If you said Don Ho, or
couldn't think of one, this is the page for you.
Whatever you think you know about what Hawaiian
music sounds like, it's quite possible that you're wrong. If you think it all
sounds alike, you're wrong for sure.
I've put up a couple of internet "radio stations." Unlike most internet radio, I'll tell you the name of the artist on each song, plus there's a popup box that will show you song title and artist. (They're on Live365, where you'll have to register if you're a new listener, and you'll have to log on each time you listen. It only takes a minute, and it's well worth doing.) If you're not very familiar with Hawaiian music,
these stations are here to introduce you:
Hawaiian 101; An Introduction to Hawaiian Music - It's over 350 of the best songs from the biggest Hawaiian albums from the last
quarter century (over 20 hours of music), a big jukebox set on Shuffle, just the thing to introduce you to what you've been missing in contemporary Hawaiian music. You'll hear old Hawaiian songs, pop hits, some reggae, some rock, and even a touch of Polynesian rap. This one's 32k stereo MP3Pro.
Slack Key Paradise - All Hawaiian slack key guitar, all the time. Also, some interviews from Dancing Cat Records artists mixed in. This one's set on Shuffle too, so you may hear the same artist back to back occasionally, but it's all great. 24k, so even dial-up connections should be able to get it.
If you're already a Hawaiian music fan, there's lots more to hear on the web;
visit my mikini mele page, the Hawaiian Music Machine, to find all the Hawaiian music
on the internet that I know about.
Here's some links to learn more about Hawaiian music:
Stevo's Hawaiian Music Guide
1997 article (by me) in Perfect
Sound Forever music magazine
Ukuleles by Kawika,
See the artistry that goes into the creation of a great concert
ukelele (and a great web page). Download some .wav files and hear the
differences.
Hawaiian Music Island. To buy Hawaiian music, or learn about artists and records, visit Auntie
Maria's site.
She's got a special place for you to start, the Introduction Page. Search
her database, listen to clips, buy at good prices. Don't forget, while
you're there, check her concert calendar.
Some great Hawaiian artists may
be coming to your neighborhood soon. Don't miss them.
And of course, I know you want to buy Hawaiian 101 logo stuff; it's here.
I hope this very short introduction will help you start finding some new
favorite songs while you're listening to the most beautiful music in the world, and
help you support the artists that make it.
Maybe I'll see you at a concert one of these days.
