Entitled Lovely 'Ala Mēlia, the song compares Kukonaʻs mother to her favorite flower, the mēlia (plumeria) blossom. "When you look upon a tree filled with beautiful blossoms of melia and see how strong and regal and beautiful they are, and as their days pass, and they become frail, a slight breeze comes blowing and they begin to fall from the tree like rain from the heavens. What better way to honor your parent than by comparing them to their most favorite flower?"
Kukona, who is also the award-winning Kumu Hula of Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, won Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawaiʻiʻs Grammy) for each of his first two albums, "Hanu ʻAʻala" and "ʻAla Anuhea". He is currently working on a third album, to be released in January 2020.
Lovely 'Ala Mēlia was recorded at I-Vibe Studios with Michael Casil engineering. Guest musicians include Wailau Ryder (guitar and bass), Michael Casil (background vocals), and Cheryl Lindley (strings).
The song will be released Friday, August 16, on iTunes.