Janeen Antoine opens the show with a song sung by a Kanaka Maoli man, Sonny Hirakawa, whom she met near Hilo on the island of Hawaii on July 4, the 250th celebration of the U.S. Independence Day. Driving from the town of Volcano near the active Kilauea Crater, she was thinking to find some good trouble in Hilo, near the birthplace of King Kamehaha, the legendary warrior and chief who unified the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and established the Kingdom of Hawaii. Instead she found the good energy of Sonny who explained his recently examined Kanaka genealogy, including his great ancestor Havahava who was closely connected to King Kamehameha. He spoke of the impacts this has had on his life and how it is manifest in his values and actions. He has a song on You tube called Higher by Creed Ukulele style, @TūpahuAroha. He also opens with a song by by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwoʻole.
Bay Native Circle presents special guests and explores today’s Native issues, peoples, cultures, music & events on Wednesday evenings at 7 PM with rotating hosts in weekly order with Morning Star Gali, Eddie Madril, Janeen Antoine and Tony Gonzales. Frank Sterling and Cathy Jackson also periodically host.