Next Monday, Aug. 29, when guests enter the Maka‘ala Lobby at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, one of their first impressions will be of the music they hear, specially written and recorded for the resort by one of Hawai‘i’s most popular singers and songwriters, Keali‘i Reichel, and Grammy Award-winning composer Mark Mancina. Keali‘i is an award-winning kumu hula (hula teacher), and his involvement is one of the many ways Aulani strives to recognize and embrace Hawaiian culture, current as well as traditional. Mark is well known for his acclaimed work on “The Lion King,” “Tarzan,” “Brother Bear” and numerous other film scores.
But we’ll let Keali‘i and Mark speak for themselves, along with John Dennis, Director of Music Production at Walt Disney Imagineering. Here they are, in a video shot during the recording sessions.
Were you at the D23 Expo? If so, you may have been among the first to hear a bit of this original music. It played during the Aulani video that was part of Disney Parks & Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs’ presentation.
Comments
As a kamaaina– the music sounds great! There are few in Hawaiian music these days as respected and accomplished as Kealii Reichel. Maika’i!
Can’t wait to visit and hear it there! Will there be a soundtrack available for purchase to hold me over until my first trip?
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