His great-grandmother's hula roots certainly have made a lasting impression on this versatile artist who has previously recorded, performed and toured with a stellar roster of local artists including The Makaha Sons, Ra'iatea Helm, Sean Na'auao, Ku'uipo Kumukahi, Ho'okena and Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett. His pedigree, plus his potent voice, make him a key player. Here, he teams with Robert Cazimero and Kea'o Costa on Hewett's delicate and moving "Ola'a Beauty," revives his late great-grandmother Emily Kau'i Zuttermeister's "Na Pua Lei 'Ilima," puts his seal on the traditional "Moanalua," demonstrates his interpretative skills on " 'Akahikuleana A Ka Piko" and turns on the falsetto on "Kuhio Beach" and "La'ieika-wai."

Beautifully packaged (with enlightening liner notes and lyrics), smartly arranged, exquisitely performed (with basic guitar and occasional piano, plus guest musicians such as Bryan Tolentino, Casey Olsen, Byron Yasui and Abe Lagrimas), this CD is poised to be this season's buzz-maker and scene-stealer, deservedly so.

One of the best cuts is "I Thrive," which could easily be his personal anthem — "I thrive on Your love, I survive by Your grace. The punishment that I deserved You carried in my place ..." — as he bares his soul about his highs and lows in his Christian life. "Overcome" also exposes the dichotomy of life's ups and downs — "I may be lost but not out ... I may be scared but not alone ... Well I've been cold, but I'm not frozen; I've been weak but not destroyed." There's repeated expression of hope, promise, dedication, determination — laced with earnest belief and desire to do good, feel good, be good.