I’ve received a number of emails from podcast listeners, most of whom I’ve never heard from before. While nearly all expressed some disappointment in this development, they were also supportive of the decision, and stated that they would continue to listen for the music. Mahalo for the kind feedback and compliments from all of you as well.

This wasn’t an easy decision. I was still pondering my decision earlier this week when I was interviewed by a reporter from Midweek magazine on podcasting. In discussing the history of Nahenahe.net and the podcast with her, I was reminded that the main reason I started the podcast in the first place was to explore its potential as an educational tool. The ability to promote the music of Hawai‘i, while significant, was really secondary.

I have really wanted to do a Hawaiian language podcast for a while, to give students and speakers of the language something to listen to, but simply don’t have the time to do two of them. When I subbed for Mākela Bruno-Kidani on the Alana I Kai Hikina program a few years ago, I was amazed at how many people would call the station to say that they loved the show, even though they didn’t understand what we were saying. I’m hoping that the same will occur here.

While English is my native language, Hawaiian my language of choice. At some point I hope that English will fall a distant third to Hawaiian and Irish. I’ve spent the past dozen years trying to find ways to bring technology to the Hawaiian language, and bring the language into technology. This is a natural extension of that work. I think it is important that the language be used in contemporary contexts, such as my friend Conn does with technology and Irish language on An tImeall, and am grateful that his discussion of language on his podcast reminded me of this.

Nothing is final, and I’ll never say never. I may go back to doing English podcasts at some point, alternating them in English in Hawaiian, or using both languages within them. Only time will tell. I’m hoping that those of you who don’t speak Hawaiian will continue to listen, for the music if nothing. If someone becomes inspired to learn the language, then in my eyes this move will be a success.

My Irish friend Conn at an tImeall made his first substantial (as far as I know) English language post on his blog. He discusses his use of Irish and its merits and limitations, and is pondering whether or not to start using English as well so that he can participate more broadly in the tech blogosphere. Being bilingual, he can read everyone else’s posts on issues, but his readership is restricted because relatively few people speak or can read Irish (compared to English at least). I started composing my thoughts to send to him, and hopefully will do it and post it on my other blog tonight. He made mention in his latest podcast of my Hawaiian language podcast, and my agonizing over whether to do my podcasts exclusively in Hawaiian, to alternate English and Hawaiian, or to use both in each podcast. I still haven’t come to a decision on that, but will soon. As soon as I come up with my reply to Conn I’ll link to it here as well.

The Pūlama Mauli Ola fundraiser was an incredible success, one of the best Iʻve experienced since we started doing them jointly several years ago. The Nāwahī students performed a number of chants, songs and hula to open the day, and it was followed by a non-stop lineup of all-star Hawaiian entertainment – the Keli‘iho‘omalu family from Puna, Kaumakaiwa Kanaka‘ole, Kenneth Makuakāne, Raiatea Helm, and Sudden Rush closed the show in grand style. I had a great time chatting with Raiatea’s father Zack, whom I recall meeting during my year on Moloka‘i back in the 80s. What a wonderful family. Raiatea looked a bit bushed from the whirlwind trip to the Grammys and related activities, but certainly didn’t show it on stage. She blew the crowd away, and sold out of all the CDs they brought along to sell. Here’s a shot of (left to right) Keoni Souza (member of Raiatea’s band), Kaumakaiwa, Hale Akaka (also from Raiatea’s band) and Raiatea in the hospitality room.

I had the thrill of a lifetime and got to accompany Kenneth Makuakāne for his set. He was amazing as always, and the stories he told about his songs had the crowd in stitches. It was fun to watch faces light up when he talked about some of his songs. People knew all the songs and didn’t know that he wrote them all. Unfortunately my wife and daughter forgot to take any pictures of that set, so I have no mementos (sob!)

Mahalo to all of the wonderful entertainers who again came through for our immersion schools, and especially to Kenneth for putting up with a scrub bass player.