YouTube Clips
I'm building up a fair collection of clips on my YouTube channel. Please stop by and look around. If you enjoy these clips you can subscribe to my channel and receive notification when I add new clips.
When we arrived in beautiful Kailua on the windward side of O`ahu I resumed my exploration of the Kawainui wetlands. The Go Kailua magazine had an article describing the efforts to restore pre-contact vegetation to Na Pohaku O Hauwahine, a state park located on the western edge of the marsh. When I visited I was enthralled by the beauty I found there, so I returned with guitar, recorder, and cameras to create a video. Thinking of flowers and water immediately called Wai O Ke Aniani to mind.
I started shooting videos only a few years ago, at first I just wanted some clips to put on YouTube. But my clips looked so terrible, I started looking for ways to improve them. Before I knew it I had turned into a full fledged video nut case. It's gotten so bad that I'm spending guitar and microphone money on video cameras! I recently acquired my first really serious camera, a Panasonic Lumix GH2, and I'm having a lot of fun trying to capture video worthy of this wonderful piece of technology. My first attempt is a rendition of the old mainland classic, Silver Threads Among the Gold.
We've heard from friends that Fourth of July and New Years Eve, the traditional fireworks holidays, get special attention in Hawai`i, so we thought we were prepared for our first New Years Eve on O`ahu, but in fact the reality easily exceeded our expectations. I captured a tiny bit of the action and included it in this tribute to Kane`ohe, a place we cherish for its beauty but even more for the friends who live there and have made us so welcome.
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Lynn has expanded her pet sitting business in an interesting way - she has begun advertising her services in Kailua, our favorite place to visit in Hawai`i. As a result, we were able to spend Christmas and New Years in the islands for the first time, and it was a lovely experience. I gathered together some of my video clips and added them to an instrumental version of the R. Alex Anderson classic, Mele Kalikimaka:
For the past few years I've been part of a Hawaiian string band, Kawili, with two `ukulele and my slack key guitar. The experience has been wonderful for me, I've learned lots of songs, improved my playing in several ways, and had some wonderful times. Sadly, our lead singer and bandleader, Shaun Gavagan, passed away on November 12, 2010. The week before his passing, I set up some cameras during a band practice and captured a few of the songs in our repertoire. I've posted them at the Kawili YouTube page. Here's Island Style from that session:
I don't usually think of myself as a teacher of slack key, but I do put on a workshop here and there. I've held workshops at the San Francisco Aloha Festival for several years. This year I tabbed out a very simple version of E Nihi Ka Hele and presented it at the workshop. Then when I was reviewing the clips from my August 6th Aloha Friday in Downtown Pleasant Hill, I realized that I could provide a video tutorial to expand on that tablature version. Here's a link to the tablature in several formats, and here's the video:
Please remember, the tablature is just a bare outline, not a detailed transcription of my playing in the video. I hope the split screen video will make it possible to figure out the extra licks and lines.
It's hard for me to believe, but we're celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary this year. I recorded a new version of a song I wrote for Lynn, Ka Makani `Olu`olu, or "The Sweet Gentle Breeze" and created a video with pictures from our years together.
One more from Aloha Friday in Downtown Pleasant Hill, this time my show opener, Nanea Ko Maka I Ka Le`ale`a. It's a naughty old song but since my version is instrumental you'll never know it. Uncle Raymond Kane created this arrangement, it sounds like he borrowed some licks from the wonderful Maile Serenaders take featuring Barney Isaacs, Gabby Pahinui, and Peter Moon.
Here's another clip from Aloha Friday in Downtown Pleasant Hill, a sweet old ballad called Ka Makani Ka `Ili Aloha which translates to "The Love Snatching Wind" or "The Love Snatched by the Wind." I've heard many stories about this song that tell much more of a story than the lyrics, so clearly it's a favorite that's been discussed by the musicians over the years.
We're back at Aloha Friday in Downtown Pleasant Hill and here's the first video from the series. One of my favorite Hawaiian songs is Ke Aloha written by Lei Collins and Maddy Lam. Patrick Landeza taught me the basics and I've played it hundreds of times since and never tire of it.
Our house-sitting job was across Kailua Road from the Kawainui Marsh and the more I studied this vast wetlands the more I was intrigued by its history and geology. Here's a version of Lei Nani shot on the jogging trail in the marsh, with footage from around the area, including the Ulupo Heiau.
Valentine's Day came while we were house-sitting in Kailua and Ninipo seemed like just the right tune to celebrate the day. I shot this video in the backyard where we were staying.
While Ledward Kaapana was visiting I shot some video of him and came up with a pretty unusual clip - Ledward playing Weeha Swing on a small guitar called a Tacoma Papoose.
I also got some clips when I opened for Ledward at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse. Here's my version of Isa Lei from that show:
When I played Doug Young's Acoustic Guitar Showcase I set up several cameras. This is a version of my Honolulu Medley as played that night:
One thing that makes most guitars players happy is a new guitar! I treated myself to a Composite Acoustics guitar after trying one belonging to a friend, and celebrated with a video of an old hula favorite, Papalina Lahilahi:
While we were in Hawai`i this past fall I added a new camcorder to my collection and shot this video at our Kailua rental cottage. The song is one of my originals, Kui Lima:
I've captured a few clips from the Aloha Friday in Downtown Pleasant Hill series. It's been a lot fun trying to upgrade my video skills. Here's the first one, Maika`i Ka Makani O Kohala from July 24, 2009:
Green Rose Hula has been a favorite of mine for a long time. I recorded this version on August 7.
With some help from Lynn on a second camcorder, I came up with this version of Ku`u Ipo Onaona recorded on August 14.
And on August 21 I snagged these shots by myself with some lucky camera positioning. The song here is Maori Brown Eyes.
Here are a couple of new tunes I've learned lately. `Imi Au Ia `Oe is a classic in waltz time. Listening to the beloved late Uncle Sonny Chillingworth one day, I picked up a guitar and started playing along. If you enjoy this interpretation I hope you'll search out Uncle Sonny's version and add it to your collection:
Moani Ke `Ala is an old song of longing written by Prince William Pitt Leleiohoku. Shaun Gavagan, one of my Kawili bandmates, stirred my interest in this one. The arrangement is inspired by Gabby Pahinui.
Noted luthier Kathy Wingert held her first house concert on March 28, 2009, and invited me to be her first performer. It was a wonderful experience, with a full house of very appreciative guests, and a great opening act. Lehua Kaapana Nash and her duet partner Chuck Burnett played two songs before I began. I captured some of the show on video and posted it on YouTube.
On February 1st, 2009, Lance McCollum, noted luthier, passed away. Lance lived in Colfax, CA and by coincidence we rode the train through Colfax that morning. When I heard the news about Lance I was reminded of an old Hawaiian song, E Nihi Ka Hele, written by King David Kalakaua for his queen on the occasion of her trip to London for Queen Victoria's Jubilee Celebration in 1887. Queen Kapi`olani certainly passed through Colfax on the transcontinental railroad during her journey. I tuned up my McCollum Grand Auditorium and recorded this version of E Nihi Ka Hele in remembrance of Lance:
Here's a YouTube video of Salomila, one of my oldest favorites in the slack key repertoire.
When I opened for Led Kaapana at Don Quixote's in Felton, CA, Lynnie caught this version of "Grandfather's Clock" on video.
