News

November 2003

"HAWAIIAN HEALING JOURNEY" IS THE FIRST CD OF ITS KIND

Join an 'i'iwi  bird on its journey through Hawai'i's beautiful landscape - from the heavens at dawn to the pristine shore, from hidden valleys to a sacred heiau, into the womb of the island's magical and mystical, mist-laden rainforest.

Experience, for the first time, a CD created to help you relax and enjoy massage and meditation. Two of Hawai'i 's multi-talented musicians and composers - Bryan Kessler, formerly of the Hawaiian-Style Band, and Steve Jones, well-known local jazz musician and producer - have spent the past two years nurturing a unique and special CD that should quickly find its niche - "Hawaiian Healing Journey."  

It is special because "Hawaiian Healing Journey" creates an experience for the listener to and then soar back into the heavens over majestic mountain peaks into the light of a new day.

"My wife, Lee Ann Jones, is the general manager for the Hawai'i office of RAJA International Hawai'i, Inc. which teaches the Hawaiian art of lomilomi to Japanese students," said Steve.  "She said there were so many New Age CD's out there, but nothing that was truly Hawaiian and specifically meant to accompany lomilomi.  And that's how the seed of this idea was planted."

Jones and Kessler started brainstorming and decided that if they were going to do this, they were going to do it pono, the right way, and they embraced the project with a passion to create something truly unique, Hawaiian, and healing.  

It was also important, according to Kessler, to remove the "human element" as much as possible to keep the project one that focused on nature in its pristine glory.  The idea of following the flight of the 'i'iwi came from a meeting with local artist Patrick Ching.  The ‘i’iwi is a forest bird that was used to make Hawaii feather capes.  It is rare today.

The paintings of Hawai'i landscapes and native birds in Ching's studio captured the duo's attention immediately as having exactly the right "feeling" of what they were trying to convey with music.  

The CD cover features the 'apapane, an endemic species of honeycreeper that inhabits Hawai'i 's forests, one of the landscapes we visit on our musical journey.  Ching also introduced Jones and Kessler to the adaptable 'i'iwi, another honeycreeper that travels throughout the islands' vast terrain, and not just within one specific environment.  

Upon hearing that, a lightbulb went off in Lee Ann's head, and the CD's journey now took flight with the help of the 'i'iwi.  "And the music just started to flow after that," said Kessler.
However, that doesn't mean there weren't a few "turbulents" along the way.  As Jones and Kessler composed, they brought CD tracks to RAJA for the lomilomi practitioners to use while working and provide feedback.  After a series of hits and misses with their critical focus group, the final product emerged as a perfect 63-minute accompaniment to the art of lomilomi.  

Jones and Kessler soon realized this would be something helpful for all massage therapists, people who meditate, and anyone in need of relaxation.  "Hawaiian Healing Journey" is ideal any time one needs to unwind and escape from the hectic pace of daily life.  

"We were told the CD should have a warning label like some medications - 'Do not take if driving or operating machinery.  May cause drowsiness.'" joked Jones.  "But seriously, this is not one of those CD's we would recommend playing in your car - it really puts people to sleep!"

Jones and Kessler brought in a group of talented artists to make their vision for "Hawaiian Healing Journey" a beautiful reality:  Kit Ebersbach (keyboards), Ruth Komatsu (nose flute, recorder), Noel Okimoto (percussion), Maila Gibson (voice), Ken Emerson (steel guitar), Kumu Hula Blaine Kia (chant), former Miss Aloha Hula Regina Maka'ika'i Igarashi (narration), and Pono Jones (laughter).  

Kessler and Jones perform on guitars and bass, respectively, and Jones' wife, Lee Ann, also served as creative consultant on the project.

This is a journey of Hawai'i 's haunting depths and enticing treasures, where one can get blissfully lost and found.  

The journey is meant to take one on a spiritual and visual journey as well as an auditory one, but it is also created to go perfectly with massage, meditation and relaxation, from a gentle start to the more intense, and finally, the feeling of light and weightlessness at the end.  

And yet, this journey is not meant to end there, but, as with lomilomi, the effects are meant to stay with you...to heal, to relax, to center yourself throughout the day.

The CD jacket and liner notes also show no less care and consideration for detail.  The cover is a montage of artwork by noted local artist Patrick Ching, seamlessly joined by graphic artist Faye Mahealani Jones with assistance from Craig Okino.  The rest of the attractive 12-panel package provides the visual and written images the CD conveys through its musical imagery.

HAIR MAGNATE PAUL BROWN 
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX, AGAIN

Honolulu ’s famous hair salon artist, Paul Brown, is taking another leap – this time into the full-service, luxury spa business.  Spa Olakino * Salon opens November 7, 2003 at the new Waikiki Marriott Hotel and is the first venture of Brown's that does not bear his name.

Brown has four salons, day spas and spas in Hawaii : three on the island of Oahu-—one in the city, two full service salons in suburban Honolulu-- and the salon and spa at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel at Mauna Kea Resort, located on the Kohala Coast of the island of Hawaii .

Brown started in the hair salon business in Hawaii in 1970 and has become famous.  His clientele includes the Morita family, founders of Sony, and Yaeko Shiotsuki, Etiquette Director for Japan¹s Emperor, Hawaii 's highest elected officials, performers and business leaders. International notables and European and Asian royalty seek out his services.

He founded the successful international hair care products company, which bears his name in 1980.  Brown hopes that Olakino, which means wellness in Hawaiian, will become a worldwide brand.

The 6,000 square-foot facility features faux lava rock with petroglyphs, water features and marble designed by Honolulu-based architect Brian Fujiwara. Spa Olakino * Salon will have 10 treatment rooms divided into six massage treatment rooms; two wet and dry treatment rooms, one of which is the couple¹s room with a Japanese furo soaking bath; and two facial rooms. 

There will also be three hair dressing stations, one makeup station, two manicure and pedicure stations, a women¹s and men¹s locker room, and four steam showers.  A 24-hour fitness and exercise room with state-of-the-art equipment will be located next to the spa. 

With glass windows all along the 75-foot-long lounging area, Spa Olakino * Salon patrons will delight in breathtaking views of Waikiki Beach and the blue Pacific.   Fresh Hawaiian plants and fruits will be abundant in the spa.  Hawaii grown papaya, Kona coffee beans, and aloe vera are but a few items available to mix and apply on clients for body scrubs, masks or skin treatments. 

The signature spa treatment is the Olakino Experience.  It is an all-day affair starting with a foot wash using warm mineral water, Hawaiian salt and peppermint oil. 

Next is the signature Magic Island massage, a fusion of Thai massage, lomi lomi, shiatsu and reflexology, using an infusion of grape seed oil and Awapuhi Kauiwi (wild ginger).  A pineapple and papaya enzyme body scrub follows the massage.  The Aloe and Hawaiian spirulina (sea kelp) wrap ends the body treatment, leaving a relaxing aromatherapy facial to complete the Olakino Experience.  A healthy lunch and champagne cocktail are included in the service.

Stan Engeldorf, general manager at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, said, "The addition of Spa Olakino * Salon is the crowning touch to our $60 million modernization. The spa will, indeed, fully enhance this resort with superior guest accommodations, services and amenities consistent with Marriott brand standards." 

LINKING PAST AND PRESENT, MAUNA LANI CULTURE GOES ONLINE  

KOHALA COAST, Hawaii -- Danny "Kaniela" Akaka is the cultural compass or spiritual guide at Mauna Lani, and if you're wondering how to properly pronounce his Hawaiian name, the new Web site www.maunalaniculture.org can help you get it right.

The Web site is part of Akaka's ongoing effort to spread the wisdom of Hawaiian culture, particularly the rich heritage of Kalahuipua'a, the land and ancient fishponds that are the piko, or spiritual center, of Mauna Lani Resort. Accurate pronunciation of "Kalahuipua'a," and other potentially confounding words, can be heard on the Web site by clicking on highlighted terms.

A long-standing Mauna Lani program featured on the site is the Turtle or "Honu" program. Up-to-date maps showing the actual ocean travel of released turtles bearing satellite transmitters (part of a Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center NOAA satellite tracking study) are posted on the site, along with photos of the appealing marine creatures. The Web site also describes cultural events hosted by Mauna Lani at the Eva Parker Woods Cottage.

The "talk story" format of the culture Web site is intended to give an "in-house" glimpse of Hawaiian culture in action to an internet-wide audience, and features Akaka's perspective on living Hawaiian cultural values and wisdom in the 21st Century. Conceptually designed and maintained by Leilani Hino of the resort's Communication Education and Culture Department, www.maunalaniculture.org includes a section about the ancient fishponds, with detailed pictures of fish and wildlife, planned for expansion with a plant section in development. Other site areas include "Ancient Wisdom," and the "Mauna Lani 'Ohana.

Hawaiian culture has experienced a renaissance in recent years, whereby its music, dance, language, food and healing arts can be found across a vast cultural diaspora both in and outside of Hawaii. The rebirth of these ancient traditions is receiving welcomed responses, and this heartfelt appreciation has led to a new openness for Hawaiiana. What has often times been mere entertainment can now be explored in a legitimate contemporary cultural setting, with real spiritual connections to ancient traditions and ways of life.

Mauna Lani Resort is ideally located on the Big Island's Kohala Coast, 25 minutes north of the Kona International Airport. It features the award-winning Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, nestled oceanfront and surrounded by acres of preserved, ancient Hawaiian fishponds. Amenities include two 18-hole championship golf courses, tennis courts, and Mauna Lani Spa.

Heart of Hawaii Tour

Stuff Nobody Told Me

E-Mail: waikikinews

Steve Lent • Publisher | Alvin Koo • Editor | Alden Ng • Production