Häwane Rios Shares Her Soul’s Purpose
By Ma‘ata Tukuafu
T
he first time Hāwane Rios fully comprehended a legend told in the Hawaiian language, it touched her so deeply that she wrote a song to remember it. It is the love story between Poli‘ahu (goddess of the snow) and Kukahau‘ula (a god personifying the male force in the form of the rising sun), whose meeting caused Poli‘ahuʻs heart to melt, resulting in the snowmelt which formed streams and springs, providing life to the people. “When I wrote the song, it sounded to me like their love,” Hāwane says, “and when I sing the song, I remember what that story means to me.” Hāwane Rios, who grew up in Waimea, began writing songs at the age of 20 while studying Hawaiian language in college. In her second year of classes she felt a calling to write music in Hawaiian rather than in English. She says she woke up one day with a feeling in her chest that signaled a song was coming. “I heard this voice saying, ‘Pick up the ‘ukulele and learn it,’ and I felt the need to go inward, to create a bunch of songs,” says Hāwane. After releasing a number of singles, she became a kia‘i, a protector for Mauna Kea, which took much of her time and energy. Now, 12 years later, she has rewritten many of her earlier songs and Hāwane’s album Kū Kia‘i Mauna—Together We Rise (Religious Records A&C), features both Hawaiian and English songs. The album was nominated three times in the 43rd Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards: Female Vocalist of the Year, Most Promising Artist of the Year, and Contemporary Album of the Year. The awards aired on October 10, 2020, with Hāwane winning for Contemporary Album of the Year. In the Female Vocalist category, Hāwane was named alongside Amy Hānaiali‘i, one of Hāwane’s musical inspirations when she was growing up. “I feel so deeply honored being nominated in the same category as Amy Hānaiali‘i,” says Hāwane. “When I was really young, I was watching her at the awards and listening to her powerful voice singing in Hawaiian. When she won, and I heard her speech, I wanted to be like her.”
Still from music video “Like A Mighty Wave,” directed by Mikey Inouye. photo courtesy of Mikey Inouye
It took four years for her to complete the full CD, and she has also released a “3D” version of it, which is a mixing technique to give listeners wearing headphones a feeling of being in the room with the musicians. Adding to her recent accomplishments, she was asked to sing with Mark Yamanaka in a prerecorded session for the 2020 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards show, which was broadcast on October 10. A Community of Creative Musicians Some of the best experiences Hāwane has had creating music are working with other musicians and hearing her songs come together. “I love hearing Uncle Sonny [Lim] play his interpretation of my songs, and then the bass player fits her bass to his guitar,” says Hāwane. “It’s like a recipe, it brings in everybody’s energy and talent with their own connection to my song, and we are a community in creating music.” Growing up, Hāwane was a dancer, and now it brings her great pleasure to watch others dance to her songs. She is quick to say that she is still learning, and is not the best musician. She has much respect for those who spend their lives honing their music. Much of Hāwane’s inspiration has come from musicians like the Keli‘iho‘omalu family from Kalapana, Lorna Lim, Kainani Kahaunaele, Genoa Keawe, India Arie, and Maisey Rika, among many others. The peoples of Oceania have also inspired and shaped her music, “because they read, speak and sing in both English and in their own languages,” she shares. Inspiration Hāwane’s creative flow depends on what she is thinking about. Because English is her first language, sheʻll write out the words quickly, as they come to her, and then the melody will come. She sits with her guitar or ‘ukulele and records herself playing the song. Sheʻll often go back and edit it, adding Hawaiian lyrics. “I feel in my body and soul, the Hawaiian words that make me feel warm. I get this beautiful, ‘ono feeling, like a really good bite of texture and flavor,” says Hāwane. “I’ll start with