Community Artist Spotlight: Martin Kawika Saito
Haleiwa, Hawai’i
“I am of Japanese descent and 4th generation here in Hawai’i. Growing up in a small community between Haleiwa and Kahuku, family and friends meant everything. That hasn’t changed after all these years later, the beautiful people in my life have shaped me to be the person I am today. Music was introduced into my life when I was in high school, as my dad played guitar and my brother played ukulele. A close friend of mine Tyler Nakamura was a huge inspiration to learn to play guitar and sing. Fast forward to today we actually do quite a bit of gigs together now, along with our good friend Mason Pilar. Both of them are featured on the track we recently recorded called Good Life.”
Martin on his collaboration with Mana Maoli
“I was actually introduced to Mana Maoli back in 2019 at Patty and Alyssa Mills’ wedding in beautiful Waimea Valley. I was honored to be able to play music for their special day, which Mana Maoli coordinated all the sound, performances and more for that day. Oddly enough a few months prior, I played music at my close friends’ wedding, Duke and Karla Morgan. There I met Karla’s sister, Kelli Cruz, who is a lead recording engineer at Mana Maoli. So all the connections really began from there. Upon wanting to begin recording my own music, I reached out to Mana Maoli and they were gracious in helping me start this new journey. It came full circle when we brought the dream to life, recording music in that same location at Waimea Valley.”
About Mana Maoli
Founded in 1999, Mana Maoli is a collective of educators, artists, musicians, cultural practitioners, community organizers, and families who share a common vision of, and action toward, community empowerment through 3 primary purposes: Community-based education and awareness, Pooling and sharing of resources and Sustainability at both the environmental and economic levels, as well as at the self and community level.
Their vision is to facilitate individual and community healing and empowerment by fostering lifelong learners who think, feel, and act in ways that are pono (harmonious, righteous); for recognizing strengths and addressing challenges as they seek positive, systemic change in their local, regional, and global communities.
Their mission statement is just 3 words: Hoʻokumu. Hoʻokele. Hoʻomana. In their own words below…
Hoʻokumu – Build grounding and foundation.
To foster a sense of esteem, stewardship, and kuleana to the ‘aina, communities and ourselves, through grounding in the ancestral knowledge and practices of Hawaiʻi and the academic skills necessary to excel in the 21st century.
Hoʻokele – Forge direction and connections.
To explore and inquire in ways that build upon our ancestral wisdom and bridge to other communities and cultures in a harmonious manner.
Hoʻomana – Provide sustenance and empowerment.
To provide sustenance and empowerment for ourselves and our communities by striving for high academic, cultural, social, environmental, and economic standards, thus nourishing all piko – mental, emotional, spiritual and physical.
To find out more about Mana Maoli click here: https://manamaoli.org.
Follow along and listen to Martin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_marty/?hl=en
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/good-life-single/1658124970