Sharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba
Host, Classical PacificSharene Keliʻipunilei Lum Taba grew up in Pearl City listening to a variety of music – mostly in the car and the choice of the driver (Grandma, Mom, Dad, sister or brother). It ranged from Hawaiian to Japanese Enka to Top 40 to HPR. Sharene played the violin in school, and is now a professional freelance harpist and mother. She and husband jazz bassist Dean Taba love to play and listen to music, and are raising their children to celebrate the love of learning and of all kinds of music.
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Every year, the Baseball Writerʻs Association of America elects players to The Baseball Hall of Fame. The 5 baseball stars of the class of 2025 includes outfielder Ichiro Suzuki. In this weekʻs Classical Conservation Conversation, Dr. Shawn Lum looks to the induction ceremony and the speech of the first MLB Hall of Famer of Japanese descent."Ichiro Suzukiʻs acceptance speech revealed something...moving and deeply human...can words from the deity of the baseball diamond translate into tangible conservation action?"Music by James Horner from Field of Dreams -
Kapena's Kelly Boy De Lima speaks with Classical Pacific host Sharene Taba about their upcoming concert with Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. The band celebrates 40 years since their beginnings as students at Kaimukī High School. DeLima reflects on Kapena's journey and raising a family of musicians. -
The movie JAWS turned 50 this year. In this weekʻs Classical Conservation Conversation, Dr. Shawn Lum talks about the masterpiece that changed cinema, but also brought about the fear of sharks. "Being exposed to the wonders of nature early can immunize us against biophobia. We can be free to embrace the living world and experience it with the joy that itʻs beauty and importance merit."The music that we pair with Dr. Lumʻs talk: Shark Cage Fugue by John Williams from the soundtrack to Jaws, followed by another work written in 1975, Shostakovichʻs Viola Sonata, II. Allegretto.
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The movie "JAWS" directed by Steven Spielberg with soundtrack by John Williams was released 50 years ago. In this episode of HPRʻs Classical Conservation Conversation, Dr. Shawn Lum talks about the effects of the movie on the shark population, "There was an increase in shark hunting and tournaments in the wake of the movieʻs release...." Dr. Lum reminds us that Sharks are important to the people of the Pacific, and we can help be their voice.We pair todayʻs talk with some of the music that inspired John Williamsʻ soundtrack- Debussyʻs "La Mer: II. Play of the Waves"
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Composer, Jazz Bassist, HSO Musician, ʻukulele master, University of Hawai`i Professor of Music, Emeritus Dr. Byron Yasui visits Classical Pacific to help kick off a weekly spotlight on Hawai`i composers. Yasui talks about his surprising start in music and academia, and his natural ability to play string instruments. Dr. Yasui is on the Board of the ʻUkulele Hall of Fame Museum https://www.ukulele.org and will be at the International `Ukulele Festival this weekend. -
Maestro Conner Gray Covington is in Honolulu this week to conduct Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark in Concert and How to Train Your Dragon in Concert with the Hawai`i Symphony Orchestra. "Itʻs wonderful music on itʻs own, but... whatʻs the film like without the music?" The excitement and the energy of a live orchestra accompanying the film on the screen is not to be missed. https://www.myhso.org -
Guitarist Broderick Nakasone graduated from ʻIolani School this past Spring, and will be attending the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Nakasone encourages music students to play the music they love. Hear Nakasone at Noel Okimotoʻs Ohana Jazz on July 31. @ohanajazzhawaii -
"The first natural forest type you see driving into town from the airport on Nimitz Highway doesnʻt grow on solid ground, but along the banks of the Kapālama Canal. The mangroves have welcomed you to Honolulu!" In this episode of Classical Conservation Conversation, Dr. Lum discusses mangroves, and the decision to plant them to treat erosion. "Biodiversity like mangroves... a conservation conundrum."Dr. Lumʻs conversation concludes with Scott Leeʻs "Through the Mangrove Tunnels: Floating Away," the composerʻs memories of "wandering the swamps and bayous of Florida," with chamber jazz string quartet, piano and percussion.Follow Dr. Shawn Lum on Instagram at @skylum.nature.
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"One of the major causes of biodiversity loss is the establishment and spread of non native species following their release, or escape to a new place. And few if any regions in the world have had their native eco systems impacted as badly as the Pacific..." In this episode of Classical Conservation Conversation, Dr. Lum discusses the introduction of the red mangrove to Hawaiʻi by the American Sugar Company in 1902. "Are they a useful and novel ecosystem? or a blight on our coastal seascape?...a classic conservation conundrum."Dr. Lumʻs conversation concludes with Peter Sculthorpeʻs "Mangrove" - with the strings creating the songs of birds, the Australian composer recalls time amongst the Mangroves on Fraser Island.Follow Dr. Shawn Lum on Instagram at @skylum.nature.
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Hawaiʻi Baptist Academy seniors Sage Shiroma and Tobias Watanabe celebrate National College Decision Day on Classical Pacific, sharing their experiences as violinists in the Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony. Shiroma and Watanabe both donʻt plan on majoring in Music in their colleges, but plan on finding their own path in continuing to make music a part of their lives.
