A Hawaiian Like Me: Piano/Vocal/Chords

This collection captures the genuine magic of Hawaiian music without relying on stereotypes or thin exotica novelties. The mix of traditional songs, beloved standards, and Kamakawiwo'ole's own compositions gives singers and pianists material that audiences genuinely want to hear, creating natural performance energy that transcends typical novelty or special-concert programming.

These arrangements invite you into warm, sun-soaked soundscapes where melody takes precedence and harmonic movement feels natural rather than complex. Whether playing a rollicking novelty number like "Tiny Bubbles" or the introspective beauty of "Over the Rainbow," the music maintains a conversational quality that feels intimate even in larger performance spaces.

This book serves singers preparing material for recitals, benefit concerts, or relaxed performance settings, as well as pianists building a repertoire of accessible, audience-friendly arrangements. It also works for intermediate musicians seeking to develop cultural knowledge through playing, or anyone designing a Hawaiian-themed concert, community event, or special presentation.

• Pay attention to the ukulele voicings embedded in the piano arrangements; they carry the harmonic and rhythmic character of Hawaiian music. Let those figures breathe and don't rush the attack on chords.
• Use the chord grids not just for guitarists but as a reference for understanding the harmonic color. Many of these songs sit beautifully in voicings that prioritize open strings and extensions, which should inform your touch and pedaling at the keyboard.
• Approach tempos with relaxation rather than precision. Hawaiian music thrives on a gentle, unhurried quality. Singers and pianists should lock into a shared sense of ease rather than mechanically hitting a metronomic pulse.
• The lyrics carry cultural and emotional weight, especially in songs like "Hawai'i '78" and traditional chants. Connect to the meaning and let that inform your phrasing, dynamics, and interpretive choices rather than treating text as decoration.

Build an entire Hawaiian-themed concert around this collection, or weave individual selections into summer pops series, community celebrations, or benefit concerts where accessible, feel-good repertoire serves the occasion. The range of styles within the book (from traditional chants to contemporary hits) makes it easy to program a cohesive set that holds audience attention without requiring extensive supporting context.

• Singing or playing Hawaiian melodic contours and ornamentation patterns
• Navigating chord changes across a wide harmonic range (major, minor, extended, and altered chord voicings)
• Coordinating voice and piano parts with independence of line
• Interpreting rhythm and phrasing in non-metered or loosely metered passages
• Reading chord symbols and applying them to keyboard and optional guitar accompaniment