The Mākaha Sons, Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame inductees and winners of countless Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards) will bring traditional island harmonies to Irvine Barclay Theatre on Sept. 25. We chatted with founding member and frontman Jerome Koko.
What does continuing the band’s legacy mean to you?
I started the group in 1976 on the beach in Mākaha. As young Hawaiians, we knew our culture needed to be preserved, expressed and given a voice. What better way to share our language and culture with the world than through music?
How would you describe your music?
Our classic sound is simple in its complexity. We maintain the purity of the mana (spirit and power) of the composer’s original intent, bringing the words on the page to life to enhance the emotional connection to each song.
What can audiences expect at The Barclay show?
The classic Mākaha Sons sound, a few surprises of new music, lots of laughs and gorgeous hula by Puahi’s Polynesian Dancers.
Which song is most meaningful for you?
“Ke Alaula” holds a special place. Ke Alaula means the dawning, the sunset glow.
This song serves as a reminder that with every setting sun, tomorrow brings a new day. Each new dawn is a gift – an opportunity to be the best version of ourselves, to pursue our purpose wholeheartedly and to leave this ‘āina (land) better than we found it.
