicians and communities around the world.
“Seeing those videos gave us the inspiration,” Naleimaile notes. “We were amazed what they have done with it. For us, we’re first musicians, and we felt music is a powerful tool to affect people. You add social media and it can be a very powerful tool to reach people.”
Naleimaile, Nahale-a and Lindsey-Asing realized they could capture Hawaii musicians performing important cultural songs, recorded and shot live on location, in places that were significant and meaningful to the artists.
So how did they get so many musicians involved?
“I have really good friends in the music business and we tapped into those relationships,” Naleimaile explains. “In the first one, we realized in asking these people what they have been doing over the course of their careers, they really had this kuleana, to their family, to their community, to the Hawaii nation. We realized that’s what we’re doing, we’re expressing kuleana through music.”
A musician and archaeologist working for the Hawaii State Historic Preservation Department, Naleimaile learned to play the ukulele from his great-grandmother. He has performed throughout the state, as well as in Japan, New Zealand, and on the Mainland.
Nahale-a is an acclaimed composer in the islands whose songs have been recorded by various artists including Na Leo and Mark Yamanaka. And Maui-based guitarist Lindsey-Asing performs with Greig, Ikaika Blackburn and Ekolu, and he played on and co-produced Hulu Lindsey’s 2014 Na Hoku-winning album, “A He Leo Wale No E.”
The three musicians also perform as the group Ho’a. They will back up the artists at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center show, and will make their Mainland debut in October at the Berkeley Hawaiian Music Festival.
Project Kuleana’s latest brilliant production features a cross section of Hawaii’s musicians performing “Ka Na’i Aupuni.”
This legendary song honors the great chiefs of the islands- Keawe of Hawaii; Pi’ilani of Maui; Kakuhihewa, chief of Oahu; and Manokalanipo, king of Kauai. The words are attributed to Kamehameha Nui on his death bed, as he counseled the chiefs surrounding him. It includes the famous line, “E mau ke ea o ka ‘aina i ka pono” (“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”).
Among the musicians performing are Richard and Kai Ho’opi’i in Kahakaloa, Ata Damasco next to a taro field in Kahakaloa, Robert Cazimero by the ocean on Oahu, Ron Kuala’au at Wailua nui Raiatea Helm at Kapuaiwa on Molokai and Kanahowailuku Helm in Kaunakakai.
Raising cultural awareness through creating memorable videos, they’ve generated a tremendous response.
“We go out in the community and people say, ‘I watched the video over and over and it brings tears to my eyes,’ ” says Nalei-maile. “And I’ll read comments on YouTube. The most touching one was from a gentleman stationed overseas in Iraq. He said, ‘Mahalo for the video, me and boys sit and watch and we cry and we think about home.’ It’s powerful stuff. You can’t imagine something that you did could have that much effect.”
They’re already planning their next video project.
“We have plans for a few more,” he concludes. “At the Maui event, we’re going to introduce a campaign to launch our newest one that is community-funded. We want to make it for the people, by the people. We’re really excited about the show. And I’m really excited just to see the videos on the big screen.”
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The global Playing for Change project released its latest video in July to commemorate the Grateful Dead’s 50th anniversary with an international cast of musicians playing “Ripple” from the Dead’s 1970 album “American Beauty.”
Filmed at various locations in Israel, Italy, Congo, Argentina, Ghana and the U.S., it features such American musicians as David Crosby, Jimmy Buffett, Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo, Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann and vocalist Keelin Garcia, joined by an international cast of performers.
* For more information, visit playingforchange.com.
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The fifth annual Maui Jazz & Blues Festival will kick off with a few events leading up to the main concert Sept. 12 at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kaanapali.
On Monday through Wednesday, Mark Johnstone and John Zangrando and guests will perform at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort’s Japengo restaurant from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
* For a full schedule of events, visit www.mauijazzandbluesfestival.com.
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Last week’s column on the third anniversary of Mick Fleetwood’s Lahaina restaurant included a review of the House Shakers’ sizzling performance without mentioning two of the primary members, lead vocalist/bassist Lenny Castellanos and keyboardist/vocalist Mark Johnstone.
Both Castellanos and Johnstone have toured with Fleetwood as members of his Blues Band and were featured on the group’s Grammy-nominated CD.
On Monday, the Shakers will be back at Fleetwood’s on Front St. for a Labor Day party, joined by saxophonist Rock Hendricks, who has worked with a number of leading artists and played on Paul Hardcastle’s smooth jazz, hit mix of “Rainforest” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”
* For more information, visit www.fleetwoodsonfrontst.com.