Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 7, 1 July 2004 — ʻVaihitianʻ is a collection of popular Tahitian tunes by Vaihi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻVaihitianʻ is a collection of popular Tahitian tunes by Vaihi

By Manu Boyd During a time of celebration and significant political change in Tahiti with the recent election of independence advocate Oscar Temaru as president of French Polynesia, Tahiti airwaves are buzzing with news, and lilting with a new but familiar sound from northern Polynesia: Lā'ie's own Vaihi. Meaning "spring water" in Tahitian, or referring to the name "Hawai'i," Vaihi is a quartet of loeal boys who all have ties to Lā'ie in 0'ahu's Ko'olauloa district. Led by Aaron Ka'ōnohi, the quartet includes Peter Lakatani, Bruce Keola Nalua'i, and perhaps its best-known member, Samuela "Braddah Sam" Langi Jr., who along with FM 100 DJ wife "Lina Girl," hosts Loeal Kine Grinds. "We did a concert in Fa'a'a in Tahiti a few years ago. There was a big uprising there and

they burnt down the airport. There was the French Military on one side of the road and the i Fa'a'a people on the other," / remembers Ka'ōnohi, whose r Tahitian wife is from Papeari. JL The struggle between those

who support independence and the colonizing French government has gone head to head for years, sparking a strong sense of Maohi

(native) identity among Tahitians. "We were approached by Marotea, a Tahitian song writer, to record his music. He liked our vocal sound and wanted us to give his music a different flavor. Many of the songs were already hits in Tahiti," said Ka'ōnohi. "We released 'Vaihitian' in Tahiti last October.

Several cuts have already / made number one, like / "Fakatereterey "Hei no Tamatoa " and "Hei TereT Vaihi members are full-time musicians whose success they attribute in part to their wives. 'They basically give us the

/ 'thumbs up' or 'thumbs down' on ■ what we do," said Ka'ōnohi. "We / built a studio at my plaee in / Kahalu'u and have produced a eou-

2^^ / ple of recordings there. Another big project we're working on is a ehildren's T.V. show called 'Kolohe Time.' In it we're promoting Hawaiian values for kids. When the group is not traveling to such favorite See VAIHI on page 18

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VAIHI from page 1 1

places as Tahiti and Japan, they perform private gigs around town regularly, and when their schedule permits they're at Tiki's in the Aston Waikīkī Beach Hotel, performing their Tahitian hits as well as their Hawaiian favorites. "Basically, we like to have fun," said Ka'ōnohi. And what's up next for Vaihi? "Salad," said Ka'ōnohi. "We're on a diet together," he quipped. For more information on the slimmer and trimmer Vaihi and their recordings, visit www.vaihi.com la Orana! ■