In our culture knowing who you are and what you're about is valued highly. Despite our technology which makes our world a smaller place, and who much of a multi cultured society we've become, knowing where we come from is also treasured.

In the case of one Mailani Makainai, it seems she has known for a long time who she is, and where she's come from and she's never strayed from it. Mailani's self acknowledgment of her multi-genre tastes along with her talents has brought her to this point and time where she is now, and this brand new CD is a welcome addition to that broad acknowledgment.

In the past we've gotten to know Mailani from Keahiwai; very mainstream Contemporary Hawaiian Music that talked about things now with Hawai'i, local girls and local lifestyle. Her joining Mighty-J (while never leaving Keahiwai) satisfied her taste for her Contemporary music tastes from outside of Hawai'i. All of these are part of who she is and the music she enjoys.

But with this release she finally gets to satisfy the longing of someone who wants to express her hawaiian side. Bringing some of the contemporary sounds of today, and mixing them with traditional hawaiian language ('Ōlelo Hawaiʻi) to give them a whole new sound, and perhaps a whole new audience; while the people already listening to hawaiian music will enjoy!

Some of the subtleties of this release: Hearing in one song Mailani sing, then in the paʻani hearing the musicians slide into an "distinguished" (older sound) with a very hawaiian sound then swinging right back into the song with the beat back in. This acknowlegment of older and newer together also has an underlying theme, bridging "old" and new, traditional and contemporary, giving hawaiian language music another genre outlet throughout most of the CD.

In the song that Mailani sings in English, I love the sound of the song and strength of her conviction in the lyrics intertwined with her voice. but I couldnʻt help being curious of what a full band with a "Maroon 5"ish sound would be like with Mailani singing the same song. Perhaps another genre exploration for another time.

I give this CD very high marks (9.5) knowing that the song is on the mark language wise, knowing that this will appeal to both young and old alike, and knowing that; along with all the other genre that Mailani appreciates and participates in, she holds hawaiian close to her heart, while never straying away from who she is.