Damon Williams, standing in foreground, teaches students to use the mixing board. - Photo: courtesy Kea'au Youth Business Center

Kea'au youth stretch their musical wings

Homegrown in a Puna recording studio,
a new CD will be program's first

By T. Ilihia Gionson / Ka Wai Ola Loa

By putting a professional grade recording studio in Kea'au, Hawai'i, the Kea'au Youth Business Center provides a place for the musical seeds in Puna youth to blossom. And under the direction of recording artist and producer Damon Williams, the work of 11 students grew into an album: Na Ano: Native Seeds, Vol. I.

"It's very fulfilling. It's a smile on the soul for us, and it's life-changing for the kids," Williams said of the yearlong project. Ten original songs comprise the album, ranging from reggae to island to hip-hop.

"They get to record in a professional grade facility right in their backyard," Williams said. "I'm very proud. It's an extremely well-rounded project."

KYBC students pose with chief sound engineer Damon Williams. - Photo: courtesy Keaʻau Youth Business Center

The track "On Our Own" by Tuma and Fa'a Enos sums up the emotion of graduating from high school with an upbeat island sound. "Music is my first priority," said Fa'a Enos, who since creating the song has graduated from Pāhoa High and is now studying music at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. "I've loved music ever since I was little."

From "Strong Heart" by Makana Rossetti-Ota, a rootsy reggae tune with an optimistic look toward tomorrow, to "One & Only" by Jonah Souza, an upbeat 'ukulele love song, all the songs could easily be at home in the mix of local radio stations.

The Kea'au Youth Business Center is a collaboration of Bay Clinic, Hawai'i Community College and the Grassroots Community Development Group. KYBC received a $25,100 OHA economic development grant in 2008 to support its projects, which in addition to the recording studio, offers courses in digital media and culinary arts.

The Keaʻau Youth Business Center houses a professional recording studio right in Puna. - Photo: courtesy Keaʻau Youth Business Center

Besides the afterschool programs, KYBC offers the Middle College program for high school students with difficulty staying engaged in the traditional high school setting. The program teaches the core high school subjects through KYBC's programs while students earn both high school and college credits from Hawai'i Community College. Students spend half a day at KYBC and the other half at Kea'au High School.

Na Ano: Native Seeds, Vol. I will be available around the end of March at the Kea'au Youth Business Center located at Kea'au Shopping Center, music stores in Hilo, and online at buyhawaiianmusic.com or cdbaby.com. Downloads will also be available on iTunes. All the proceeds of album sales will go back to sustain the operations of the Kea'au Youth Business Center, so more Puna youth will have the opportunity to participate in its programs.

For more information on Kea'au Youth Business Center, visit kybc808.com.

MELE 'AILANA / ISLAND MUSIC Nā ʻAno: Native Seeds, Vol. I Nā ʻAno: Native Seeds, Vol. I will be available around the end of March at the Kea'au Youth Business Center located at Kea'au Shopping Center, music stores in Hilo, and online at buyhawaiianmusic.com or cdbaby.com. Downloads will also be available on iTunes. All the proceeds of album sales will go back to sustain the operations of the Kea'au Youth Business Center, so more Puna youth will have the opportunity to participate in its programs. Nā ʻAno: Native Seeds, Vol. I - Track list (MP3 samples: On Our Own, Tuma & Fa'a Enos Yours, Desmond Oliveira & Pancho Sumoba Jr. For You, Cash Helman One & Only, Johah Souza Strong Heart, Makana Rossetti-Ota Reggae Music, Abcde Gonsalves Please Don't Cry, Mississipi Young Bottom of My Heart, Johnah Souza & Camerie You Drainin' Me, Lee Segawa Jr. Survive, Donivan Parsons For more information on Kea'au Youth Business Center, visit kybc808.com.