Island Warriors (Hobo House on the Hill, 2000)

Reggae fans worldwide may not have noticed, but a revolution of sorts happened through the '90s and into the 21st century: Hawaii has become a hotbed for reggae music.  Not only is reggae being played on the airwaves there, but homegrown Hawaiian and Pacific Island acts are blossoming.  Island Warriors embodies this explosion in so-called "Jahwaiian" music, and it represents a major breakthrough of this music into the national and international consciousness, as this album was nominated for a 2002 Grammy for Best Reggae Album.  Admittedly, I've had little exposure to Hawaiian reggae, but between Island Warriors and One Foundation, I get a sense that Pacific Island reggae, like African reggae, Latin reggae, Japanese reggae, and other worldwide variations on the Jamaican music, has its own sound and nuances particular to its region.  In the case of Jahwaiian music, it reflects the variety of musical influences that have touched the islands, from indigenous acoustic strings and drums to American genres like hip-hop, jazz, soul, funk, and rock 'n roll, to, of course, reggae.  I can't say for sure why reggae has taken off so much in Hawaii; I can only hypothesize that there's a kindred sense between Jamaica and the Pacific Islands, as both have tropical, laid-back vibes and both have been subject to colonization and oppression by outsides.  Indeed, Sean Na'auao's remake of Eddy Grant's "War Party" resonates that kindred spirit, that sense of a shared experience -- and what better format to record socio-political statements than roots reggae?  With all the tracks produced by the Hobo House on the Hill folks, Island Warriors has a unified sound -- sharp, clean, upbeat, featuring a blend of roots, lovers, and dancehall tweaked at times by some hip-hop (as on B.E.T.'s "One Love Jam"), funk, and pop.  While I prefer the rootsy, slower, more serious-themed tunes ("Warrior of Love" and "Free Island People" are gorgeous statements, while "War Party" is a top-notch cover, "Spiritual War" has a nice Obeyjah-like vibe, and "Tools and Materials" by Natural Vibrations sounds for all the world like a Steel Pulse song.), there's something to be said for poppy party jams like "Flex," "Island Dream Girls," and "One Love Jam."  If you want to get a sense of this new wave in reggae, Island Warriors is an excellent place to start.