OWANA SALAZAR

Owana Salazar (above) came by for a visit today. What a talent! Ms. Salazar plays slack key (ki ho'alu) and steel guitar. She is an excellent vocalist, hula dancer, descendant of Hawaiian royalty, student of ethnomusicology from her days of University of Manoa, mother, great conversationalist...and much more. I learned as much from her as anyone I've interviewed for either print, television or radio.

It had been a while since we'd seen each other when we met up in June at the 60th wedding anniversary of our mutual friend, Don McDiarmid, Jr., at the Mid Pacific Country Club in Lanikai, here on Oahu's windward side. Owana spent more than three hours with us, sharing her music and stories. The lady has appeared throughout the islands and internationally. Her albums have been nominated for, and won, several Hoku Na Hanohano Awards, the Hawaii version of the Grammy. One of the most noteworthy is "Hula Jazz." The music on it is pretty much as described in its title.

Owana played and sang songs, ranging from those written by her, her mom and great grandmother. And everything from traditional Hawaiian tunes to "hapa haole" songs (those with English lyrics) from the 1940s, such as "South Sea Sadie," which was written by our friend McDiarmid's father back in the 1930s. As is the case with most sophisticated vocalists, Owana's repertoire is both eclectic and electrifying. Owana performed a full range of "The Great American Songbook," from Cole Porter's "Night And Day" to a pair of Joni Mitchell classics, "Big Yellow Taxi" and "Both Sides Now." The finale of our visit is her recorded version of the timeless "Hiilawe," made popular by Gabby Pahinui, which frames "Waterfall," a song composed by none other than Jimi Hendrix.

Our chat, punctuated by her songs, covered a spectrum as wide ranging as the music. From Owana's tune, inspired on New Year's Day 2003, while driving on Maui to buy sashimi, to a heavy dialogue about the political, psychological and planetary plight of native Hawaiians, past and present. Owana has been active in local civic groups and was quite involved in the 1970s, the start of The Movement: efforts for equal rights for those Polynesians who first populated these islands. Everything changed with the arrival of British sea captain James Cook, who set ashore on the island of Kauai in 1778. The "history" taught people of my generation, schooled in Hawaii in the 1950s, glossed over much of the grim realities of the effects of European influence. (We covered this topic in great depth in our session with activist Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele last month).

Owana is a sensitive and articulate woman of Hawaii. She has never lost touch with her roots, while being in the moment. Charming, informed and with a sparkling personality, this lady is a revelation for those who only have a romanticized, "tourist" image of what is now the 50th State. It has been said that, "Aloha means 'hello, goodbye and I love you.'" But in my mental dictionary, looking up that word conjures up the visage and vision of Owana Salazar.

I've been privileged to know and spend time with scores of our local artists. I hope you have time to experience our visit with Owana. She is no ka oi, which is a phrase used hereabouts to describe The Very Best.

For more info about this special wahine, check her out on MySpace or visit her web site: http://www.owanasalazr.com/

The Owana Salazar session currently alternates with a three-hour program of "place songs," about the Big Island of Hawaii, from the still-small town of Hilo to the twin volcanic peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa.