Down on the sidewalk in Waikiki : songs from Wayne Kaumualii Westlake's poems

“Wayne Kaumualii Westlake was only 36 years old when he died in the prime of his life on February 1984. The person who T-boned his car snuffed out one of Hawaiʻi’s most remarkable warrior-poets. Wayne’s manuscripts lay hidden for years in an outdoor shed, covered only by a tarp — manuscripts that rarely, if ever, saw the light of day even when Wayne was alive. Fortunately, in 2000, Mei-Li M. Siy rescued his surviving manuscripts from destruction. To this day, as Westlake’s literary executor, Mei-Li continues to honor Wayne’s life and poetry.

This album consists of 26 new and unique songs. Each song is based on a manuscript of poems that Wayne wrote between 1971 and 1973 when he was an impoverished student at UH Manoa and employed as a janitor in Waikiki at a Japanese-owned store, "Okadaya." Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki, 2013, is a fresh launching point yet another memorial to Westlake for his "immortal" poems and a reminder to persevere creatively and collectively despite much adversity and struggle. Musician, poet, and artist Imaikalani Kalahele introduces the album — "amplified poetry" style — in English and Pidgin (aka, Hawai'i Creole English).

In order of appearance, Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki features work from Hawai'i, Fiji, Samoa, Aotearoa/New Zealand, New York, Missouri, Illinois, Argentina, Washing­ton, Utah, and Guahan/Guam. Composers, musicians, poets, and artists lovingly made original music and songs inspired by Wayne’s poems. Within a year, all 27 tracks were produced and recorded for our 2013 summer deadline.

No one asked for a dime for their time on this project and everyone involved essentially "channeled" Wayne’s spirit and his poetry during each recording session — locally, regionally, and internationally. In 2013, thanks to all involved, Wayne Kaumualii Westlake’s Down on the Sidewalk in Waikiki.” -- Inside cover