Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,  and welcome to Pau Hana Years,   a weekly program for the entire community  that reflects the art of making longevity   a pleasure. Adding meaning and

dignity to the  golden years. Joining Charlotte Simmons will   be our guest composer, pianist Maddy Lam,  featuring vocalist Evelyn Lewis and our   special guest Ed Kenney. Charlotte

Simmons:   Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome  to Pau Hana Years, this week. Our special guest   Maddy Lam, composer and pianist, she just played  one of her own compositions.

Pua ʻĀhihi, right,  Maddy Lam: That's right. CS: Tell me about that one, Maddy. ML: Well you know, my co-writer, co-writer, Kawena  Pukui is the one who writes all these beautiful  

   you would have to go in the winding... CS: Small winding road...  ML: Yes. Then, of course, you know they closed it  up now. But as you turn off the lookout. You know   that Pali,

following the winding road, is called  Lani Huli. And then she was telling me about this   scrubby looking plant that just grows right up  from the cliff side, you know, right out of the  

rocks. And she said, that was the pua ʻāhihi. And it's a lehua species. You know, we have   several kinds of Lehua. And she said, this song,  Pua ʻĀhihi, was mentioned in the song Aloha

ʻOe   that the Queen wrote, you know, Pua ʻĀhihi. And so, she said that there's something about   the flower that just fascinates her, and it  reminds her of, likr flower was a

sweetheart,   you know? And so she wrote these lyrics  comparing the sweetheart, oh, excuse me,   to the flower ʻāhihi. And I think it's so  beautiful. Do you think we have time...  CS:

Sure, tell me. Tell me what it is ML: to read a few of the verses? But, you know,   we wrote this purposely for the hula, and we  usually like to have what, five verses, you know,   in our

hula, and that's what she did with this. CS: You played us three today. ML: Yeah, did you like? CS: I loved it. I didn't. I loved it for so long. I never knew it was yours.

Isn't that terrible? ML: No, I don't think so. Anyway, in Hawaiian,   she says, Me ʻoe ka ʻanoʻi e ka ʻāhihi. Ka lei milikaʻa a kaʻu aloha. In English,   it means With you is my

affection o ʻāhihi  blossom, A lei my darling ever caressed by   my love. He aloha makame kai hiki mai, He ʻala  honehone i ka puʻuwai. A love most precious has   arrived like an appealing

perfume in the heart. He waiwai ʻoe i kaʻu ʻike, Ua kehakeha i luna,   excuse me, aʻo Lanihuli. You are precious in  my sight, standing proudly above Lanihuli. Huli   maui nō ʻoe ʻolu kāua I

mehana hoʻi au aʻi ko  poli. Turn now to me and relax (coughs). Excuse   me. Let me, Let me find warmth in your arms. Haʻinaka puana no kuʻu lei, Ka pua ʻāhihi aʻo   Lanihuli. This is my

song of praise for you,  my darling, the ʻāhihi blossom of Lanihuli. CS: That is so beautiful. ML: You know, I'm so   nervous this being first time on TV. CS: Oh no, you don't have

to be nervous. ML: And having to speak Hawaiian, then in English. CS: Oh, but it's beautiful. ML: But I'll try to do it. CS: Oh, yeah. ML: Don't you think   they're

lovely words, beautiful words. CS: Yeah, can I keep them later? ML: And we're always so happy Mrs. Pukui and  I, always so happy when, when the dancers   find such joy, you know, in

putting it to motion. CS: I'm gonna ask you someday when you have time   to teach me to dance that song. ML: Name the time. CS: I know. Maddy, you've been playing for such a  long

time. You just, you just so much you played. How long? How old were you when you first started? ML: Oh gosh,  CS: The piano. ML: You expect me   to remember back in (inaudible) years? CS: I

understand it was quite some time ago. ML: I don't know. It seems as if I've always been  playing something, you know, because we've always   had music in our home. CS: In

your own home. ML: Mm hmm. And of course, we had  a old beaten piano in the house. But never mind the flat notes. It sound like  music to me. And then when my little fingers   used to make

out little tunes on the keyboard. CS: Was this all the family together doing...  ML: In the evening time, you know, during those  times we didn't have any TV or radio, right? And   all

the families have to have make  up their own entertainment at home,   and we weren't any different. And here we had all  this beautiful music, but no music during the day,   only in the

evenings, when all the dishes are  washed and we had a little time we sat together. CS: I think a lot of us take so much for  granted now we forget that we can do so much. ML: We have too

much. CS: Yeah, you know, you can play all kinds   of music (inaudible). You know, when I first heard  you play, I went to the Hale Kulani one night,   and I was having dinner, I heard this

beautiful  music in the background. How long have you,   you still play at the Hale Kalani, don't you? ML: Oh, yes. CS: How long have you been there? ML: Well, you know now that you

brought that,   this reminds me, that yesterday, April,  the first, I am starting my 14th year. CS: 14 years? ML: 14 years. How time has   flown by. You know, I can't believe it. CS:

You play every evening there? ML: Mondays through Saturdays, 6:30 to 8:30. CS: Dinner music. It's so beautiful. I really enjoy it when I'm there. ML: Oh, I play all kinds of music.

It's something that we relax and while  we are, they are wining and dining. CS: You know... ML: You must   come back again and visit us. CS: I am going to come back soon, maybe this

week. ML: I'll be looking forward to seeing you. CS: I enjoy going there. Tell me some more about   your family life, your composing, your writing. I know later on. I'm going to

ask you to play   one of our other favorite songs. But definitely  just some information about how you feel when   you write your music. What gives you... ML: Oh, well, that's hard to

answer in   one sentence, you know, because it takes  all kinds of things to inspire one. Maybe   something that you see, you know, or something  that you hear, or even through conversation,

   you know, at times like the way Mrs. Pukui and  I have sat down many times in this talk about   this and that, heaven knows what we talk about. CS: And then you go back to your piano and

just? ML: No, no, no, and then something, what she says  kind of gives me an idea for music. You. Know,   then something, what she says, gives her an  idea to write lyrics. And so she would

finish   her lyrics, then she brings it to me. CS: I forgot to thank you so   much for the beautiful lei. ML: Oh, you're very welcome. CS: Beautiful Hawaiian style. ML: Well, yes... 

CS: It's so beautiful ML: We always feel that we should take   a little makana, a little gift for our hostess. CS: I am so I'm so happy for that. Maddy you,   you were born in

Hawai'i, in Honolulu,  were you brought up in Honolulu, too? ML: I was raised in Maui. CS: In Maui, you consider   yourself a Maui girl? ML: Well, I don't know. I think I own two

islands, because I was  born and raised but then I'd always come   home every year to see mama and papa, you know. CS: Didn't you tell me your nationality was pure   Hawaiian?

You're pure Hawaiian? ML: I am, yes. CS: They're very few. ML: That's what mama and papa tell me. I'm   not about to doubt them. No, I am Hawaiian. CS: Aren't you so

proud that you   have all of this gift ML: Oh I certainly am. CS: To share with all of us. ML: I'm so appreciative. CS: So many times... ML: Well, you know the thing that Mrs. Pukui

and   I, I mentioned her quite a lot, because we have  written, if it hadn't been for Hawaiian lyrics,   I I don't think I would have written as many, you  know, Hawaiian things.

And, um, but we like songs   of action, you know, the ones that people can get  up and dance to, you know? And we both feel that   our songs could be (inaudible) expressed in joy. CS: Songs

that people can sing to,   you know, I got a ML: Sing or dance. CS: I got a surprise for you. ML: You have? CS: Uh-huh. You at the Halekulani... ML: Do I hear a familiar   voice? CS: I think

so. Ed Kenney: Aloha mai. ML: Well for heaven's sakes. EK: Aloha. ML: It's nice to see you,   my dear. It's nice to see you my dear. CS: He is kolohe, that's what he is.

ML: Isn't he always full of surprises? My gosh. EK: The surprise I would like to do for you   is a song that you first played for me when it  was not completed. And it is our

“Hawaiʻi." It   is one of your newest compositions. It was  introduced in a show that I did at our place,   the house befitting heaven, the Halekulani ML: And Iʻm sure you did a

beautiful job on   it. I mean, in arranging... EK: But I have never had   the opportunity to sing it for you. If  you allow me, it would be my pleasure. ML: I would love that, wouldn't

that  be nice? Listen, I'm so surprised. I   hope I can accompany him. EK: This is my surprise. CS: She wrote that, huh? EK: Yeah. CS: He's gonna sing it for you, for all of us.

EK: Words and Music by Maddy K. Lam. CS: Now you gotta remember now  this is impromptu so whaever...  ML: It better be, because we didn't  have time to even practice, you know. CS: I

know. I didn't want to tell you. ML: I hope our audience wouldn't   mind, a little practicing. CS: I don't think they'll mind. I   think they'd really love it. EK:

Let's practice. ML: Okay what key you sing that in? EK: The key of C.  ML: My favorite key. EK: The easiest one, too. ML: Yeah, no black keys, in a way. Okay, EK: O how are you? ML: E

kala mai. because I'm.. CS: What's the name of the song? EK: “This is Hawai'i.” CS: Go ahead. EK: And so is this. And so is this. ML: And so is this. And so is this. EK: And

so are you. And by the way, the  doctor said, I'm not supposed to sing. CS: I know, he's gonna be... ML: You won't tell the doctor. EK: (Singing) In the moonlight, near the 

waterfalls Fragrant ginger blossoms bloom   by the mountain walls. This is Hawaiʻi. This is my home. it's my paradise. Misty rains caress the rainbows way up in the  skies. This is

Hawaiʻi. We were told that the gods   gave us our lands From the heavens down to the  golden sands. Here are my people from this land of   love Sharing all their beauties and His blessings 

from above. This is Hawaiʻi. My own Hawaiʻi. This is Hawaiʻi. EK: Maddy Lam's "Hawai'i." ML: Mahalo. EK: Mahalo iā ʻoe. Mahalo iā ʻoe i ke aloha  ML: Thank you for the

beautiful surprise. CS: These are tears of happiness. EK: Hauʻoli. Hauʻoli ka uē. ML: Don't start that,   I don't want my eyelashes to come off. CS: I know, I don't want my

mascara to go too. EK: I didn't put any on. CS: I forgot to, I'm sorry. Ed is going   to come back and sing with us later. ML: Thank you very much. EK: You're welcome. CS: Ed,

tell me just briefly,  EK: What is "you're welcome"  in Hawaiian? I don't know. ML: Oh, don't embarrass me on the air. EK: I don't either. I think you have to

   say thank your grandmother, your grandfather  and all the genealogy, and then you finally   say ah, mahalo iā ʻoe, thank you to you. ML: Well, I'm not surprised that they do   use

that. We thank everybody for everything, you  know, Mahalo and aloha. You know, that's something   we'll have to dig into. EK: We thank   the Halekulani, don't we? ML: We are

so busy   talking hauʻoli a poina e kākou kuleana, oh. CS: You have to teach me. I know   I'm Hawaiian, but you know. ML: We oughta have fun teaching you. EK: Ka leo ko kiki hoe. ML: Oh

watch your language we on the air  EK: Did you hear the one about...Oh I better not. CS: I heard it earlier, ok. You know,   there's one song... ML: Which one was that? CS: I was on a

mainland I heard it. I think Ed  knows, because Ed's going to help you play it. EK: It was in a movie. ML: Was it? EK: Yes. CS: That's right, Don Ho. ML: TV, Fantasy Island EK: It

was in a movie, too. CS: Fantasy Island came after that. ML: How come I was notified about   it? There's a difference, you know... EK: Well, you better check with your publisher. CS:

You know what song we're talking about? EK: I think it's something to do with bamboo. CS: Mm-hm. Let me tell you, when I heard that  song, I thought, ah, the person who wrote  

this song was in the bamboo forest, sitting  there and listening to all the bamboo trees,   you know, I could hear all the different... ML: Oh honey, nothing is farthest from the   truth

than that. The that we wrote that we  were in a restaurant and having breakfast. That's really something. CS: That's where you   were when you wrote this song? ML: Yeah, I mean, I

was, you know,   I sat there and I had ordered my breakfast, and  then, you remember, there was Joseph Kahaʻulelio? He used to have this. EK: Yeah Kahaulelio. Excuse   me for correcting you.

ML: Well whatever, Darling. He accepted either   way. I'm particular about the accent. Mahlo. Anyway, he had his hula studio next door to my   music studio, and we used to go

downstairs to have  breakfast, and I was there first. When he came,   he said, Oh, you're just the one I wanted to  talk to. So he sat down and he says, you know,   I'm having my

uniki in about three weeks. CS: Hula graduation. ML: Yeah. And I want a brand new song for  my special teenage group. And I've seen   them dancing before, and they are lovely. And I

said, three weeks and you want a new   song now? I'm not. I said, Listen, I'm  a musician, not a magician, you know? EK: Well, let's do that whole new song now. ML: So

that's how the thing came out at his,  CS: Let's start now. That came out in 1962. EK: Because I brought with me,   from Kamehameha Schools through Winona  Kapuailohia Desha Beamer

kaʻekeʻeke. ML: Kaʻekeʻeke CS: Singing bamboo I think it means. EK: For your singing bamboo. CS: We also have someone to sing, right? EK: Yes, she's a friend of yours that  you met at

the house befitting heaven,   Halekulani. She's the wife of the producer of  the Lewis and Young Sacramento Music Circus. ML: Oh Evelyn, oh my, where is she? EK: May I sit and play for

you as you play   there? And we'll make beautiful music together. ML: And you may sure you end the same   time we do. Hi there, darling. CS: Evelyn, before I thank you for   coming with

us and joining us, I want to ask  you if you can join us again on another show. Evelyn Lewis: Oh, of course. Thank you very  much. I'd be more than happy to do that. CS: Okay, Maddy,

your song. EL: (Singing)   Listen to the sweet singing bamboo It's  singing a little love song to you. Telling   of a small island rendezvous A heaven that was  made just for two. Where

tradewinds softly kissing   the coco palms Flower scented nights calling  you to my arms. Oh, Listen to the sweet singing   bamboo It's singing a little love song to you. Where

tradewinds softly kissing the coco palms   Flower scented nights calling you to my arms. So  listen to the sweet singing bamboo It's singing   a little love song to you. A little  love

song to you. My little love song   to you. CS:   To Maddy, Ed, Evelyn, thank  you so much. I enjoyed myself. EK: Thank you If you or your group is interested   in being part of our Pau Hana

Years audience,  Give us a call here at Hawaiʻi Public Television.