This is a much better musical journey (for me), vs. the previous Hawaiian band...however I can help feeling that this region's music has been adopted wholesale from their European domination. I confess I know little (if anything) about their culture/history.
http://www.amazon.com/Ke-Alaula-Makaha-Sons-Niihau/dp/B000008RD0
Yeah, for the most part they've been adopted and just trying to make a buck (can you blame them?). Poor people in an expensive part of the world. A wonderful culture, though (My sister lives there, a doctoral candidate in cultural anthropology... and knows a lot of the musicians).
Try a group called Hapa (Hawaiian word for "half"... half haole (white boy), half native. The haole half is an arrogant scotsman but an amazing guitarist).
Or Olomana... great group, met these guys, some really creative music.
Keali'i Reichel seems to be the popular home boy these days... pretty cool sounds, but a little too newage for me.
or some of Amy Hanaiali'i Gillom's stuff just blows me away.
