"Over Hawaii" Soundtrack Lyrics

"Over Hawai‘i (Official Soundtrack of the Public Television Special)" – Album Guide to Tracks and Key Scenes

Overview

What does flight sound like when culture sets the rhythm? Over Hawai‘i answers with mele, slack-key, and choral shimmer — a soundtrack that lets the Islands’ voices steer the camera. Released in 2012 to accompany the public-television aerial special, the album gathers respected local artists and turns a sightseeing doc into a guided listening of place.

Arrival → adaptation → rebellion → collapse: the program’s visual arc (lava fields to rainforests to sea cliffs) maps neatly onto the album’s moods. Gentle vocal hymns welcome, kolohe guitar and ipu heartbeat quicken the pace, ancient valleys and heiau bring hush, and surf/sea pieces resolve the flight with foam and breath. It’s travelogue as kanikapila — homegrown and proud.

Distinctive here is curation: rather than wall-to-wall score, the show leans on existing recordings and new selections from Hawaiian artists (Nathan Aweau, The Brothers Cazimero, Hapa, and more). As per KPBS’ broadcast notes, the film deliberately blends breathtaking helicopter photography with commentary by residents — and the soundtrack mirrors that authenticity by foregrounding Hawai‘i-based voices only.

Genres & themes (in phases). Choral & vocal mele — protocol, belonging. Slack-key & steel hints — memory and family. Chant textures — history speaking. Contemporary island-pop — modern rhythm for city and shore. Ambient ocean & wind beds — the land itself, in stereo.

How It Was Made

Production: The special is credited on station pages to KCTS Television and aired widely on PBS affiliates in 2012. It tours the six major islands — Hawai‘i, Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i — emphasizing places reachable only by helicopter or the hardiest hikers. Music direction: The broadcast uses traditional and contemporary Hawaiian recordings and unobtrusive narration; the companion album was compiled and released by Mountain Apple Company • Hawai‘i.

The album: A concise nine-track compilation (≈32 minutes) issued January 17, 2012. Rather than imitate a film score, it sequences existing and new recordings that align with the film’s island-to-island itinerary — a choices-first approach that favors recognizable performers and kī hōʻalu textures over symphonic sweep (as Apple Music and label copy outline).

Tracks & Scenes

“Wonderful World of Aloha” — Nathan Aweau
Where it plays: A welcoming montage that glides from shoreline to town to taro patches; the vocal sits like sun on water as the camera clears the palms (opening minutes).
Why it matters: Establishes aloha as thesis — not postcard, practice.

“These Hidden Valleys” — The Brothers Cazimero
Where it plays: Deep-green amphitheaters on the windward side; ridgelines fold and unfold as the choral blend rides the valley’s natural reverb (mid-special).
Why it matters: A literal name-check of the terrain; harmony as topography.

“He‘eia” — Hapa
Where it plays: Coastal sweep over fishponds and reef; slack-key figures sync to wave cadence as the helicopter banks along the bay’s curve.
Why it matters: Ties place-name, practice, and groove — an ideal “see/hear” pairing.

“Grandchild” — Kaumakaiwa
Where it plays: Voices return as the flight crosses from younger lava to older forest on Hawai‘i Island; the lead vocal lifts like mist off ‘ōhi‘a lehua.
Why it matters: Centers lineage — the Islands as elder, the viewer as learner.

“Sound of the Sea” — (various artists, compilation)
Where it plays: Closing sea-level pass: canoes, surfers, and horizon. The mix lets wind and wave breathe around the melody, then the credits roll.
Why it matters: Signs off with the real headliner — kai.

Sequence notes from the broadcast: A Haleakalā sunrise and cinder-cone flyover, lava fields and active craters on Hawai‘i Island, Waimanu’s waterfalls and remote valleys, the Nā Pali sea cliffs, and reef dives intercut with coral and honu — all cut to traditional music and light narration (these beats are called out in station and retail synopses).

Notes & Trivia

• The TV program aired widely on PBS affiliates in 2012; KPBS highlighted helicopter-only vistas and cultural voices in its listing.
• The companion album was released by Mountain Apple Company — the Hawai‘i label behind many landmark island artists — on January 17, 2012.
• At nine tracks and ~32 minutes, the record opts for a jewel-box sampler instead of a completist cue dump.
• Artists include stalwarts of modern Hawaiian music such as The Brothers Cazimero, Hapa, and Nathan Aweau.
• Packaging and retail blurbs often tag it “As Seen on Public Television.”

Music–Story Links

When the camera climbs, airy harmonies lead; when it sinks into valleys, chant and low strings settle the frame. Water shots take slack-key and brushed percussion — he‘e in sound. Haleakalā’s moon-scape yields sparse textures; Waimanu’s amphitheater invites choral swell. The flight plan and track list converse: place sets the key; people set the tempo.

Reception & Quotes

Public-television guides praised the special’s “breathtaking” aerial coverage and the choice to let local music and voices carry the story (according to KPBS). Retail pages leaned on the easy-play promise: familiar names, short runtime, island mood on demand.

“Traditional music, natural sounds and unobtrusive narration enhance OVER Hawai‘i.” Public-TV retail synopsis

“An off-the-beaten-path tour of the six major islands… with a soundtrack that showcases Hawai‘i’s music.” Station highlights

Interesting Facts

• All-islands tour: The program covers Hawai‘i, Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i in one hour.
• Helicopter-only vistas: Several locations featured are accessible primarily by air or extreme hiking.
• Short & sweet: The album’s nine cuts keep the listening arc tight — sunrise → valleys → reef → pau.
• Label DNA: Mountain Apple Company • Hawai‘i curated and released the companion album.
• Show credit: Station materials credit KCTS Television for imagery used in promotions.

Technical Info

• Title: Over Hawai‘i (Official Soundtrack of the Public Television Special)
• Year: 2012 (album & broadcasts)
• Type: Television documentary soundtrack (compilation; traditional & contemporary Hawaiian recordings)
• Label: Mountain Apple Company • Hawai‘i
• Format/Length: ~32 minutes; 9 tracks; digital & CD
• Featured performers (select): Nathan Aweau; The Brothers Cazimero; Hapa; Kaumakaiwa (Kanaka‘ole)
• Program scope: Aerial tour of the six major islands; helicopter-only valleys; reef dive interludes
• Availability: Streaming and digital storefronts; CD in circulation via retail/catalog

Questions & Answers

Is this a score or a various-artists compilation?

A various-artists compilation — traditional and contemporary Hawaiian recordings curated to match the TV special.

Who released the album?

Mountain Apple Company • Hawai‘i, on January 17, 2012.

Which islands are featured in the program?

All six majors: Hawai‘i, Maui, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, and Kaua‘i.

Does the film include narration?

Yes — light, unobtrusive narration with emphasis on local voices alongside the music.

Where can I watch or buy Over Hawai‘i?

The special has circulated on PBS affiliates and home-video; availability cycles, but the soundtrack is widely on digital services.

Canonical Entities & Relations

Sources: KPBS program listing; Apple Music album page; Discogs release entry; Amazon product synopsis (DVD & Blu-ray); IMDb series entry.

November, 18th 2025