Waikīkī is where Troy Fernandez, right, learned to surf. It's where legends have surfed. And his song, "Waikīkī" is about all the places he started surfing. - Photo: Courtesy Mountain Apple Company

Surf and Song

By Francine Murray / Ka Wai Ola Loa

Ride Time is by Troy Fernandez, the renowned 'ukulele master that inspired artists like Jake Shimabukuro in the late 1990's. The award-winning Fernandez was part the Ka'au Crater Boys – the group that recorded 'ukulele standards like "'Opihi Man", "Surf", and "Tropical Hawaiian Day" – and currently entertains with partner Keao Low from A Touch of Gold.

The title song sets the good-fun mood: "Now's the time for us to play, let's go surfing everyday… Ride time, ride the ocean, riding, riding on the sea." Usually writing from his experiences, Fernandez has written all the songs on this album about either his love of surf, his family or the 'ukulele. Besides jammin' on the uke, he plays stand-up bass and a little guitar. Kimo Kahoano said, "Anybody that's ever surfed is going to like this."

Troy Fernandez, Ride Time. - Photo: Courtesy Mountain Apple Company

Waikīkī is where Fernandez learned to surf. It's where legends have surfed. And his song, "Waikīkī" is about all the places he started surfing, from Walls moving east. "Come and see the beauty in the surf at Waikīkī…people come from around the world just to see Waikīkī." "Surfing on the East Side" is about his favorite east side surf spots, and is dedicated to his buddies on that side.

Fernandez goes a little bit country in the toe tapping "'Ukulele Picnic", where the 'ukulele picking does make you want to cheer. And he's a little bit rock-n-roll, with Keao Lowe and Troy's two daughters Tory and Tia singing in "Down By The Ocean, Down By The Sea". Fernandez wrote "You Are My Hero" for his dad, Kalani Fernandez, who said it was a great Father's Day gift.

When he's not performing, the inspiring and gifted Fernandez teaches keiki how to play the 'ukulele weekdays after school. Pick up his CD and experience the surf and song. Available at Borders, Sam's Club on on-line from the Mountain Apple Company store.