i am sitting here at my desk in my office at work, thanking God it's Friday and listening to some great Hawaiian music that i discovered during a trip to Oahu last year: i was in the Serenity Spa at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach and asked for the name of the beautiful instrumental that were playing in the relaxtion rooms. The group is called Kohala and the name of the CD is "Flying". i found the CD in a general store on the North Shore a few days later, and when i got home i found a few more CD's by this group on amazon.com
whenever i listen to this music i am "in Hawaii" again....ahhhhhh

Great music sure can transport you to wonderful places and good memories. I find myself back in Hawaii when I listen to some of my favorites by Kealii Reichel, especially "Kawaipunahele".

Check out this link for online Hawaiin music.
http://www.alohajoe.com/

Brother Iz' version of "Somewhere over the Rainbow" is ono! Still get goosebumps.

45 mo' days.

Im with Kal...Iz hit it with that one!
Did you know Iz was the only non king to get a kings burial in Hawaii?
Someone did a version of "Must be just like livin' in Paradise" (may not be the right name but those are the words. Any idea who did that one??? It reminds me of driving through the sugar cane fields on Kauai...alas...I am still in Oregon.

No, I didn't know that, panhandle. I love Israel Kamakawiwo`ole's (does anyone know how to pronounce that?) Somewhere over the Rainbow too, but his You Don't Know Me, with the sax and all, rips my heart out.

Aloha,

Hey all of you IZ fans, I was just listening to that cd in my car!

Hapa is another of my favs.

I wouldn't be without those tunes, especially in the cold of the midwest.

Aloha everyone!!

april- Brudda Iz is the easiest way to pronounce his name! but if you want to try Kamakawiwo`ole, it is pronounced in distinct 2 letter syllables.

The a sounds like ah (as in "say ahhh")

The wi is done as a 'v' and long 'i'

The o is long (like oh).

The ending -wiwo`ole- comes out almost like viv-ole (french viva and spanish ole). You sort of stop in between the two o's.

Thanks, lcuy!

Thanks for the new referral stella. I have Keali'i Reichel "Melelana" which is terrific and two of Iz's recordings, Facing Future which has the "Over the Rainbow" as well as many other wonderful songs and Alone in IZ World. Love Take me Home Country Road and White Sandy Beach of Hawai'i and, and, and, oh all of them!!!!

Anyone have any Keola Beamer? Any recommendation?

Nothing gets me back in the Hawaii state of mind like Jack Johnson.

Just went to the annual(?) Makana concert at the Hawaii Theatre on Saturday. That kid is talented! If you're looking for instrumental stuff to play while serving cabernet to your guests, Makana's stuff is very good. (I do mean cabernet!)

When I really miss Hawaii I put on my Olomana CD and close my eyes and listen and let the music take me back to Hawaii. I love that CD.

I like a lot of the old songs too - like "I'll Remember You" and "The Days of My Youth" by Kui Lee. Those two are timeless with me.

Another of my favorites is Danny Couch's "These Islands" - beautiful.

The other day I was watching a movie on Lifetime which was supposed to have taken place on Kauai - but was filmed in Australia? - and the theme song they kept playing was Iz' "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It was so great to hear it but I was really disappointed when the credits rolled and his name wasn't even mentioned. Too bad they didn't give credit where credit is due.

Buried my best friends father on my husbands birthday. Played IZ's "Over the Rainbow". Two weeks prior, husbands best friend buried his dad on Fathers Day. I cannot hear that song without bawling.