Christy Leina’ala Lassiter announces the release of a new album of traditional Hawaiian hula songs. The album is titled “Kou Lima Nani E,” which means “your beautiful hands.” She is accompanied by Big island musicians Jj Ahuna, Kyle Kaaa and Dwight Tokumoto.
“This album is my tribute and Aloha to the hula dancers I have worked with over the years. In the summer of 2021, I asked some of my hula brothers and sisters for a list of their favorite hula songs. From their list, I chose 14 songs to record. Each song is presented for the hula. There is a distinct hula intro and no pa’ani in the songs,” said Lassiter.
In 2016, Lassiter performed at her first Waimanalo Kanikapila. She featured Kona hula dancer Noenoe Kekaualua. They performed together in 2017 and 2018. Under the direction of Kona resident, Chelle Pahinui, the Waimanalo Kanikapila has become a live stream event and the 2022 Waimanalo Kanikapila will be aired Saturday. A link for viewing is available at cyrilpahinui.com. Lassiter and Kekaualua will be featured entertainers during the live stream event.
“I wanted my music to be expressed through hula and it is always a pleasure to present my friend Noenoe. She tells a beautiful story, as a hula dancer and we have had many great shows together,” Lassiter said. “Playing hula songs requires a good sense of rhythm and it helps for the singer to know the mo’olelo or story being told. It enhances the performance when the singer can tell the audience about the song, before the dancer tells the story.”
The album has been presented to the Hawaii Academy of Performing Arts (HARA) in the 2022 Na Hoku Hanohano awards season for Hawaiian Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. In 2021, Lassiter’s EP entitled ” ‘Eha” was nominated for Hawaiian EP of the Year.
For more information, visit christylassitermusic.com