Keola Beamer: Mālama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love)
The idea of Aloha is Hawai‘i’s greatest gift to the world. But a lot of people don’t know what it is, or how to find it, or how to discover it in our own hearts.
- Filmmaker(s)
- Robert Pennybacker
- Keola Beamer
- Michael Harris
- Category
- Full-Length Film
- Currently On-Air
- Subject Matter
- Culture, Arts & Music
- Featured In
- 25 in 25
This program was produced by PBS Hawaii. For more information, please visit www.pbshawaii.org.
"The idea of aloha is Hawaii’s greatest gift to the world. But a lot of people don’t know what it is, or how to find it, or how to discover it in our own hearts.” These words, spoken by legendary Hawaiian composer and musician Keola Beamer, provide insight to the multi-cultural musical collaboration featured in the PBS Hawaii production Keola Beamer: Mālama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love).
Based upon Beamer’s belief that musicians from different backgrounds can remain true to their own cultural heritage while learning and incorporating ideas from others, Mālama Ko Aloha features inspiring and unique musical performances by Beamer and a brilliant ensemble of musicians including Native American flute player R. Carlos Nakai and American jazz pianist virtuoso Geoffrey Keezer.
Available until May 2016 through American Public Television
Robert Pennybacker, Executive Producer
After graduating with honors from the USC School of Cinema, Robert Pennybacker began a successful career in Hawaii’s television industry, working in management positions for local CBS, NBC and FOX affiliates for twenty years before launching his own production and marketing firm, Pennybacker Creative LLC, in 2001. Under that banner, he wrote several television documentaries and produced and directed award-winning marketing videos, commercials, and public service announcements. Since 2007, Pennybacker has served as PBS Hawaii’s Vice President of Creative Services, where he oversees a range of projects. He was PBS Hawaii’s Executive Producer for the acclaimed documentary Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority, which aired on PBS stations across the country.Keola Beamer, Co-Producer
Keola Beamer, master of the Hawaiian slack key guitar and one of Hawai‘i’s premier singer/songwriters and composers, is a member of one of Hawaii’s most respected and beloved musical families. A descendant of Hawaiian royalty and an innovator in contemporary Hawaiian music, Beamer is credited with helping to start what is known today as the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance, recording and popularizing many songs written by his ancestors. He is also one of the first recording artists to integrate Hawaiian chants and instruments, such as the nose flute, into contemporary forms of music to create a sound uniquely his own. Beamer has recorded over twenty albums and has collected a vast array of awards and achievements, including numerous Hoku Awards (Hawai‘i’s equivalent of the Grammy Award), a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts, and a Grammy nomination.Michael Harris, Director
Michael Harris was raised in Pennsylvania but came to Hawai‘i shortly after graduating from high school in 1979 to attend the University of Hawai‘i. In 1983, Michael landed a job at NBC affiliate KHON where he worked as a grip and cameraman and eventually, as a director. After 21 years with KHON, Harris was hired as the Vice President of Production at PBS Hawaii. While at PBS, he had the opportunity to work on the “Na Mele” series, which showcased Hawai‘i’s most acclaimed musicians, including Hapa, Brother Nolan, Jimmy Borges, Keola Beamer and more. In 1997, Harris left PBS to direct the newly created Sunrise morning newscast for the CBS affiliate, KGMB. A short while later, Sunrise became the number one morning newscast in the market. Harris has been honored with two Emmy awards for Live Multi-Camera Directing and a Mark Twain/AP Award for Broadcast Television Coverage.
