Nani Dudoit, kumu hula wife of entertainer Horace Dudoit of the group Ho‘okena, is making her debut as a solo recording artist with the release tomorrow (Dec. 5) of her single, “Maika‘i Waipi‘o.”
“It’s a passion project,” said hubby Horace of the tune, which has historic and familial implications:
- It honors her ‘ohana and mother Cosmiana Ann Parilla, a onetime vocalist of Filipino heritage who performed on the “Filipino Fiesta” TV shows in the late 1950s through the early 1960s.
- It’s the first song Nani’s Halau Kaleilehuaikealoonalani learned together as an ensemble in the halau’s formative years; the composer was Princess Miriam Likelike.
- The effort is to produce a 45 rpm disc featuring her voice, and thus provide a bit of history to pass on to the family’s children including mo‘opuna (grandchildren), to prevent a void in her mom’s life; she had recorded a 45, too, but Nani’s dad and aunties could not find the historic recording, so Nani is doing the single as a celebration of her mom’s legacy.
- Husband Horace arranged the song and performed on six-string guitar on the session, recorded on Nov. 14, Nani’s birthday; industry notables who participated include David Kauahikaua (string arrangements), Shawn Pimental (recording engineer), Dave Tucciarone (mix and master), Brad “Kanai‘a” Nakam (cover art) and Kaipo Hale, Moon Kauakahi and Les Ceballos (consultants).
I got a preview listen of Nani’s single venture, and her voice is made for recording; she sings all three parts when harmony is required, and “Maika‘i Waipi‘o” — sung in Hawaiian — likely will emerge as a halau favorite, not just within her camp, but in other halau seeking a sweet memory of a beloved song composed by a royal Hawaiian princess. The “place” song beatifully pays tribute to Waipi‘o Valley on the Big Island, and Nani’s performance on disc is a formidable salute to the past and a glowing beacon for the future.
Nani is not in pursuit of a recording career, but this recording might change her mind. She wants to remain a hula practitioner and a solo hula stylist with Ho‘okena, though she sang in her high school concert glee and choir. “Maika‘i Waipi‘o” simply was the right song for the right time – performed in an event, “Na Lani Eha” — in her journey as an entertainer.
The disc is being released on all digital music platforms…
And that’s Show Biz…