I am honored to have an opportunity to share with you the impact that Hawaiian music has had on my life. As a little girl, in British Columbia Canada, I listened every week to "Hawaii Calls" on the radio. My father's friend had bought me my own hula skirt and I danced along every week with the radio. In grade 2 the theme of our Christmas concert was "Christmas in Hawaii". It was then I learned "The Hukilau"! After that, I was 'hooked'.

I read the book of poetry my mother had of Don Blanding and dreamed one day of visiting your State. It wasn't until I was about 31 that I finally visited your beautiful State and a few years later I was lucky enough to be able to go there once a year.

In 1993 I was walking along the beach in Maui with my walkman on (tuned to a Hawaiian Radio Station , of course) and heard the most incredible harmony. I discovered later, that it was Hapa and so then began my love of the newer generation of Hawaiian musicians, Hapa, Keali'i Reichel, the Beamer family, and George Kahumoku Jr. and the wonderful Slack Key artists that he presents on Maui.

Your emphasis on 'family' and respect for the older generations shines through in your performances and your lyrics. At the PTC conference that my husband and I attended in Waikiki, the Hula School that performed was a shining example of how your heritage is being passed down to the younger generation. It is so important to keep these traditions alive.

Every year that we visit your State, we are greeted with such warmth and hospitality. I am so glad to finally have an opportunity to convey to any Hawaiian person listening, how much your music has meant to me.

Thank you so much for sharing it.

P.S. in Jan. 2007 , on Maui, 53 years from my first hula lesson in grade 2, I learned the Hukilau again! I actually had remembered a lot!

Myrna D.
British Columbia