Sandii's Hawai'i

Sandii's first Hawaiian album, released in 1996 with a guest list of talented and renowned Hawaiian musicians, is finally available digitally.

Sandii, vocalist of Sandii & the Sunsetz, who successfully blended Eastern, Western, and Pop influences and was active mainly in the 1980s, returned to her roots of Hawaiian music and hula in the 1990s with this Hawaiian album, produced by Makoto Kubota. The album contains 14 tracks ranging from traditional Hawaiian music to Tahitian.

The album features guitarist Yuki Alana Yamauchi, known for his slack key technique, Robi Kahakalau as know as Sister Robi, Martin Pahinui, whose father is legendary Hawaiian musician Gabby Pahinui,
and John Koko, a member of The Makaha Sons.

The cover photographer is Itaru Hirama, who has photographed many musicians, including "NO MUSIC, NO LIFE.", as known as a corporate message of TOWER RECORDS.

These are but a few of the songs included;

Hapa Haole Song's signature song, "Waikiki" by Andy Cummings,

"The Moon Of Manakoora", the theme song of the Hollywood movie "Hurricane" released in 1937,

"Bunga Sayang" by Dick Lee, a Singaporean singer who also had a hit in Japan, with Hawaiian lyrics,

Composed by Francis Zanami, leader of the Hawaii Shochiku Band, which was active in Hawaii after World War II, "Wakale No Isochidori", a big hit among the Hawaiian Nikkei community,

"Aloha 'Oe" by Queen Liliuokalani, a traditional Hawaiian song known throughout the worldwide,

and famous love ballad song "Ku'u Ipo I Ka He'e Pu'e One" by Queen Likelike.

The variety of songs and authentic Hawaiian arrangements are tremendously outstanding.