Kanalu G.T. Young (Kapahulu) also works with us with compositions when can. Kupa'aina Alumni: Members of the band never fully leave as we are Ohana. Our former drummer Anson Pang has moved to Abilene, Texas. Our vocalist/keyboard/ukulele player Keao Cockett has started his own band but may still join us on stage now and then. Check him out at www.myspace.com/innersession. Luke Solatorio is a maintenance worker at WCC and runs a lot of sound for his church. Luke plays around town with the band Canoes For Rent from time to time.
Influences
In no particular order: Music is influenced by who we are, our environment, our souls and not just music or musicians...our families and loved ones, Halau Ku Mana New Century Public Charter School, Bob Marley, Prof. Cornel West, Jack Johnson and the Kokua Foundation, Alex Kinimaka and the Free-Hi family, the folks on Moloka'i, Tracey Terada, Leo Anderson Akana, Hui Ohana, Pekelo Cosma, music of all former and present members of the Sons of Hawaii and the Peter Moon Band, I Kona, Paulo Freire, Eddie Kamae, Gabby Pahinui, Five Stars (Samoan), Kelli Heath, Patty Larkin, Na Pali, Ledward Kaapana, Kenneth "Boom" Gaspar, Inner Session, Darren Benitez, Buddy Fo, Anita Baker, Kina Shoukichi and Champorros, Kamaha'o, WAR, Ry Cooder, Ernie Cruz Jr., Hapa, JRR Tolkein, Rage Against the Machine, Tom Waits, Joe Pass, Mop Tops, Prince, Toots and the Maytals, WSUP, Ooklah the Moc, Maria Remos, Isley Brothers, Maxwell, Sly and the Family Stone, Jamiroqoi, Buena Vista Social Club, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, Guy Cruz, Ice Cube, Gandhi, Don Ho, The Girlas, Beat Takeshi, Frank Sinatra, KRS-1, Weird Al Yankovic, Arundhati Roy, Paula Fuga, Solomon Enos, Luther Vandross, Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon, Jesus Christ, Juzo Itami, Kwan Ti, Kuan Yin, Buddha, Tiffany Cruz, Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Mooney, Led Zeppelin, David Chapelle, Mohammed, Richard Pryor, David Fincher etc...
Sounds Like
We sound like ourselves....also, OUR SOUND IS ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
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From Waianae to Kahalu`u, from the island of Kaua`i to the Kingdom of Tonga, from roots deep in the `aina to seeds newly planted by immigrants, Kupa`äina has a deep reverence for the land of Hawai`i and a global ancestral heritage. Six local guys who love the traditional Hawaiian sound drink deep from a calabash of cultures and influences.
Kupa`äina was originally the name for every ad hoc band that Kevin Chang ever played with in Hawai`i, on the West Coast or in Japan. Now, the name has culminated with a voice and identity created by Lau Aloua, Kalama Cabigon, Kevin Chang, Mark Lutwak, Jay Santos, and Stan Tibayan.
The genesis of Kupa`äina’s style lay in its common love for traditional Hawaiian music. This expanded to draw on explorations into and inspirations from rock and roll, reggae, funk, Latin, ska, hip-hop and other influences. While eclectic, Kupa`äina's music remains rooted in the local experience, history and culture.
Since 2000, Kupa`äina has played hundreds of gigs, with repeat performances at Ka Moloka`i Makahiki and the annual Kava Festival, events supporting organizations such as Aloha United Way, KEY Project, Punana Leo o Kawaiaha`o, Na Lei Na`auao: the Native Hawaiian Charter School Alliance, Halau Ku Mana, Hui Malama, and the Bishop Museum, as well as local clubs, festivals, and Hawai`i’s underground luau circuit.
Kupa`äina's first album was released by Kototama Productions in 2004, and is back in the studio recording a second album.
Please support our music and purchase our album at your local records stores in Hawaii or online at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/kupaaina
We are also now available on I-TUNES and other upcoming digital distributors.
Also Amazon and Borders.com.
Our famous t-shirt "If can, can, if no can no can" can be purchased by calling (808)387-9854 or e-mailing: sales@kupaaina.com. Booking engagements may be routed through this contact info as well.
For more detailed info on the band go to www.kupaaina.com click on link "The Band." If you want to be added to our NEWSLETTER please write to MRCHANG@KUPAAINA.COM. We do not send out newsletters often so we will not be clogging your inbox except maybe once or twice a month.
We are a Hawaiian and world music band. We have a traditional Hawaiian music background (kiho'alu, ukulele, leo ki'eki'e etc...) however our style is more a hybrid of old and new. We do original and traditional Hawaiian music as well take new approaches to the old trying to bridge cultures, generations and styles. Our music is eclectic and representative of island people and the human condition.
Let us know what you think!
CDBABY LINK for KUPAAINA
Simple Island People
KUPA'AINA PRODUCTS FOR SALE
If you would like one of our attractive t-shirts, download an order form and mail it to us with a check or money order.
KUPA'AINA BUMPER STICKER IS FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME
If you want to support and sport our "Kupa'aina: Simple Island People" sticker (on your car, folder, books, bikes, etc.) we are giving them out free for a limited time, ask us at our gigs, pick one up at Na Mea Hawai'i (Ward Warehouse) or Diamond Head Cove (3045 Monsarrat) or if you are off island send us a self-addressed stamped envelope requesting "the sticker" and we will drop you a free sticker in the mail ASAP. Send requests to: Kototama Productions, Kupa'aina Sticker Request, PO BOX 2273, Honolulu, Hawaii 96804. Make sure you include a self-adressed and stamped envelope as we cannot afford to pay postage. Mahalo!
07/02/2009
08:00 PM - Don Ho’s - Aloha Tower Market Place Thursday
Aloha
Tower - 1 Aloha Tower Drive
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
US
Cost: $10 pre sale - $15 door - $20 with CD
Description: Typical
Hawaiians CD RELEASE PARTY!!! Celebrating 3rd n New CD " Piece Of The Aina
". Also
New Hit Single Release on itunes " Honolulu City Life " featuring
Shanti Town from Jamaica. Along with the new Primo Jingle Produced by: Thomson
Enos aka Kikomon of the TYPICAL HAWAIIANS. Ten Feet, Ka’ala Boys, n Pohaku will
be performing as well! Come down to enjoy live music n good time galore with
the TYPICAL HAWAIIANS N FRIENDS! ALOHA!!! ;-)
We're trying to get the word out that the Back Home In Lahaina restaurant gig has been postponed due to a project we are working on.
But we have this coming up!
Tuesday, April 21 * 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Loyola Marymount University
The Living Room (Malone Student Center, on the ground level, next to the bookstore)
1 LMU Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659
Parking is free and available in all lots after 4:00 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public.
It's being presented by Asian Pacific Student Services, Hawaii Club, and the Gay-Straight Alliance.
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