Track Listing

1. Right On - The Moonlighters
2. Holoholo Ka'a - Willie K., Willie K.
3. Moloka'i Slide - Ehukai
4. Cockeyed Mayor of Kaunakakai - Teresa Bright
5. Pule O'o - Justin Kawika Young
6. Come to Hawaii - Joe McDermott
7. Po La'ila'i - Raiatea
8. Pi'i Mai Ka Nalu - Robi Kahakalau
9. Local to the Max - Imua
10. Toad Song - Keali'i Reichel

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54752 in Music
• Brand: Putumayo Kids
• Released on: 2008-01-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .25 pounds

Album Description
Hawaiian Playground is a lively collection that explores the playful side of Hawaiian music. With selections featuring the sounds of ukuleles, steel guitars and harmonious vocals, this album is as colorful as the islands which inspired it.

The Hawaiian people have inhabited the islands for centuries and their traditional Polynesian heritage still plays a key role in their music making today. Energetic performances and exploration with unique instruments first helped the music gain attention in the United States. Now, with an increased variety of distinctive styles, the music of these islands has become recognized and appreciated all over the world.

Hawaiian Playground is a true family-friendly collection. Children will love singing along to Keali Reichel's "Toad Song" and bouncing around to Willie K's "Holoholo Ka'a" while parents might find themselves daydreaming about escaping to these warm tropical islands to the classic Hawaiian stylings of Robi Kahakalau and Raiatea. Songs from Hawaiian artists Ehukai and Imua make us feel at home as they sing about their love and appreciation for their island homes. The lively collection also includes tracks from mainland artists that have incorporated Hawaiian sounds into their music. New York's Moonlighters and Joe McDermott of Texas encourage listeners to get away to the shady palms and sandy beaches of Hawaii. Two of Hawaii's rising stars, Justin Young and Teresa Bright round out this playful collection.

A portion of Putumayo's proceeds from the sale of this CD will be donated to PACT (Parents And Children Together) Hawaii in support of its efforts to promote and support healthy individuals, families and communities.

About the Artist
Putumayo World Music was established in 1993 to introduce people to the music of the world's cultures. The label grew out of Putumayo clothing company, founded by Dan Storper in 1975 and sold in 1997. Co-founder Michael Kraus joined Dan to launch Putumayo World Music and establish a non-traditional sales division. Putumayo World Music has become known primarily for its upbeat and melodic compilations of great international music characterized by the company's motto: "guaranteed to make you feel good!" Putumayo's CD covers feature the distinctive art of Nicola Heindl, whose colorful, folkloric style represents one of Putumayo's goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary. By combining appealing music and visuals with creative retail marketing, Putumayo has developed a unique brand identity - a rarity in today's artist-based music industry.

Customer Reviews

Sunny music for a cool day- but too short
I love the Playground series from Putumayo and this, their newest release, is lots of fun too. Kids may like it but adults will too! Though three of the 10 tracks are more reggae than "hula", Willie K's track has a cool 30s swing arrangement and Joe McDermott (an Austin, Tx singer who's never been to Hawaii!) starts off his track with added surface noise to replicate an old 78rpm record! The Moonlighters (another non-Hawaiian group - they are from New York City) have a doo-wop sound.

One highlight - at least for me - is the track by Raiatea, which has a melody that will make you hit the "Repeat" button and a great extended solo on the slack-key guitar.

That said, the real disappointment is the CDs length. The 10 tracks fill less than 30 minutes! Surly Putumayo could have licensed tracks for performers like the young uke player Jake Shimabukuro (check him out on You Tube), or added a historic recording by the great Sol Hoopi. It's because of the length that I downgraded my rating. Otherwise it's a fun disc for kids and adults alike.

One additional gripe: The liner notes try to teach children how to pronounce unusual words and, in this case it's the word "ukulele". Though SOME Amwerican's pronounce it "YOU-Ke-Leh-lee", the proper Hawaiian pronunciation is "Oo-koh-leh-lee". Someone slipped up here.

Steve Ramm
"Anything Phonographic"

This is surprisingly disappointing
I have about 5 from this collection and we love them. Especially the French and African ones but I have to say this is really bad. This can't possibly be representative of the Hawaiian culture and it's music. Was this honestly the best they could do???

Mellow.
I purchased this with the hopes of staving off some late winter blahs (influenza with toddlers trapped in the house, anyone?). I can't say it really recalled that serene feeling that I had on our honeymoon. The tracks were authentic but came over as flat and similar with no real upbeat songs.

Probably exactly what it was supposed to be, just not the kind of album I will play over and over, unlike Putamayo's "Animal Playground" "Folk Playground" and "Latin Playground." I also recommend They Might Be Giants, Father Goose, and the Hipwaders for kid-music.