CD Reviews: Holunape and Peter Apo

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Holunape

Ahea? Ano!

(Roy Sakuma Productions)

In the song “Holunape,” this group of the same name compares its music to the gentle swaying of oceanside palm trees. It’s an apt metaphor—the group’s second album is a happy, relaxed celebration of hula and language. Warm instrumentation and pitch-perfect harmonies make it a flawless genre exercise in traditional Hawaiian, but the trio possesses enough range to close the set with a lighthearted take on the Manhattan Transfer’s “Operator.” All in all, one of the year’s most enjoyable local releases.

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Peter Apo and the Rainbow Nation Band

Aina

(Mamo Records)

Peter Apo, former director of culture and education for the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, puts on his entertainer hat, along with a backing band that includes local phenoms such as Robi Kahakalau. It’s obvious that everyone’s having fun, but the music’s ’70s-era country-folk style may not appeal to everyone.