It’s the kind of music that just makes you want to shake it.
Kachi-kachi music — the Latin-y sounding tunes that emanate from the likes of Los Kauaianos, meaning, in Spanish, “The Kauaians,” is addictive fun and just plain catchy.
So much so, in fact, it brings to question whether the etymology of the term “kachi-kachi” was put into practice after hearing Los Kauaianos because of their catchiness, or whether it’s merely a coincidence.
According to Wally Rita, leader of Los Kauaianos, arguably the best kachi-kachi band on-island, “kachi-kachi” was a term first put into use by Japanese immigrants. Rita said legend has it the mood to dance to the crazy-fun Puerto Rican music imported here by Puerto Rican sugar workers was referred to by the Japanese as “kachi-kachi” because they were alluding to the scratchy sound of the guiro, an open-ended, hollow gourd with parallel notches cut in one side, used as a percussion instrument.
“They’d imitate the sound, going, ‘chhk, chhk; we go kachi-kachi tonight,’” Rita said.
Whether that’s true is yet to be known, but the rest, as they say, is history.
And on an island where going out dancing has all but gone extinct, Los Kauaianos is keeping that lost art alive.
So much so that a recent documentary on kachi-kachi music being made here on Kaua‘i features the band, though Rita humbly questions the band’s notoriety.
“I’m not too sure about that (documentary),” he said.
Los Kauaianos has been together for about five years, but the name predates that, Rita said.
“Actually, ‘Los Kauaianos’ was a band back in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Rita said, noting that Angel Santiago Sr., of the original Los Kauaianos, is the one responsible for teaching him kachi-kachi music in the first place.
“He was my mentor,” Rita said, adding he was a mere 15 years old when he got into this type of music.
“I am Portuguese, not Puerto Rican at all,” he said. “He got me going. And that was the name of his band — ‘The Kauaians.’”
Rita said he was part of a band called “The Kaua‘i Amigos” for a long time (with Bobby Castillo) and finally he wanted to change it.
“We were thinking and thinking, and Angel was more than excited to give us ‘Los Kauaianos.’ So we just are kind of keeping up his name.”
As for what’s in a name, the band has yet to name their new CD coming out soon, which will feature 12 of their most-favorite songs, including “Yumbambé,” “Yo no Bailo con Juana,” “Que Mala Suerte la Mia” and “Margarita.”
The band members recently took their gig on the road to Puerto Rico, and the reception certainly yielded them some street cred as far as the rich port is concerned.
“We did nine shows in 11 days,” Rita said, noting they went all over to as many sites as possible. “They would host us and put us up and feed us. … we loved it and they loved us. Mainly because we played the old jibaro (mountain) music.
“That’s the traditional country music of Puerto Rico. It’s kind of dying because most people are into salsa.”
It’s the ability to play that traditional “stuff,” as Rita puts it, that keeps Los Kauaianos unique and so much fun to see, especially with the likes of lead singer John Mahi, who Rita describes as being able to “sing anything.”
“He can sing oldies, Hawaiian music, falsetto. …He can blow your mind away. But he loves Puerto Rican music, too.”
Those wanting to see a band playing “old-school kine” instruments like the timbale, guido and cuatro can see them at, believe it or not, Omoide Bakery & Wong’s Chinese Restaurant in Hanapepe, which Rita refers to as “‘The Point’ of the Westside.”
“Westside people like to party,” Rita said, noting that the little deli has been “standing-room only” late into the evening.
“I had been telling (the owner, Jackie) for years, she should try it, and sure enough, I was right.”
The band plays there on the 20th of the month (usually) from 7 to 11 p.m., Rita said.
