Draft:Leon and Malia

The duo got their start in the 1970's, performing at Honolulu nightclubs and local concerts.^[3][4] During this decade, they recorded four albums showcasing their blend of Hawaiian, folk, and pop music stylings.

Leon & Malia became involved in the voyage of the Hōkūle'a—the double-hulled canoe that sailed round-trip between Hawai'i and Tahiti, navigating by the stars.^[5] In 1976, Leon & Malia were chosen to create music for the National Geographic Society 90-minute documentary film, "The Voyage of the Hōkūle'a," produced by Dale Bell for broadcast on national PBS television (1977).^[6]  They collaborated with William Loose on the music score and sang their piece "Hōkūle'a Melody" on the soundtrack. Forty years later, in 2017, Leon & Malia performed "Hōkūle'a Melody" for the homecoming celebration of Hōkūle'a’s to Hawai’i from a three-year circumnavigation of the world.^[7][8]

Their promotion of Hawaiian culture also led to collaboration on a symphonic work, “Boy with Goldfish,” by Jerre Tanner.^[9] It told the story of a mythical ancient Hawaiian hero’s journey, inspired by a series of paintings by artist John Paul Thomas. Leon & Malia wrote the lyrics and performed as vocal soloists. The premier performance by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (now the Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra) was on October 4, 1976.^[10] From 1975-1977, Leon & Malia performed excerpts of “Boy with Goldfish” in over forty community and youth concerts.^[11] In July 1979, Leon & Malia recorded "Boy with Goldfish" with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Nigel Brooks Chorale, Lee Holdridge conducting, in Watford, England.^[12] The music was recorded digitally with the newly developed Soundstream recording and editing technology. It was released in 1980 by Varèse Sarabande on vinyl disc.^[13][14]

Teaching children about Hawaiian culture has been another pursuit with Leon & Malia. Their initial project, "Mokulana", was released in 1979 as a storybook-album and television special on KHON-TV. Since then, they have performed and recorded numerous projects for schools and children, including "Keiki Calabash," "Hawai'i Kids Calabash," and “Calabash Corner,” a television program that aired weekly on KHET Hawai'i Public Television.^[15][2] In 2006, their album “Hawaii’ Kids Praise” was nominated for the Na Hoku Hanohano music award.^[16]

• Leon and Malia (1970), Quadrum QS-2004
• Blend (1972), Trim Records TLP 1972
• Haku Mele (1976), Laka Records LAKA LM 003
• Heartland (1979), Laka Records LM 004
• Mokulana (1979), Banyan Records BR 700
• Boy with Goldfish (1980), vinyl disc (digital master), Varèse Sarabande VCDM 1000.30
  • (1994) compact disc, Albany Records CD-TROY0053
  • (2006) hybrid disc, Albany Records SACD-TROY0053
• Ho'olako Hawai'i (1987), cassette Children’s Media Hawai'i CS-001
• Tropic Nights (1991), cassette Haku Mele 005
• Keiki Calabash (1993), Cassette Island Heritage 003
  • (1993), CD Island Heritage 006
  • (1993), VHS Island Heritage 00
  • (2002), CD Island Heritage 008
  • (2004), DVD Island Heritage 009
• Slack Key Praise (1997), CD Haku Mele Hawai'i 010
• Lullaby Moon (1999), CD Haku Mele Hawai'i 011
• Hawaiian Melodies (2002), Haku Mele Hawai'i 012
• Lullaby Moon (2003), CD Island Heritage 022
• Hawaii’ Kids Praise (2005), CD Haku Mele Hawai'i 014
• Boat Days-Tropic Nights (2006), CD Island Heritage 023
• Hawai'i Kids Calabash (2007)
  • (2007), CD Island Heritage 024
  • (2007), DVD Island Heritage 025
  • (2011), CD Leon & Malia Productions 014 (2011), DVD Leon & Malia Productions 015
• Hawai'i Kids’ Christmas (2018), CD Haku Mele Productions 019
• Island Music (2020), Island Music, Savant Records SR 48
• Heartland (2024), Leon & Malia Productions LM 004z