Hapa is one of those bands you wish you knew about years ago. Once you hear them for the first time, you realize there is something inspirational you have been missing but just didn't know it.

The latest line-up of Hapa is comprised of two gifted and talented individuals Barry Flanagan and Nathan Aweau--Flanagan creating the award winning compositions and styling each track with his own virtuoso guitar playing, Aweau laying down innovative bass rhythms and jams.

Flanagan, the founder of Hapa, has become one of the leading composers, performers, recording artists and producers in Hawai`i, respected by his peers and celebrated with numerous awards. While a transplant to Hawai`i from New Jersey, Flanagan has the heart of a Hawaiian.

"Maui," the latest release, a collection of 12 instrumental and vocal tracks, is pure Hawai`i and South Pacific. Musical Influences other than Hawaiian include Tahitian and Tokelau. All of it is masterfully crafted and blended with slack-key, jazz and blues to create a rich musical tapestry that is both musically mesmerizing and soothing. Flanagan describes the most recent work as "A soundtrack for 21st century Polynesia where native art, history and music are pulled together by the powerful force of Maui."

Most of the songs are instrumental with three new original Hawaiian language songs, Lei Manoa, Mo`i O Lili`u and I Ka La`i O Lahaina. Charlie Ka`upu performs all of the Hawaiian chants on the album. Only two songs are performed in English: a cover version of Bob Marley's Remdeption Song and a rather esoteric slam poetry song titled Kealoha Bebopp w/ Charlie.

It is difficult to list the favorite tracks from this album because each one creates a special place in your ear and heart. Certainly the opening track Haleakalä, Twinkle Toes, and Tahiti Manahune are fun toe-tapping songs that exhibit Flanagan's incredible composition and guitar playing, but Paniolo `Ona Slack-Key, which slows things down a bit and, offers another stylish guitar track that has a great funk to it, while remaining uniquely tropical.

In addition to the fine craftsmanship of musical talents of Flanagan and Aweau, the package of "Maui" is a work of art in its own right. Designed by award winning graphic designer Scott Johnson and Dogtown Design, "Maui" is more than a CD jewel case. The 12-panel digi-pack unfolds to reveal a Solomon Enos original painting of Maui -- the legendary Hawaiian demi-god who was responsible for bringing the Polynesian culture together -- reeling in the Hawaiian and South Pacific Islands.

"We were committed to spending whatever it took to produce a project of the highest quality," said Flanagan."We believe that as artists we are now challenged to deliver a product worthy of people spending their money. We must produce a recording that people will feel compelled to own and one that they must buy. I believe we've approached that with 'MAUI.'"