Musician and manager Shawn Davenport shares his honest thoughts on Hawai‘i’s local music scene, both the good and the terrible.
Oʻahu’s street-racing scene is alive and well and seemingly unaffected by the cheesiness of a certain film franchise starring Vin Diesel. So where are these powerful engines and brightly painted chassis going?
Fish markets, dim sum stands, and medicinal herbs shops share blocks with trendy boutiques and wine bars. Chinatown’s transformation from a den of prostitutes and drug dealers to a destination for tourists and locals has been slow, but moving. And yet remnants of its seedier history continue to linger.
The most contentious nodes of local culture are connected to material remains of Hawaiian culture, especially locations that are historically and spiritually significant to Hawaiian people but not officially “policed” or maintained. The summer home of King Kamehameha III, Kaniakapūpū (“The Singing Of The Land Shell”), is one such place.
In 2007, I joined a local archaeology company, digging for historical artifacts and ancient burials. I monitored construction sites and performed cultural assessments for development projects, dealing with any finds lawfully and with a culturally respectful nature. One particularly sensitive site was in Kaka’ako.
