Back in 1984, three high school seniors: Nalani Choy, Angela Morales and Lehua Kalima, each who loved singing decided to enter the annual Hawaiian youth talent contest, Brown Bags to Stardom.
The three were given the name “Na Leo Pilimehana” (the voices blending in warmth) by their hulu teacher Holo’ua Stender at Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu and they would take home the top prize with their original song “Local Boys”.
And with winning the Brown Bags to Stardom, one gets the opportunity by getting a record label contract (the contest also includes winners and contestants such as Glenn Medeiros, Kolohe Kai, Jake Shimabukuro, Da Braddahs, Kapena, Tia Carrere, Daniel Ho, Justin, Ilona Irvine, Irie Love, Tracie Toguchi, Tani Lynn to name a few).
The trio released their album “Local Boys” and sure enough, the group would win a Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Single of the Year and as the group was riding sky high with having an award winning song and album, the trio decided to go on hiatus as each of the young ladies decided to attend college or start their own families and wouldn’t return a decade later with their second album “Friends” (which would go on to win a Hoku).
The group has since released 23 albums, won 23 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards including “Song of the Year”, “Album of the Year”, “Group of the Year”, “Contemporary Album of the Year”, etc. and the music runs in the family as Nalani Jenkins Choy’s niece Anuhea is also winning Hoku’s and among Hawaii’s best artist.
The trio continues to make music 37 years later and the group has shortened their name to “Na Leo” (the voices) and one thing remains consistent, the group produces smooth, soothing, melodic songs featuring harmony uniting in warmth.
In 2004, the album was released as part of its 20th anniversary as the album was out of print for a very long time, but now it can be found on digital music sites.
The album is no doubt different when compared to other artists from Hawai’i. For one, they trio can harmonize and in fact, I had compared them to the Andrew Sisters and I have called them in the past, the Andrew Sisters of Hawai’i and considering they did a cover of the Andrew Sisters song “Rum ‘n Cocacola”, I think the description fits well.
The first track on the album is a cover of “Stray Cat Strut”, a popular song in 1981 by UK group Stray Cats. You also have the Andrew Sisters cover of “Rum ‘n Cocacola”, a cover of the awesome Dan Fogelberg song “Longer”, a cover of Andy Cummings & His Hawaiian Serenaders” song “Get Hep to Swing”, and then you have the cover of the Stevie Wonder song “I Just Called to Say I Love You”.
But with “Longer”, you get the trio singing in English and then singing the song in Hawaiian.
The second track on the album is “Local Boys” and a fun track to hear the three harmonizing and playing ukulele, acoustic guitar and contra bass. The single won the group a Hoku but its one thing to see these girls singing about loving local boys but to see the three playing musical instruments and harmonizing on stage. But the song earned controversy when a news article came out about the song being racist.
I can’t see it as racist considering there are people in Hawai’i who are into keeping this local.
Blue eyes and blond hair don’t thrill me
‘Cause I’m in love with the local boys
Don’t try to convince me
Because the local boys are no ka ‘oi
It doesn’t matter what island
In the mountains or near the sea
If I want someone special
Local boys are the one for me
You may say I’m crazy but I’m right
Local boys will keep you warm
Throughout the coldest night
Wherever you go in the islands
You see the malihini on the street
But my eyes never wander
Because the local boys can’t be beat
But for those who are wanting more Hawai’i-style of tracks, you have “Beauty Hula”, “Koula” and “Kumukalidadidi” and in English, you have “Waikiki”.
And you also get a good balance original songs such as “Chalangalang Blues”, “Sweet Baby” and “Sweet Someone”.
Overall, Na Leo Pilimehana (now known as Na Leo) is one of those rare groups from Hawai’i. To see this trio emerge back then, with a song that wowed listeners but also received controversy, it no doubt made the group big news. And it gave people a taste of Hawaiian music that was nostalgic but also showing that these high school seniors can sing, can play music and were loaded with talent and potential.
While the group took a very long break to pursue college or having a family until they were ready to tackle on a second album, I can see why this album “Local Boys” would appear in the “50 Greatest Hawai’i Albums of All Time” in “Honolulu Magazine”.
Delightful and just fun to listen to, even after all these years! Na Leo Pilimehana’s “Local Boys” is a classic album that I recommend!
