Percussive sounds reminiscent of rain drops, followed by bird calls and ʻohe hano ihu, or Hawaiian nose flute, open the song “Pua Naupaka,” before a rap in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi gives words to a familiar legend.
“Pua Naupaka” is one of 16 tracks that form the soundtrack of “ʻAuana,” Cirque du Soleil's first resident production in Hawaiʻi, which opened at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel in December of 2024.
On Friday, July 17 — one year and seven months after ʻAuana had its world premiere in Waikīkī — the soundtrack began streaming on global platforms, including Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music.
Cirque du Soleil shows often feature ethereal music, sometimes with lyrics in Cirquish, a made-up language, but this production is almost entirely in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
During the scene that accompanies “Pua Naupaka” a pair of skaters share the stage, executing lifts and spins on a circular platform.
For the production’s band leader, John Signor, this song is special because it shares a beloved moʻolelo explaining why a flower that grows mauka and makai looks like it has been torn in half.
“It’s probably my favorite legend,” Signor said. “There are different moʻolelo attached to the scenes throughout the show. That is the story I'm most familiar with growing up here probably because me and my friends knew a storyteller, and we would always bother the storyteller, ʻPlease tell the Naupaka story.’ I never tired of it. Different people tell it differently, but the gist of the story is the same: Two people, young lovers, fall madly in love, and for whatever reason, sometimes life doesn't allow for that to happen. There's this amazing beautiful love. And then there's tremendous heartache and separation — and resolution. Naupaka tells this amazing story that these two lovers have to go through. It's quite profound.”
The music for the newly released soundtrack was composed by Evan Duffy, with lyrics in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi by Keao NeSmith, a Native Hawaiian linguist and the lyricist for the album. NeSmith performs some of the chants, plus the rap in “Pua Naupaka.”
The soundtrack features ʻukulele virtuoso Taimane Gardner, vocalist Alana Kahiapo and the production’s live musicians, which include Signor, Christina Souza and Joshua Tavares, who was named Most Promising Artist of the Year at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards last month. The album also features chants from Hiwa Vaughan, the show’s choreographer and Kumu Hula of Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, plus one of only a few people to hold two of the most coveted titles in hula: Miss Keiki Hula and Miss Aloha Hula.
Duffy’s score is elevated by NeSmith’s lyrics, which are “really nuanced,” Signor added.
“For Hawaiian language speakers, they are understanding 'ʻAuana' at an entirely different level than an audience member who is not understanding the language,” he said. “One of the characteristics of the language is kaona, so there is veiled meaning throughout.”
In addition to playing as part of the band, Signor opens each production with a preshow, often playing pieces written by or for Queen Liliʻuokalani, until the audience quiets to listen.
In “Pua Naupaka,” Signor plays percussion and several flute solos.
“The scene is bookended by two nose flute solos,” he said. “In the first, it's a love song, and it's this enchantment — you are entranced by another person as you fall in love. And then at the end, it's a mournful crying because of the separation that happened.”
In the scene, Signor also plays a cajón, a box-shaped instrument with strings.
“I love percussion,” he added. “And it's the only time in the show I get to play percussion.”
Signor usually performs 10 shows each week.
“There's a tendency for even the musicians to forget that there's music from the moment an audience member walks in,” he said. “And even as the show's over and the audience is walking out, we're playing the soundtrack.”
The full tract list includes 16 songs:
1. Ka‘i ‘Auana
2. Ala Moe
3. Hānau ka Moana
4. Kele ka Moana
5. Holunape ka Niu
6. Pō Mahina
7. Ka Nalu
8. Kai Māmala9. Māui Kolohe
10. Pua Naupaka
11. Aloha ‘Āina
12. Māui Ki‘iki‘i
13. Pele ‘Ai Honua
14. Mimilo
15. Ke Ānuenue
16. Ho‘i ‘Auana
Listen to the album on Spotify, YouTube and Apple Music.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
