Jeff Peterson collected a 2008 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award. Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

Dedicated to a very
special place, wahi pana

By Francine Murray / Ka Wai Ola

Haleakalā
Riley Lee and Jeff Peterson
Peterson Productions

Imagine being on the slopes of majestic Haleakalā and gazing down at the clouds basking below. The faint murmur of Hosmer Grove wafting up, beautiful and serene is nature's melody. Listening to Jeff Peterson's “Hosmer's Grove” transports you there. Remnants of the grove are still inside the Haleakalā National Park, an experimental forestation planted by Ralph Hosmer nearly a century ago.

The new CD release is dedicated to the place where Jeff Peterson grew up, Haleakalā. The 15 tracks include songs composed by extraordinary artist Queen Lili'uokalani, Dennis Kamakahi, Mary Kawena Pukui and Maddy Lam, R. Alex Anderson, William Sheldon and David Nape, Frank Hewett, Kui Lee, Helen Parker, Claude Malani and John Noble, as well as four originals.

The CD is an instrumental collaboration by the 2008 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and 2005 Grammy Award winner Peterson and the first ever non-Japanese shakuhachi dai shihan, or grand master, Riley Lee. The Japanese bamboo flute and the kī hō'alu kīkā, slack key guitar, synchronize delightfully in this Maui-inspired collection. Pick up Haleakalā today and then kick back and relax.

Lee and Peterson have also collaborated on the CDs Haiku, Bamboo Slack Key and Maui Morning. Peterson's recent Nā Hōkū Hanohano award was for the album Pure Slack Key.

For more information, visit www.jeffpetersonguitar.com.