When it comes to music from Hawai’i, Kapena is a well-known group since the late ’80s.
The original Kapena trio featured Hawaii-based Portuguese/Canadian Kelly DeLima and Tongan brothers Tiva and Timo Tatofi.
And the group has released a lot of wonderful music since they first emerged back in 1986, won many awards and after 30 yeas of music, the trio decided to call it quits in 2010 as their schedules became much busier, raising their family (other members throughout the years included Elton McKeague, Eddie Teo, Kainoa Delo) but to reunite once again in 2015 to celebrate their 30th anniversary.
And while the Kapena name continues thanks to Kelly DeLima and his wife and children (and grandson) carrying the torch, but for those who grew up listening to the original Kapena, back in 2015, the group released their 30th anniversary album “Kapena 30”. Featuring 29 favorite Kapena classics and also features their last original Kapena song “Till the Sun Comes Up”.
And as for the Tatofi, Tiva’s son Josh has become an award winning music artist.
And the album can be downloaded via Amazon Music.
It’s interesting to know the back story of how Kapena met by accident when they were kids. According to the story, Kelly Boy De Lima spit his gum over a railing at Kaimuku Intermediate School stairwell and it landed on the head of Timo Tatofi. Timo was going to give Kelly Boy a pounding unless he apologized, which the freckled Kelly Boy did just that.
But how a misfortune helped create one of the most popular Hawaiian reggae bands, and now to see their children carry on the torch is such a great thing!
While Kapena released “The Kapena Collection” in 2012, that album only has 14 songs, this has 30. The majority of the songs featured on “The Kapena Collection” can be found on “Kapena 30” (but you do miss two songs such as “Tukake Mai” and Bob Marley & the Wailers cover of “Mellow Mood”, but you can purchase those songs separately on Amazon Music).
But you do get hits that were featured on albums “Kapena”, “Kapena & More”, “Future Frontiers”, “Pure Energy”, “Electrifying”, “Kapena is Da Crew” and more.
So, classics such as their cover of Neil Diamond’s (made popular by UB40) “Red, Red Wine”, a cover of Gator Creek’s (made famous by Kenny Loggins) “Danny’s Song”, a cover of the Captain & Tennille’s “Do That To Me One More Time”, their awesome “Don’t Say Goodbye” and many of their original songs.
This is a wonderful compilation featuring Kapena. You get a good mix of Hawaiian Reggae such as one of my favorites “Rua Kenana”, “Sixteen”, and even islander traditional style for songs such as “Tiare Oe no Tahiti”, “Bula (Drums of the Islands)” and some wonderful ballads. It’s a good mix of songs showcasing Kapena at its finest.
If you are wanting to hear Hawaiian reggae and captivating songs from one of Hawaii’s popular bands, Kapena featuring Kelly Boy, Tiva and Timo, then definitely give “Kapena 30” a chance!
Recommended!
