Kila Kila O Maui / Kona Au I Ka Wai

The 49th State Hawaii Record Co. was founded by Andy Cummings and George Paoa in the mid-1940s to capture the authentic sound of Hawaiian music as it was being played in the islands, rather than the heavily romanticized versions produced in Hollywood. This specific release, catalog number 45253, captures the collaboration between legendary composer John Kameaaloha Almeida and the prolific singer Genoa Keawe, whose work was instrumental in keeping traditional Hawaiian vocal styles alive during the post-war era.

The record features two classic tracks, 'Kila Kila O Maui' and 'Kona Au I Ka Wai,' which highlight the sophisticated falsetto and steel guitar arrangements characteristic of the label's house style. By prioritizing local musicians and indigenous musical structures, the 49th State label provided a vital platform for Hawaiian artists to record their repertoires for a growing domestic audience, eventually becoming a cornerstone of the mid-century Hawaiian music industry.