Tracklist:

• Hana Chant
• Waikaloa
• Heavenly Hana
• Meka Nani Ao Kaupo
• Hana No Ka Oi
• Hamoa
• Waipio - Makalapua Medley
• Noho Paipai

Notes:

The 49th State Record Company was a pioneering Hawaiian record label founded in 1948 by George K. Ching, a Honolulu record store owner with a passion for preserving and promoting traditional Hawaiian music. The label’s name reflected Ching’s anticipation of Hawaii becoming the 49th U.S. state, though Alaska ultimately claimed that title first. Ching began recording in his own home using a portable disc-cutter, producing 78 rpm records that captured the sounds of local musicians in an intimate, grassroots setting.

To ensure cultural authenticity, Ching partnered with revered Hawaiian composer and performer Johnny Almeida, who served as the label’s music director. Almeida, often called the “Dean of Hawaiian Music,” helped shape the label’s sound and guided its artistic direction. The company became a vital platform for artists such as Gabby Pahinui, Genoa Keawe, and Benjamin Rogers, whose recordings helped define the golden era of Hawaiian music in the mid-20th century.

By the early 1950s, the label had moved its operations to 1121 Bethel Street in Honolulu and expanded its catalog to include vinyl records. Its releases were known for their distinctive label designs, which evolved over time to feature hula dancers, hibiscus flowers, and other symbols of Hawaiian identity. The 49th State Record Company was more than a business—it was a cultural institution that documented the voices, instruments, and stories of a rapidly changing Hawaii.

Though the label ceased operations by 1958, its legacy endured. In the early 1990s, Cord International acquired the rights to the 49th State catalog and began restoring and reissuing its recordings. These efforts preserved a treasure trove of Hawaiian music that might otherwise have been lost to time, allowing new generations to experience the sounds that once echoed through Ching’s humble home studio. The label remains a cornerstone in the history of Hawaiian music and a testament to the power of community-driven preservation.