Kalapana is an iconic American pop-rock band from Honolulu, Hawaii that has been making a name for itself in the music industry since 1973. The group is renowned for their songs “Naturally” and “The Hurt”, and have been nominated for several Nani Awards, predecessors of the current Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. In this article, we'll explore some of the most famous Kalapana music artists and their contributions to the industry. Kalapana was formed when childhood friends DJ Pratt and Malani Bilyeu auditioned at Rainbow Villa for Cecilio & Kapono. Bilyeu was a soloist at Oar House in Hawaii (Kai), while Pratt was downstairs at Chuck's in Sunlight with Kirk Thompson.
They met in Pratt's grandfather's garage with Mackey Feary, another soloist at the Oar House. They wrote songs, rehearsed, and discussed the meaning of Kalapana. The literal translation of the word “Kalapana” is “to make money flow”, but Thompson said the meaning was “rhythm of the music”. Pratt thought it meant “black sand”, and after a few head shakes and smiles, they emerged as Kalapana. Kalapana's first concert was at Chuck's in Hawaii, Kai.
Their overwhelming success extended to a three-concert event at the Waikiki Shell, attended by a record 25,000 people. In 1977, they participated in the selection of participants for the album project “Home Grown”, which showcased Hawaiian talent. They were nominated for four categories and received awards for “Best Performance by a Duo or Group” and “Best Male Vocalist” for Mackey Feary. More recently, Kalapana released a new CD in Japan entitled “The Very Best Of Kalapana”, which includes 20 of their hits. They also released the Hawaiian version of “Captain Santa Island Music” with notes from international radio DJ Kamasami Kong.
Kalapana has appeared on Japanese television stations in commercials for the “Captain Santa” clothing line over the past two years. The original members Feary, Bilyeu, Pratt and Thompson met for the first time in late 1973 at Jolly Rogers in Kahala. At Pratt's grandfather's mansion (he owned a parking lot), Bilyeu remembers that they chose War's “All Day Music” as the first song to sing together. Bassist Kenji Sano divides his time between Japan and Sherman Oaks, Holomalia and Pratt come from Honolulu, and Bilyeu arrives from Kapaa, Kauai. Kalapana remains an inspiration to contemporary Hawaiian music and musicians today. The domestic version of their album contained eight Kalapana tracks, while the Japanese version was a two-disc set with a total of 22 tracks, with additional orchestral music composed by David Wheatley. In conclusion, Kalapana is one of the most influential American pop-rock bands from Honolulu, Hawaii.
They have been making waves in the music industry since 1973 with their songs “Naturally” and “The Hurt”. They have been nominated for several Nani Awards and have released several albums over the years. Their music continues to be an inspiration to contemporary Hawaiian music and musicians today.