An album comprised of the favorite songs of the artist plus two originals. This song collection honors the music and compositions of composers who wrote of the wonders of Hawaiʻi. This is the first album produced by the artist.
Album Notes
O Hawai'i is a living, heart-felt collection of slack key and traditional Hawaiian folk music. This CD takes you there - you can feel the mana of the islands, the ocean, the trade winds, the flowers and the sacred sounds of the Hawaiian language. In traditional kanikapila style, Al's vibrant and honey-toned voice is joined by Hawaiian musicians Sonny Lim and Charles Recaido on steel and bass. This CD is a beautiful tribute to traditional Hawaiian music and evokes the true spirit of aloha in all who listen.
Al was raised in the heart of Honolulu's Chinatown on the island of Oahu where life was full of a mix of ethnic groups, languages, food, music, shops and theaters that reflected his own Chinese /Hawaiian and Japanese/German heritage. Living above the shops on Hotel Street with his mother, Al thrived in the lively and diverse community ʻohana that is unique to Hawaii.
With the arrival of the 1970's came the renaissance of Hawaiian music and culture in full force. The "Red" or ʻFace" album of the Sons of Hawaiʻi grabbed Al's attention and he became hooked on the folk style of traditional Hawaiian music.
From there, Al embarked on a journey that was to be an exploration into the Kānaka Maoli culture and language. With no written language, the ancient Hawaiians passed on their histories, genealogies, and legends in the form of oli, or chants, and through dancing hula.
Al has always endeavored to present the music of Hawaiʻi with sensitivity and aloha. In his own music, Al is always mindful honoring the mele of his ancestors and plays with deference and respect to those composers of Hawaiian music from times before. Al has had the honor of sitting in with many of Hawaiʻi's leading artists and has learned so much from those experiences.
ʻO Hawaiʻi is Al's first recording and the collection is comprised of some of his favorite tunes as well as two of his own compositions. Al has always wanted to record something to leave behind for his daughters and moʻopuna and this humble attempt evolved into the recording that he is now offering to the world.
© Copyright - Al Tringali / Al Tringali