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Imiola Church, Kamuela, Hawai’i

Tuning: Keola’s C or C Wahine Tuning (C-G-D-G-B-E)
Level: Advanced

In a small Koa church in the small town of Kamuela, Hawaiʻi, my grandfather’s voice would carry this song. Up along the pews, reverberating against the windows. As a small boy, I would stand next to him, holding my hymnal, not knowing about Good or Evil, who or what God was, just listening to the sound of the old man’s voice and watching out the window, the skylarks high above the open fields.
From my friend and wonderful pianist, George Winston: “Keola created this arrangement for two nylon string guitars and one electric guitar, adding a second melody to fill out the song. He is especially noted for his ability to compose additional parts to instrumental arrangements of simple, yet profound Hawaiian melodies where the words have been the most important element. Keola plays the piece in his trademark C Wahine Tuning (C-G-D-G-B-E), from lowest pitched string to highest. It is known in slack key circles as “Keola’s C”, since he is most associated with it. Wahine means a tuning that contains a Major 7th note, here the “B” note on the 2nd string, which is hammered on to produce the tonic note, one of the characteristic sounds of Wahine tunings.”

After you have finished this piece, go on to He Punahele Nō ʻOe.
Keola Beamer