THE SOUNDS OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC
There's a lot of diversity in Hawaiian music, but here are some of the most popular categories:
- Ki ho'alu, or slack key guitar -- Music featuring acoustic guitar with an open (or slack) tuning, often in major keys, and a wide range of improvisation.
- Ancient Hawaiian -- Usually spoken or sung chant, with or without rhythmic accompaniment from gourds or other traditional instruments. Often played in ancient, or kahiko, hula.
- Hapa Haole, or half white -- Popular Western-style compositions, mostly from the 1940s and '50s, written by white folk about the islands. Includes some famous ones such as "Pearly Shells," "Little Grass Shack" and "Lovely Hula Hands."
- Contemporary -- Ranges from syrupy, commercial pop to jazz to fairly traditional melodies and lyrics. Songs are in Hawaiian or English or can be purely instrumental. Crafted beginning in the late '60s and early '70s by a few groups, including the well-known Brothers Cazimero and C&K.
- Jawaiian -- Reggae rhythms with a Hawaiian feel. Popular with the younger generation and scorned by some traditionalists.
-written by: K.Dizon (seattlepi.com)
if you want to hear how different these types of hawaiian music are you can catch it at : www.whodaguyhawaii.com
