How can I visit the big island of Hawaii and not seek out some traditional, old school Hawaiian music??
While searching for an expert in the budding tea industry in Hawaii, I was led to the Volcano Arts Center at the base of the restless Kilauea volcano. As an current owner of a tea room in Texas I was really hoping to film a tea farm. My attempts to explore the tea industry were not successful this time, but the little journey led me to the lovely Leilehua Yuen who is a wealth of knowledge of the heritage of these islands.
Leilehua Yuen performaing at the Volcano Arts Center
Yuen is extremely active in promoting Hawaiian culture through her love for hula, storytelling, performance, and music. The videos Yuen and I co-created are coming at a later date, but while I was documenting one of her shows at the Palace Theater in Hilo, I had the pleasure of filming an unexpected interview with the talented “Songbird of Miloli’i” Aunty Diana Aki. It was a spontaneous interview that wasn’t planned. (I love it when that happens) I felt privileged to witness an impromptu private performance of the Aunty Songbird (which I captured in the last few minutes of this video/interview).
“Aunty” is a Hawaiian term of endearment for an elder ,and Diana Aki’s humble, passionate regard for her ukelele and her music of Miloli’i was an inspiration. Her presence in the traditional Hawaiian music scene is critical as she is the keeper of a rare lineage of music from the once vibrant fishing community of Miloli’i south of Kona. Many thanks to people like Aunty Diana and Leilehua Yuen who help preserve this piece of musical history. Enjoy the interview…
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Good choice to put a black and white effect on it. Could use more hula dancing.
Love your blog and all that you are doing!!
Thank you so much for reading it!
Irene,
It was a pleasure to meet you at the theater last month. Thanks for sharing mom’s talent to the world. I hope you are able to send me a copy of her interview and the one currently taken last month. We will be back in Missouri in a couple weeks. Malama Pono. Shane