Mihana Souza
"I am called by my middle name, Mihana, but my first name is Irmgard named after my mother. My earliest memories are with her in the kitchen and while she cooked, she would sing to me and then as time went on, she taught me harmonies to her many Hawaiian music compositions.
I sang informally with my mother throughout my high school and college years. So it was no wonder when, at 27 as a wife and new mother, I asked her what I needed to do to sing professionally. Mom, who was 65 at the time, said, "Mihana, get a bass!" which I did that very night, and my career with mom was born.
I became the alto singer and stand-up bass player in our family musical group that mom formed, called Puamana, which also included my sister, Aima and my cousin, Luana."
Irmgard later chose Puamana as the name of the group she founded in the mid-1960s.
"Over the next 23 years and under mom's guidance, we enjoyed great success. Most of all, we experienced the tremendous joy and satisfaction of singing 4-part harmonies and sharing our rich island heritage together as a family, through our music.
At 86, mom retired and once again I went to her, asking her what I needed to do to write music. My mother this time answered, "Mihana, write what you know, share what you feel." Well, I'm not so sure that what I'm writing about I necessarily "know," but as Mihana, I invite you into my world...filled with light...touched with rust...and shared with love. I dedicate this music to my mother who continues to inspire me and to light up my world with her warmth and grace."
"Over the next 23 years and under mom's guidance, we enjoyed great success. Most of all, we experienced the tremendous joy and satisfaction of singing 4-part harmonies and sharing our rich island heritage together as a family, through our music.
At 86, mom retired and once again I went to her, asking her what I needed to do to write music. My mother this time answered, "Mihana, write what you know, share what you feel." Well, I'm not so sure that what I'm writing about I necessarily "know," but as Mihana, I invite you into my world...filled with light...touched with rust...and shared with love. I dedicate this music to my mother who continues to inspire me and to light up my world with her warmth and grace."
