Pākaʻa Lanakila! (orchestration in progress)

for Orchestra and Narrator (English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi versions)
• LEVEL: Professional
• DURATION: 33′
• PREMIERE YEAR: 0
• INSTRUMENTATION: 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tuba, timp, 3 perc, hp, pno, strings, narr, 2 kaʻekeʻeke (F#3, C#4)

Performance Resources

Pāka‘a Lanakila!, the 33-minute “music-moʻolelo” (music story) is finally getting a makeover… FOR FULL ORCHESTRA! Originally commissioned by Chamber Music Hawaii for the Spring Wind Quintet with generous support from the Honolulu Mayor’s Office on Culture and the Arts, Pākaʻa first premiered in its English version. After this first performance, and with the generous help of Sam ʻOhu Gon III and B.K. Cabigon, an ʻolelo Hawaiʻi version was developed along with free educational resources (with additional generous help from educator Mailelauliʻi Nakī), supported by the Kosasa Foundation and private donors, and this version has been the main version performed past 10 years by the Spring Wind Quintet and master storyteller B. K. Cabigon. In both English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi versions, the narrator tells a humorous and ultimately empowering story of Pākaʻa, a boy living on Kaua‘i long ago, in the cliffs of Ke-ahi-ahi (near the present-day Kealia) with his single mother and her bird-catching brother. Pākaʻa is tired of the fishermen making fun of his uncle because he struggles to provide the family with fish—only birds. Pāka‘a is also frustrated that the fishermen never give generously of their fishing catch to him, believing that his uncle, Ma‘ilou, is too lazy to deserve it. Pāka‘a, however, figures out a clever way to beat the fishermen at their own game, and wins many ka‘au (quantities of forty) of his favorite mālolo fish. With timeless ʻōlelo noʻeau (wise, Hawaiian sayings), learning opportunities in traditional Hawaiian knowledge systems and hana noʻeau (Hawaiian arts), beautiful story-telling images by artist Caren Loebel-Fried, and masterful story-telling by B.K. Cabigon and Sam ʻOhu Gon III, the work (in its wind quintet form) has become a favorite for families and school children across Kauaʻi, Maui, Moku o Keawe (Big Island), Lānaʻi, Molokai, and Oʻahu.

Hear the sounds of the new
makeover (computer mockup)

**Hear the draft partial orchestral score recording featuring masterful storytelling from haʻi moʻolelo B. K. Cabigon and Sam ʻOhu Gon III

**Read the English-ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi text (hosted by Chamber Music Hawaii)

**Peruse the draft orchestral score (partial)

**Reach out here if you would like to receive updates on the new orchestral version.

Teacher Resource Guide | Palapala Kumu Haʻawina

Pākaʻa Lanakila! was composed to bring the sounds of live concert music and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi to generations young and old.  It has been performed for families and school children by Chamber Music Hawaiʻi’s Spring Wind Quintet, on all of the major Hawaiian islands.

When students jump into the waʻa (canoe) with their new friend Pākaʻa, they experience Pākaʻa’s victories over adversity.  They learn that challenging conventional thinking can sometimes yield interesting and valuable results. And they are reminded in numerous ways that patience is often necessary in any worthwhile undertaking.

To deepen the learning, a free Teacher Resource Guide supported by Chamber Music Hawaiʻi is available in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Palapala Kumu Haʻawina) to support learners – especially learners in 3rd to 5th grades – and provide ideas of incorporating this new musical retelling of an old ‘coming of age’ moʻolelo (story) into classroom curricula. With teachers’ help and encouragement, a new generation of learners will be able to access the rich tradition of Hawaiian story-telling through the dramatic musical work, Pākaʻa Lanakila!

Free Downloads:

Palapala Kumu Haʻawina here

Teacher Resource Guide here

Thank you for your interest in licensing

Pākaʻa Lanakila! (orchestration in progress) for your upcoming performance! Please provide the information below and weʻll send you a draft grand rights agreement within 3 business days.

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Pākaʻa Lanakila! (orchestration in progress)!