When I was in college, I was looking to purchase a few Hawaiian music CDs from our local Tower Records and saw this album which was released back in 1993.
What caught my interest was the name of the group and the album titled “Hapa”.
Hapa is a Hawaiian word to refer to someone of mixed ethnic ancestry, while in California, it was often used as a word of anyone who was half Asian and half another ethnicity.
Nevertheless, I purchased the album and absolutely loved it!
Hapa consists of Irish-American Barry Flanagan and native Hawaiian Keli’i Kaneali’i and their group name refers to how they were two halfs coming together and blending musical styles, influences and cultural backgrounds.
Needless to say, they were a major hit earning six awards including “Best Album of the Year”, “Group of the Year”, “Song of the Year” and “Most Promising Artist” at the 1994 Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts’ Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
But the group called it quits in 2001, although they have reunited over the years but those years with the release of “Hapa” and “In the Name of Love” back in the ’90s, for me their music was my commuting music.
I have since owned other Hapa albums since then and I enjoy each album but I suppose with their debut album, it makes me feel nostalgic.
The song “Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai”and “Lei Pikake”, songs that I love to sing in my car and just listen to over and over again. The harmony and vocals are just amazing!
And of course, the instrumental tracks such as “Olinda Road”, “Justin’s Lullabye” and “Oh My Love” are awesome.
If anything, every track on this album is wonderful.
While Hapa may no longer be together permanently, both Barry Flanagan and Keli’i Kaneali’i are still creating awesome music.
Flanagan still performs live on stage and is also a concert producer. Kaneali’i released his solo album “Kaua’i” in 2007 and he is happily married to Elisha (which you can learn more on their website).
