Classical Music: It's Relevance in the Hawaiian Islands
By Philip Simmons

A few months ago I became a resident of Hawaii, relocating to the Kohala District on Hawaii's Big Island. Every day I take the time to look out at the world around me with wonder and gratitude. It is always a fully satisfying and transforming moment, I just relax and enjoy being present to it all, realizing my personal connection to nature. When surrounded by such natural beauty on a daily basis the human experience begins to occur to us in an entirely different way.

Which leads me to the question: What is the role of classical music (or dare I say the "European cultural tradition") in Hawaii? This thought is essential, because my life has been dedicated to performing and educating the community at large about this genre. As an orchestral conductor considering the possibility of realizing my artistic inclinations in paradise, I realize that I must first seek to appreciate and understand the culture, traditions, and history of these Islands.

Peering down from the gentle slope above the Kawaihae Harbor so much is visible! From the ruins of King Kamahamea's palace, to the opulence of the resort coast, with its pristine shoreline, the day is in part planned on viewing the sunset, as each is extraordinarily different. On a clear day the neighboring island of Maui is visible, as is the Keck Observatory on the top of Mauna Kea--both inspire the imagination. It is at night when gazing at the stars that I feel most connected to the people here before me, who first enjoyed this beauty and realized the profound need to respect the land.

Hawaiians have a word for this respect and the relationship between us and our environment called "Malama," which basically means to care for. This is a philosophy, and way of life here. Some still believe that all decisions made in Hawaii should be based on this principle, which begins with sensitivity to nature and how it affects our spirit, and the constant need to be aware of the importance of sharing our limited resources. For hundreds of years everything that was needed in Hawaii was produced in Hawaii. Of course today things are different, which I can clearly see from my vantage point above the Kohala Coast.

Amazingly enough, I have been practicing Malama for years without even knowing it! My personal appreciation and passion for the fine arts has led me to care for the needs, both musical and practical, of the players in my orchestras, and on a larger scale with the community. Having a disciplined interpretation of a work which respects the composer's intentions, and striving to adhere to the traditions and performance practices of their time, this is in fact Malama. Sharing this realization through organizing and promoting concert events which bring people together, lifting spirits and helping others to make these connections for themselves, is again Malama!

Just as we are "all in it together" on this beautiful Big Island, isn't the same true for the whole of mankind? Speaking of classical music, or any pursuit of the humanities, isn't the knowledge and awareness of what motivated great artists and thinkers relevant to the well being of every person? The spirit of humanism and individuality in Beethoven's music, composed 200 years ago, remains meaningful today. This is true for young and old, rich and poor, native resident, transplant, and tourist! Artists, through their work continually demonstrate the ability to change the fabric of society. Human culture is constantly evolving, and Hawaii, although a small chain of islands, is a big part of it.

Hawaiian "classical" music differs in one major way from that of Europe and the West. It comes to us primarily from an oral and not written tradition. Classical, or notated music, will never replace this tradition, as the two continue to live together, side by side. Composers concerned with "preservation" will notate these passed along melodies and rhythms, and incorporate them, accurately and loosely, as the impetus for new works. This will leave them open to criticism, for many of the same reasons that previous mainland composers were and continue to be for commercializing Native American music.

Eventually only relevant works will pass the test of time and remain in the repertoire, with others just an historical footnote. Look for more native Hawaiian music, instruments, folklore and hula to become woven into the fabric of American "classicism," just as they already have within our popular culture. As the Paniolas, among other immigrants to these islands, have contributed to what we might call "modern" Hawaiian music, we should expect the same type of integration of this folk idiom into "mainstream" classical music. It is inevitable.

Music, from both the oral and later written traditions, has always served the same basic human needs. "Organized sound" continues to play a vital role in celebrating events, honoring dignitaries, story telling, evoking spirituality and inspiration, and accompanying the dance. In old Hawaii, when gifts were brought to the King, it was done along with chants of respect. Today, when we bring classical music to the Islands, we are promoting cultural exchange between the peoples of the world, and this must also be done with respect. In doing so we honor the spirit of Malama. For this balance to occur there must be a self-reliant infrastructure created, allowing for successful community programming, educational initiatives, and the procuring of instruments and the venues necessary to realize the public's needs.

There is so much that the Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures share with Western tradition, and all the people of our planet. A complete understanding--from both mindsets, will go a long way to establish the idea of Malama throughout the world. Here we are just talking about the possibility that classical music can play in this equation. It is toward this end and for these reasons, as well as those that only future generations will be able to articulate, that classical music is, and will become even more relevant, in Hawaii.