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Yuji Igarashi - Pearly Shells - 'Ukulele

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Yuji Igarashi - Pearly Shells - 'Ukulele video:


Long time 'ukulele player and teacher Yuji Igarashi performs "Pearly Shells " on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of his student's Kolohe Imamura's band "Lei Kings". "Pearly Shells" was created when Webley Edwards, the host of the world-famous radio show "Hawai`i Calls" put English words to the melody of an older Hawaiian language song. Edwards collaborated with Leon Pober, using the melody line from locally popular "Pupu A `O `Ewa". From the books "Na Mele O Hawai`i" (Elbert & Mahoe) and "Olowalu Massacre" (Aubrey Janion, we learn the following story which is referred to in the lyrics of the traditional "Pupu A `O `Ewa": "Shells of `Ewa /throngs of people/coming to learn/the news of the land." The "news of the land" was the discovery of pearl oysters at Pu`uloa, the Hawaiian name for Pearl Harbor, protected by Ka`ahupahau, the shark goddess. The lyrics also mention Ka`ala, which is the highest mountain on O`ahu, and Polea, located in `Ewa. Nu`a and naue (in the chorus) are often interchanged with nuku (mouth) and lawe (bring.) Moa`e is the name of a tradewind. In 1909, the Navy issued a $1.7 thousand contract for construction of the first Pearl Harbor dry dock. Kapuna Kanakeawe, a Hawaiian fisherman, told the contractor to build it in another location as the spot they selected was the home of the shark goddess. Work stopped after three months as things kept going wrong. Cement would not pour and the contractor could not pump water out of the dry dock. February 17, 1913, two years behind schedule, opening ceremonies were held. Then the dry dock exploded. One man was killed, $4,000,000 lost and four years of work demolished. Another contract was issued in November, 1914. As work progressed, the early warning given by Kanakeawe was remembered. Mrs. Puahi, a kahuna, was called and instructed the foreman, David Richards, in the necessary rituals to appease Ka`ahupahau and safeguard the project. After sacrifices were made, prayers chanted and rituals performed, the project was declared safe. When the bottom was pumped out, the skeleton of a 14-foot shark was discovered. (Pearl Harbor was also the site of ancient Hawaiian fishponds.) Püpü (a`o `Ewa) i ka nu`a (nä känaka) E naue mai (a e `ike) I ka mea hou (o ka `äina) Ahe `äina (ua kaulana) Mai nä küpuna mai Alahula Pu`uloa he ala hele no Ka`ahupahau, (Ka`ahupähau) Alahula Pu`uloa he ala hele no Ka`ahupähau, Ka`ahupähau Nani Ka`ala hemolele i ka mälie Kuahiwi kaulana a`o `Ewa E ki`i ana i ka makani o ka `äina Hea ka Moa`e eia au e ke aloha Kilakila `o Polea noho i ka `olu Ia home ho`ohihi a ka malihini E walea ana i ka `olu o ke kiawe I ka pa kolonahe a ke Kiu Shells of `Ewa throngs of people Coming to learn The news of the land A land famous From the ancient times All of Pu`uloa, the path trod upon by Ka`ahupahau All of Pu`uloa, the path trod upon by Ka`ahupahau Beautiful Ka`ala, sublime in the calm Famous mountain of `Ewa That fetches the wind of the land The tradewind calls, "here I am, beloved" Majestic Polea in the coolness Home delightful to visitors Relaxing in the coolness of the kiawe And the soft blowing of the Kiu wind Pearly Shells (pearly shells) From the ocean (from the ocean) Shining in the sun (shining in the sun) Covering the shore (covering the shore) When I see them (when I see them) My heart tells me that I love you More than all the little pearly shells More than all those little pearly shells For every grain of sand upon the beach I've got a kiss for you And I've got more left over For each star that twinkles in the blue Yuji - now aged 86 - started playing the 'ukulele when his was in his early twenties. Many know him as a soloist at Roy Sakuma's ukulele festival in Waikiki, where he plays with his student Kolohe Imamura since 15 years. Way to go, Igarashi sensei! Hmmmm, you actually read all this stuff - wow!

Yuji Igarashi - Pearly Shells - 'Ukulele Category: Music
Yuji Igarashi - Pearly Shells - 'Ukulele Uploaded: May 3rd, 2009 @ 7:45 pm
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