The Feeling Inside "Kanikapila After Sundown"
An unplanned island jam breaks out after sunset. Guitars get passed around, wrong chords get laughed at, and joy is the only audience needed.
One of the most charming things about this track is that it sounds exactly like what it describes — a jam that got slightly out of hand. The verses are traded between five vocalists, the bridge goes into a genuine instrumental solo (with audible mistakes left in), and by the end everyone is shouting play it hou! like they mean it.
AlbumRadiance
Track10
Vocal PerformerMakani, Kaimana, Lehua, Makua Nui, ʻAukai
Moodlively, social
Emotional Temperaturespontaneous
Narrative Rolecommunal jam
Images the Song Carries
- island jam session
- upbeat spontaneous
- music without crowd
- shared joy
Lyrics and Hawaiian Gloss
Intro
The sun said aloha to the sea...
And left the sky all ʻōmaʻomaʻo (reddish-green)
The nīʻau (coconut leaf) lamps are strung up high...
So bring the ʻuke over here, don't be shy!
ʻAʻole pilikia! (No problem!)
Yeah, no problem!
Chorus
Kanikapila After Sundown!
Let the tired world just spin around!
We got the ʻāina (land) under our feet,
And this huakaʻi (journey) of the beat!
So play it again —
PLAY IT AGAIN!
Verse 2
My fingers are sore but my heart is light...
We're chasing the pō (night) away tonight!
Forgot the words... so I'll just hum...
Just make 'em up! Here, the ʻuke come!
Call & Response
(Caller): He aha ka mele?! (What's the song?!)
(Group): He mele maikaʻi! (A good song!)
(Caller): He aha ka mana?! (What's the power?!)
(Group): Ka mana o ka pūʻukani! (The power of the music!)
Chorus
Kanikapila After Sundown!
Let the tired world just spin around!
We got the ʻāina under our feet,
And this huakaʻi of the beat!
So play it hou (again)!
Play it hou!
Play it hou!
Bridge
From Haleakalā to the pāpaʻi (crab) sand...
This is the ʻohana (family) we made by hand.
No need for a stage, no need for a crowd...
Just the ipo (sweetheart) of music, playin' it loud...
Breakdown
One more time for the...
Kanikapila After Sundown!
Let the tired world just spin around!
We got the ʻāina under our feet,
And this huakaʻi of the beat!
So play it forever! Play it!
Play it! Play it!
Outro
Eh, who wants kope (coffee)!
Play the one about the humuhumu (triggerfish)!
Mahalo nui, everybody...
The sun said aloha to the sea...
And left the sky all ʻōmaʻomaʻo (reddish-green)
The nīʻau (coconut leaf) lamps are strung up high...
So bring the ʻuke over here, don't be shy!
ʻAʻole pilikia! (No problem!)
Yeah, no problem!
Chorus
Kanikapila After Sundown!
Let the tired world just spin around!
We got the ʻāina (land) under our feet,
And this huakaʻi (journey) of the beat!
So play it again —
PLAY IT AGAIN!
Verse 2
My fingers are sore but my heart is light...
We're chasing the pō (night) away tonight!
Forgot the words... so I'll just hum...
Just make 'em up! Here, the ʻuke come!
Call & Response
(Caller): He aha ka mele?! (What's the song?!)
(Group): He mele maikaʻi! (A good song!)
(Caller): He aha ka mana?! (What's the power?!)
(Group): Ka mana o ka pūʻukani! (The power of the music!)
Chorus
Kanikapila After Sundown!
Let the tired world just spin around!
We got the ʻāina under our feet,
And this huakaʻi of the beat!
So play it hou (again)!
Play it hou!
Play it hou!
Bridge
From Haleakalā to the pāpaʻi (crab) sand...
This is the ʻohana (family) we made by hand.
No need for a stage, no need for a crowd...
Just the ipo (sweetheart) of music, playin' it loud...
Breakdown
One more time for the...
Kanikapila After Sundown!
Let the tired world just spin around!
We got the ʻāina under our feet,
And this huakaʻi of the beat!
So play it forever! Play it!
Play it! Play it!
Outro
Eh, who wants kope (coffee)!
Play the one about the humuhumu (triggerfish)!
Mahalo nui, everybody...