KUPA'AINA profile picture

KUPA'AINA

Simple Island People

About Me

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From Waianae to Kahalu`u, from the island of Kaua`i to the Kingdom of Tonga, from roots deep in the `aina to seeds newly planted by immigrants, Kupa`äina has a deep reverence for the land of Hawai`i and a global ancestral heritage. Six local guys who love the traditional Hawaiian sound drink deep from a calabash of cultures and influences.Kupa`äina was originally the name for every ad hoc band that Kevin Chang ever played with in Hawai`i, on the West Coast or in Japan. Now, the name has culminated with a voice and identity created by Lau Aloua, Kalama Cabigon, Kevin Chang, Mark Lutwak, Jay Santos, and Stan Tibayan.The genesis of Kupa`äina’s style lay in its common love for traditional Hawaiian music. This expanded to draw on explorations into and inspirations from rock and roll, reggae, funk, Latin, ska, hip-hop and other influences. While eclectic, Kupa`äina's music remains rooted in the local experience, history and culture.Since 2000, Kupa`äina has played hundreds of gigs, with repeat performances at Ka Moloka`i Makahiki and the annual Kava Festival, events supporting organizations such as Aloha United Way, KEY Project, Punana Leo o Kawaiaha`o, Na Lei Na`auao: the Native Hawaiian Charter School Alliance, Halau Ku Mana, Hui Malama, and the Bishop Museum, as well as local clubs, festivals, and Hawai`i’s underground luau circuit.Kupa`äina's first album was released by Kototama Productions in 2004, and is back in the studio recording a second album.
Please support our music and purchase our album at your local records stores in Hawaii or online at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/kupaaina
We are also now available on I-TUNES and other upcoming digital distributors.Also Amazon and Borders.com.Our famous t-shirt "If can, can, if no can no can" can be purchased by calling (808)387-9854 or e-mailing: [email protected]. Booking engagements may be routed through this contact info as well.For more detailed info on the band go to www.kupaaina.com click on link "The Band." If you want to be added to our NEWSLETTER please write to [email protected]. We do not send out newsletters often so we will not be clogging your inbox except maybe once or twice a month.We are a Hawaiian and world music band. We have a traditional Hawaiian music background (kiho'alu, ukulele, leo ki'eki'e etc...) however our style is more a hybrid of old and new. We do original and traditional Hawaiian music as well take new approaches to the old trying to bridge cultures, generations and styles. Our music is eclectic and representative of island people and the human condition.
Let us know what you think!
CDBABY LINK for KUPAAINA
Simple Island People
KUPA'AINA PRODUCTS FOR SALE
If you would like one of our attractive t-shirts, download an order form and mail it to us with a check or money order.
KUPA'AINA BUMPER STICKER IS FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME
If you want to support and sport our "Kupa'aina: Simple Island People" sticker (on your car, folder, books, bikes, etc.) we are giving them out free for a limited time, ask us at our gigs, pick one up at Na Mea Hawai'i (Ward Warehouse) or Diamond Head Cove (3045 Monsarrat) or if you are off island send us a self-addressed stamped envelope requesting "the sticker" and we will drop you a free sticker in the mail ASAP. Send requests to: Kototama Productions, Kupa'aina Sticker Request, PO BOX 2273, Honolulu, Hawaii 96804. Make sure you include a self-adressed and stamped envelope as we cannot afford to pay postage. Mahalo!
PLEASE SUPPORT HALAU KU MANA!
www.halaukumana.org

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/2/2004
Band Website: kupaaina.com
Band Members:
Kevin Chang (Kahalu'u)

Kalama Cabigon (Kapahulu)

Jay Santos (Kahalu'u)

Stanley Tibayan (Kahalu'u)

Mark Lutwak (Kaneohe)

Lau Aloua(Waianae via Tonga)

Kanalu G.T. Young (Kapahulu) also works with us with compositions when can. Kupa'aina Alumni: Members of the band never fully leave as we are Ohana. Our former drummer Anson Pang has moved to Abilene, Texas. Our vocalist/keyboard/ukulele player Keao Cockett has started his own band but may still join us on stage now and then. Check him out at www.myspace.com/innersession. Luke Solatorio is a maintenance worker at WCC and runs a lot of sound for his church. Luke plays around town with the band Canoes For Rent from time to time.
Influences: In no particular order: Music is influenced by who we are, our environment, our souls and not just music or musicians...our families and loved ones, Halau Ku Mana New Century Public Charter School, Bob Marley, Prof. Cornel West, Jack Johnson and the Kokua Foundation, Alex Kinimaka and the Free-Hi family, the folks on Moloka'i, Tracey Terada, Leo Anderson Akana, Hui Ohana, Pekelo Cosma, music of all former and present members of the Sons of Hawaii and the Peter Moon Band, I Kona, Paulo Freire, Eddie Kamae, Gabby Pahinui, Five Stars (Samoan), Kelli Heath, Patty Larkin, Na Pali, Ledward Kaapana, Kenneth "Boom" Gaspar, Inner Session, Darren Benitez, Buddy Fo, Anita Baker, Kina Shoukichi and Champorros, Kamaha'o, WAR, Ry Cooder, Ernie Cruz Jr., Hapa, JRR Tolkein, Rage Against the Machine, Tom Waits, Joe Pass, Mop Tops, Prince, Toots and the Maytals, WSUP, Ooklah the Moc, Maria Remos, Isley Brothers, Maxwell, Sly and the Family Stone, Jamiroqoi, Buena Vista Social Club, Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, Guy Cruz, Ice Cube, Gandhi, Don Ho, The Girlas, Beat Takeshi, Frank Sinatra, KRS-1, Weird Al Yankovic, Arundhati Roy, Paula Fuga, Solomon Enos, Luther Vandross, Malcolm X, Frantz Fanon, Jesus Christ, Juzo Itami, Kwan Ti, Kuan Yin, Buddha, Tiffany Cruz, Martin Luther King Jr., Paul Mooney, Led Zeppelin, David Chapelle, Mohammed, Richard Pryor, David Fincher etc...
Sounds Like: We sound like ourselves....also, OUR SOUND IS ALWAYS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Record Label: Kototama Productions LLC
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Working on a new album

We shall now admit to the fact that we are working on a new album. In fact we have been working on it for 2 years now. In fact we just started on it. Thanks for supporting us through this and we promi...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 12:38:00 PST

KAMAU Live from the Lo'i

Grab KAMAU's premiere CD "Live From the Lo'i" getting mine tonight. Music about this place...music about now....KAMAU.www.myspace.com/kamauwww.kamaumusic.com
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Thu, 10 May 2007 09:25:00 PST

SIMPLE ISLAND PEOPLE acoustic version download now available

Aloha gang, We have now made available the simple acoustic version of our song SIMPLE ISLAND PEOPLE available as a download on our website. To download go to our homepage WWW.KUPAAINA.COM and click o...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Thu, 08 Feb 2007 12:35:00 PST

KUPA'AINA STICKERS FOR FREE

KUPA'AINA BUMPER STICKER IS FREE FOR LIMITED TIME. If you want to support and sport our "Kupa'aina: Simple Island People" sticker (on your car, folder, books, bikes etc) we are giving them out free ...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Mon, 05 Feb 2007 12:37:00 PST

Kototama Ohana Girlas Featured at Kokua Festival

Kupa'aina's sister band from Kototama Productions will be playing along with our bruddah Ernie Cruz Jr. at Jack Johnson's Kokua festival this year.Please support and check um out!!!www.thegirlas.comww...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 12:57:00 PST

Frank B. Shaner

A huge mahalo to Frank B. Shaner of KUMU 94.7 who invited Mr Chang and Uncle Stan onto his famed morning show yesterday.  Frank gave us an hour of overwhelming support and precious time and we ar...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Sat, 04 Nov 2006 11:32:00 PST

Aloha 'oe....Until We meet Again

Aloha Auntie Petra Tibayan. Wife of member Uncle Stanley Tibayan. She passed away on the morning of July 16, 2006. Loving wife, mother, grandmother and daughter. Auntie Petra will be missed she was a ...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Mon, 17 Jul 2006 02:09:00 PST

Every THIRD Thursday

Every THIRD thursday Mr Chang of Kupa'aina and WSUP (whoever shows up) lay at the Diamond Head Cove Health Bar 3045 Monsarrat Avenue from about 9pm until 11:00pm or so. Those dates would be:June 15, 2...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Thu, 15 Jun 2006 02:14:00 PST

MANA MAOLI CD II available!!!!

Buy yours now! You will love this CD and you will be supporting progressive initiatives in Hawai'i! Double CD available at www.halaukumana.org. $20.00 includes educational video short on Halau Ku Man...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Thu, 20 Apr 2006 06:44:00 PST

THE GIRLAS April 4, 2006

THE GIRLAS The Girlas (www.thegirlas.com, www.myspace.com/thegirlas) headed by one of our record label Kototama Productions owners and producers, Kelli Heath is releasing their album in 3 days. Pleas...
Posted by KUPA'AINA on Sun, 02 Apr 2006 08:54:00 PST