Songs give us a unique opportunity to capture what it means to belong to a culture, a people, a community, and a place in time. From storytelling, paying tributes, documenting the history, and making memories, songs connect us to our past. A mention of a special place, comparisons of a love to nature, even mischievous adventures that make for a comical reflection is captured in our songs. Nowadays, if we’re lucky, they are passed down from one generation to the next…if we are taking the opportunity to teach them, learn them, and tell the stories that brought them to life.

The Kēhau, Music and Moʻolelo series, was created with that in mind. What are those songs? Who are the songwriters, musicians and where do those stories come from? We began by gathering each musician’s oral histories, recording their musical journeys, including the people and places that have inspired them along the way. The recordings were transcribed word for word and preserved in our Jean Greenwell Library and Archive Collection, to be shared with many generations to come.

FEATURED ARTISTS

Click on each artist’s photo to read their bio.

VIDEO CLIPS

Please enjoy curated video clips from the various Kēhau events held at Kona Historical Society’s Kalukalu locations in Kealakekua, Kona. Rather than a formal music concert, the Kēhau, Music and Moʻolelo series is presented as a backyard jam session with musicians collaborating at the event.

your support matterS!

While the Kēhau video series is free to view, Kona Historical Society welcomes donations of any size to support continued production of series like these and our 501(c)3 nonprofit.