Kukahi is as good of a traditional Hawaiian music and dance concert as I've seen.
Reichel has been putting out albums of music since 1995, but this concert, which will also be available in Blu-ray, is another step for him. The song selection follows a progression from chants and pure Hawaiian music to Western-influenced traditional music and finally contemporary compositions. One of the songs comes from his album "E O Mai," three come from "Kamahiwa," one comes from "Ke' Alaokamaile," three come from "Melelana," and a number of songs seem to have been produced for the first time. Here's the rundown of songs:
Ka Wai A Kane
Mele Kahea
Mele Komo
Ho'opuka E Ka La Ma Ka Hikina
Ke Welina Mai Nei Ke Kini O Lalo
Halehale Ke Aloha
Kanaka O Ke Kai
'Au'a'la
Hula Kolani No Lono
Ka 'Eha A Ke Aloha
Pupu A'o'Ewa
E O Mai
Ia 'Oe E Ka La
Koali
Maunaleo
Ipo Lei Momi
Mele A Ka Pu'uwai
Pua Nani (featuring Ben Vegas)
He Wehi No Lili'uokalani I Ke Kapu
Adios Ke Aloha
Ko Ma'I'Auka Kula La A Keu
Melalana
Ka Nohona Pili Kai
Ke Aloha
Malie's Song
Hawai'i Aloha
Hawaii hands out its own awards for music--the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards--and Reichel won favorite entertainer three times ('95, '96, '00) and male vocalist four times ('95, '96, '00, and '04). He also won album of the year three times ('95, for Kawaipunahele; ''00 for Melelana; '04 for Ke'alaokamaile). What's interesting is that behind his success is a story of a troubled youth who turned things around. Reichel, who was raised on the island of Maui in the town of Lahaina, was convicted of theft as a 20-something and received a sentence that required him to perform community service and to study Hawaiian culture. At that point, Reichel decided to devote his life to learn as much as he could about ancient Hawaiian life and traditions, and to become its cultural ambassador. Well, he sold me. I'm going to check out some of his albums.
Video:
The concert was shot in Hi-Def, and so even this DVD looks pretty good, without the pronounced "blur" and halo effects that are often the unfortunate by-product of concert lighting. Also missing are those prismatic streaks of light that slice across the screen, and so the lighting people have to be complimented--same with the photographers for getting this aspect right. "Kukahi" is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio, "enhanced" for 16x9 screens.
The DVD comes in a cardboard folder with a handsome eight-page glossy booklet that lists all the songs, performers (even the names of all dancers) and tribute information. It's a nicely designed package with good production values.
Audio:
The audio is also nice, an English Dolby Digital 5.1 stereo surround that's nicely distributed and has a balance of treble and bass that complements the mostly mellow music. Subtitle options are English and Hawaiian.
Extras:
Two bonus features are included here, and they are both quite good. Just under the 20-minute mark is a "Tribute to Uncle George Holokai," a feature which brings the 70-something hula master onstage to play the ukulele while Reichel and others who take a weekly class from him basically perform a recital. What really stands out here is the reverence the Hawaiian culture has for elders, but these songs and dances using Uli'uli (feathered gourd rattles) and Pu'ili (split bamboo sticks) are among the best on this DVD.
The second bonus feature, a "Retrospective" on Reichel, doesn't give a full bio but rather a musical collage of images and information that shows the singer/hula master's progression. It's informative and entertaining.
My only complaint is that there isn't a third extra. I would have liked a bonus CD showcasing at least half of the songs performed here. Once you watch this, you don't necessarily want to see it again and again, but you certainly want to hear the music over and over.
Bottom Line:
Though the cinematography and camera editing isn't as strong as I've seen in other concert videos, the song selection is wonderful (not a rotten one in the bunch), the dances are relaxing (and instructive, if you pay attention to the narrative and the way the dress and movements help tell the stories), and there's a nice flow throughout the production. Reichel is a charismatic performer, with a self-effacing easy manner and a sense of humor that warms the crowd. That really comes across, even in the small space of your TV monitor at home. "Kukahi" is as good of a traditional Hawaiian music and dance concert as I've seen.
Ka Wai A Kane
Mele Kahea
Mele Komo
Ho'opuka E Ka La Ma Ka Hikina
Ke Welina Mai Nei Ke Kini O Lalo
Halehale Ke Aloha
Kanaka O Ke Kai
'Au'a'la
Hula Kolani No Lono
Ka 'Eha A Ke Aloha
Pupu A'o'Ewa
E O Mai
Ia 'Oe E Ka La
Koali
Maunaleo
Ipo Lei Momi
Mele A Ka Pu'uwai
Pua Nani (featuring Ben Vegas)
He Wehi No Lili'uokalani I Ke Kapu
Adios Ke Aloha
Ko Ma'I'Auka Kula La A Keu
Melalana
Ka Nohona Pili Kai
Ke Aloha
Malie's Song
Hawai'i Aloha
Hawaii hands out its own awards for music--the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards--and Reichel won favorite entertainer three times ('95, '96, '00) and male vocalist four times ('95, '96, '00, and '04). He also won album of the year three times ('95, for Kawaipunahele; ''00 for Melelana; '04 for Ke'alaokamaile). What's interesting is that behind his success is a story of a troubled youth who turned things around. Reichel, who was raised on the island of Maui in the town of Lahaina, was convicted of theft as a 20-something and received a sentence that required him to perform community service and to study Hawaiian culture. At that point, Reichel decided to devote his life to learn as much as he could about ancient Hawaiian life and traditions, and to become its cultural ambassador. Well, he sold me. I'm going to check out some of his albums.
Video:
The concert was shot in Hi-Def, and so even this DVD looks pretty good, without the pronounced "blur" and halo effects that are often the unfortunate by-product of concert lighting. Also missing are those prismatic streaks of light that slice across the screen, and so the lighting people have to be complimented--same with the photographers for getting this aspect right. "Kukahi" is presented in 2.40:1 aspect ratio, "enhanced" for 16x9 screens.
The DVD comes in a cardboard folder with a handsome eight-page glossy booklet that lists all the songs, performers (even the names of all dancers) and tribute information. It's a nicely designed package with good production values.
Audio:
The audio is also nice, an English Dolby Digital 5.1 stereo surround that's nicely distributed and has a balance of treble and bass that complements the mostly mellow music. Subtitle options are English and Hawaiian.
Extras:
Two bonus features are included here, and they are both quite good. Just under the 20-minute mark is a "Tribute to Uncle George Holokai," a feature which brings the 70-something hula master onstage to play the ukulele while Reichel and others who take a weekly class from him basically perform a recital. What really stands out here is the reverence the Hawaiian culture has for elders, but these songs and dances using Uli'uli (feathered gourd rattles) and Pu'ili (split bamboo sticks) are among the best on this DVD.
The second bonus feature, a "Retrospective" on Reichel, doesn't give a full bio but rather a musical collage of images and information that shows the singer/hula master's progression. It's informative and entertaining.
My only complaint is that there isn't a third extra. I would have liked a bonus CD showcasing at least half of the songs performed here. Once you watch this, you don't necessarily want to see it again and again, but you certainly want to hear the music over and over.
Bottom Line:
Though the cinematography and camera editing isn't as strong as I've seen in other concert videos, the song selection is wonderful (not a rotten one in the bunch), the dances are relaxing (and instructive, if you pay attention to the narrative and the way the dress and movements help tell the stories), and there's a nice flow throughout the production. Reichel is a charismatic performer, with a self-effacing easy manner and a sense of humor that warms the crowd. That really comes across, even in the small space of your TV monitor at home. "Kukahi" is as good of a traditional Hawaiian music and dance concert as I've seen.
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