Contemporary Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and Vocals + Hawaiian Swing and More

Lyrics, translations, and slack key guitar tunings at kipukamusic.com
credits

Pili Moreno - vocals, kī hō‘alu (Hawaiian slack key guitar), 6-string and 12-string rhythm and lead guitars, bass guitar, ‘ukulele, ipu heke, ‘ili‘ili, pū‘ili, ‘ohe hano ihu

Guest Artists
• Raymond Bambao - vocals on Ka Loke A‘o ‘Eulopa and Beauty Hula
• Bobby Black - steel guitar on Kaua‘i Rain and Ka Wai O Nāmolokama
• Pūlama (Jim Romano and Paula Kauapālaukī Rudman) - vocals on Kaua‘i Rain

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Derek Bianchi at MuscleTone Studios, Berkeley, California

Produced and arranged by Pili Moreno (Llewellyn ‘Unihipiliowailelepualu Moreno)

Design by Studio Talaga

Photos of Pili by Kathy Balint

ʻAkaka Falls

Kamaliʻi O Ka Pō

Beauty Hula

Aliʻipoe

Ka Wai O Nāmolokama

Contemporary Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and Vocals + Hawaiian Swing and More

Lyrics, translations, and slack key guitar tunings at kipukamusic.com
credits

Pili Moreno - vocals, kī hō‘alu (Hawaiian slack key guitar), 6-string and 12-string rhythm and lead guitars, bass guitar, ‘ukulele, ipu heke, ‘ili‘ili, pū‘ili, ‘ohe hano ihu

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Derek Bianchi at MuscleTone Studios, Berkeley, California

Produced and arranged by Pili Moreno (Llewellyn ‘Unihipiliowailelepualu Moreno)

Design by Studio Talaga

Photos of Pili by Kathy Balint

Hōʻea Ke Aloha

Kamalani O Keaukaha

Ka Loke O ʻEulopa

Kaʻiulani

The more i play and refine my sound, the simpler things get.  Simpler meaning there's no other instrumentation in this. Just a solo acoustic piece. I find that less is more and it's a joy to reach new levels of expression on the guitar. I'm even happier to get to share it for you to enjoy. 

Thank you for listening and supporting. Feel free to comment and shoot me a DM!

Stargate

I'm learning to produce my own music as I go so here is a remastered version of the song i recently released, "Looking Glass." I didnt expect it to go anywhere soon but more to stand as evidence of a song in the works, but the previous recording found its way to release radar on spotify! That was awesome but embarassing at the same time. That track wasnt ready. Here's a better version of the same song, "Looking Glass" that deals with my own battle with addiction. The dependency on anything that is ultimately limiting (drugs, booze, TV, food, porn, vaping/cigs, compulsive cleaning, etc) is the crack in the looking glass that i refer to in the song. When there is panic during a withdrawal, our perception is distorted. this distortion is the addiction.

Looking Glass (Remaster)

Edi'son

Let That Go is a rallying cry and support for anyone - myself included - who needs to find trust in themselves to let go of things, beliefs, people, places, jobs, etc. that may not align or support your best life. It takes courage to let go. At the time, I had to let go of some friends, social groups, and habits to gain some clarity about my own life. Yoga, and other meditative practices, approaches gaining clarity by doing less of what obstructs it in the first place. When you stop throwing stones, the ripples no longer obscure the view of what's beneath the surface. 

I wrote this YEARS ago but only recently have I become more comfortable with Studio One 6 and producing my own tracks. It took a long time (and it's still going) to learn how I can most effectively produce and release high quality tracks without painstaking redundancy or heads bashing into walls lol. 

Please enjoy my song, "Let That Go."

Thank you for listening and remember to like, follow, and share!

Sincerely, 
Owen

Let That Go

This mele koko was borne out of stories of unseen generations—roots music—"I call it my blood music. It stirs my blood' Keoki.

Hawaii Hoomanawanui 20241109 lyrics

2025-04-02 - Anthony Pfluke - Pro Arts - Kihei

pfluke

“Salomila” is a traditional Hawaiian mele (song) that carries a deeply emotional and often nostalgic tone. While lyrics may vary slightly between versions, “Salomila” typically tells a love story or a lament, possibly about a woman named Salomila (or a symbolic name). Some interpret the song as one of farewell or longing.

Hawaiian language songs often have kaona — hidden meaning — and Salomila may represent more than just a person. The name might symbolize a cherished memory, a home, or a past love.

The song is believed to be early 20th century, though some suggest it has older roots, and it may have been passed down through oral tradition before being recorded.

Arranged by Mark Kailana Nelson

Played on baritone 'Oli L1 acacia with LR Baggs 5.0 pickup.
Recorded from pickup and condenser microphone CAD GLX1200 (pickup L, mic R).
Reverb added in Reaper - OriRiver plugin.


Salomila (20250425)

Slack key ukulele composition by Mark Kailana Nelson

Played on baritone 'Oli L1 acacia with LR Baggs 5.0 pickup.
Recorded from pickup and condenser microphone CAD GLX1200 (pickup L, mic R).
Reverb added in Reaper - OriRiver plugin.

Slack Key #1 (20250428)

"Pūpū Hinuhinu" is a Hawaiian children written in 1950 by "Auntie" Nona Beamer.   

🌺 Background on "Pūpū Hinuhinu"   
Song Title Meaning:   
"Pūpū" = "shell" (like a seashell)
"Hinuhinu" = "shiny" or "sparkling"   
So Pūpū Hinuhinu roughly means "Shiny Shell" — it's a tender, sparkling image that fits a children's song perfectly.   

🎶 About the Song   
"Pūpū Hinuhinu" is a beloved Hawaiian children's song, often sung at schools, gatherings, and by families to young children.   

It’s about gathering beautiful, shiny shells along the beach, reflecting the simple joys of nature and connection to the land and sea.   

The melody is gentle, lyrical, and soothing, ideal for lullabies or teaching young children Hawaiian language through song.   

🌿 About Nona Beamer ("Aunty Nona")    
Nona Kapuailohiamanonokalani Beamer (1923–2008), known affectionately as "Aunty Nona," was one of the most influential figures in preserving and promoting traditional Hawaiian music, dance (hula), language, and storytelling.     

She came from a distinguished musical family — the Beamer family — and worked tirelessly to keep traditional Hawaiian culture vibrant. She is also a mother of Keola Beamer - one of Hawaii's preeminent slack key guitarists.    

Her approach combined authenticity with education: she wrote songs, performed, and taught both in Hawaii and around the world.    

Many of her compositions, like Pūpū Hinuhinu, are aimed at teaching love of nature, language, and culture to keiki (children) in a way that's natural and joyful.    

🌈 Cultural Importance    
Pūpū Hinuhinu is often one of the first songs children learn in Hawaiian, helping perpetuate cultural pride and connection from a young age.    

It's simple, but the imagery of picking shells that shine and sparkle ties deeply to Hawaiian ideas of cherishing small, natural beauties — a value embedded throughout Hawaiian thinking (known as maikaʻi — the appreciation of goodness and beauty).    

🐚 Typical Themes in the Lyrics    
Admiring the shells that shine in the sunlight    
Walking along the sandy beach (kahakai)    
Gathering the shells lovingly into your hands    

Joy and wonder at nature's simple treasures     

Lyrics:    
Pûpû hinuhinu    
Pûpû hinuhinu e    
O ke kahakai kahakai e    
Pûpû hinuhinu e   
    
Pûpû hinuhinu    
Pûpû hinuhinu e    
E lohe kâkou e    
Pûpû hinu e    
    
Pûpû hinu hinu    
Pûpû hinuhinu e    
E moe e moe    
E moe e    

Translation:    
Shiny shell    
My shiny little shell    
Found at the seashore    
My shell, shiny shell    
    
Shiny shell    
My shiny little shell    
We all listen    
My shell, shiny shell    

Shiny shell    
My shiny little shell    
To sleep, now to sleep    
To sleep, to sleep    

Arranged by Mark Kailana Nelson

Played on baritone 'Oli L1 acacia with LR Baggs 5.0 pickup.     
Recorded from pickup and condenser microphone CAD GLX1200 (pickup L, mic R).    
Reverb added in Reaper - OriRiver plugin.

Pūpū Hinuhinu (20250429)

 Aloha ʻOe is one of the most iconic and emotionally powerful songs in Hawaiian music history. Here’s a full background:

🌺 “Aloha ʻOe” – Farewell to Thee
Composer:
Queen Liliʻuokalani (1838–1917), the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, composed Aloha ʻOe in 1878.

🌈 Meaning of the Title
"Aloha" can mean love, hello, or goodbye — but more deeply, it embodies compassion, presence, and connection.

"ʻOe" means you.

So Aloha ʻOe translates to "Farewell to You", but the phrase is rich with feeling — it's not a casual goodbye, but a heartfelt parting filled with affection and longing.

📝 Story of the Song’s Origin
According to Queen Liliʻuokalani’s own account:

She wrote Aloha ʻOe after witnessing a tender farewell between a young officer and a young woman at Maunawili Ranch on the windward side of Oʻahu.

The moment inspired her to compose a melody while riding on horseback with her companions. She later wrote the lyrics, which speak of the pain and beauty of parting, often interpreted as romantic but equally resonant in broader cultural or historical contexts.

🎼 Musical Characteristics
Key: Usually played in C or G major, though often transposed to suit the singer.

Style: A waltz in 3/4 time, giving it a swaying, flowing rhythm that mirrors both the gentle trade winds and the rolling emotions behind the words.

The melody is simple, lyrical, and instantly memorable, with a slow, aching grace.

Harmonically, it blends Western tonality with Hawaiian melodic sensibilities — a symbol of the musical fusion of that time.

🇭🇲 Cultural and Historical Significance
Though originally a love song, Aloha ʻOe became a symbol of farewell to the Hawaiian monarchy itself after the overthrow of the Kingdom in 1893.

It was sung as Queen Liliʻuokalani surrendered her throne under protest. Since then, it has been associated with both mourning and hope.

It has become a global anthem of parting, often heard at graduations, memorials, farewells, and moments of historical reflection.

🌐 Legacy
Aloha ʻOe has been recorded and performed by countless artists worldwide — from Elvis Presley to Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, from orchestras to slack key soloists.

It stands as a testament to Hawaiian resilience, emotional expression, and the poetic nature of the language.

🌺 Aloha ʻOe (by Queen Liliʻuokalani)
Haʻaheo e ka ua i nā pali
Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele
E hahai ana paha i ka liko
Pua ʻāhihi lehua o uka

Hui (Chorus):
Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo
One fond embrace
A hoʻi aʻe au
Until we meet again

ʻO ka haliʻa aloha i hiki mai
Ke hone aʻe nei i kuʻu manawa
ʻO ʻoe nō kuʻu ipo aloha
A loko e hana nei

(Repeat Hui)


📜 First Verse (English Translation)
Farewell to you, farewell to you
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again

Arranged by Mark Kailana Nelson

Played on baritone 'Oli L1 acacia with LR Baggs 5.0 pickup.
Recorded from pickup and condenser microphone CAD GLX1200 (pickup L, mic R).
Reverb added in Reaper - OriRiver plugin.

Aloha Oe (20250501)

Live Looping - Fingerstyle Guitar - One Man Band :D

Owen Costello’s performances are a unique blend of musical styles, filled with positive energy and featuring live looping, fingerstyle and blues guitar, along with original lyrics that are both thought-provoking and uplifting.

“Owen is a great entertainer. Awesome vocals, guitar playing, and smooth leads that blend perfectly with his creativity in building beats and loops. He’s also a talented songwriter. I’m very impressed with the catalog of songs he’s written. I’ve had Owen perform at my farmers’ market numerous times, and it’s always a pleasure when he can be there. I’d recommend Owen to anyone looking for music for any occasion.”
—Kalima, Director of Pure Kona Green Market, Captain Cook, Hawaii

Owen’s music is a dynamic fusion of global philosophies, personal challenges and solutions, and influences from a wide variety of genres and eras—from folk to funk, fingerstyle to bossa nova, and Hawaiian slack key to hip hop. At one of his shows, audiences can expect to dance, laugh, reflect, and leave with words that inspire personal growth.

Growing up surrounded by acoustic guitars, Owen's musical journey began when his father taught him his first chord. From a young age, he dreamed of traveling and writing original music. Over time, music became more than a passion—it became his healer, his truth, and his source of joy.

After struggling with depression and anxiety, Owen discovered that creating melodies and chords was not just artistic expression, but a form of meditation. His approach to music is deeply intuitive, focusing on body, breath, and allowing melodies to emerge naturally. This shift transformed music into a tool for personal healing and growth.

Now, Owen's mission is to share this transformative power with others. Through his music, he hopes to inspire his audience to take the next step in their own journeys—facing fears, overcoming internal battles, and embracing happiness, health, and freedom. 

His songs reflect his own challenges and the path to healing, offering a message of love, resilience, and the pursuit of an intentional, authentic life.

“Owen did a great job entertaining the crowds at our 15th Annual Misquamicut Beach Fall Festival, and I would highly recommend him for any event or festival! He is a talented and engaging musician.”
—Caswell Cooke, Executive Director of Misquamicut Business Association

“He came with all of his equipment and set it up seamlessly. He performed several original songs and built the production up from scratch using a loop machine in real time. We, the audience, thoroughly enjoyed the process and were impressed with the way he tied all of the sounds together before singing and playing guitar over the entire loop! What a treat!” 
—Twyla Joi, Producer for Music Mondays at The Den Lounge, Coexist GameHouse, Times
Square, NYC

New tracks tagged #Slack Key