Ka tārai, ka hanga hoki a Sam Mangakahia (Ngāti Haurere) i ngā rakuraku me ngā ukurere autaia kua whakarākeitia ki ngā toi Māori, ki ngā toi Poronēhia hoki. Ko tētahi o āna tauira whakamutunga, i hangaia mā Iam Tongi, te toa whakaihuwaka o American Idol mō te tau 2023. Nō te mōhiotanga mai o Sam ka purei a Iam i Kahuku, Oahu, i pīrangi ia ki te tārai i tētahi taonga motuhake māna.
I 60 hāora a Sam e āta tārai ana i ngā toi ātaahua rawa atu hei whakaatu i ō Iam hononga ki tōna whakapapa nō Tonga.
Ko te whakanikoniko hirahira katoa, ko te ingoa o te pāpā o Iam kua riro ki te pō, kua tāraia ki te wāhi o runga, e pai ai te mahara a Iam ki tōna pāpā i ngā wā e whakatangi ana ia i tana rakuraku.
Kua hanga hoki a Sam i ngā rakuraku mā ētahi atu ringapuoro pēnei i a Stan Walker, i a Josh Tatofi, me Kolohe Kai. He kaupapa tonu tāna e haere ake nei i te taha o te ringapuoro, o Jack Johnson.
Ehara i te mea ka hanga a Sam i ngā rakuraku mā te hunga rongonui anake. Ko tāna e whakapono nei, kei tēnā, kei tēnā, ā rātou kōrero, ā, e hiahia nei ia kia ora, kia tukuna hoki ērā kōrero mā āna mahi toi ātaahua.
Nō reira, ahakoa he ringapuoro, he tangata rānei koe me tētahi kōrero motuhake, ko Sam tēnei e hanga ana i ngā taonga hei oha māu, hei puiaki hoki mā te reanga e whai mai nei.
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ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Sam Mangakahia from Ngāti Haurere, an artist living in Hawai’i, designs and makes awesome guitars and ukelele covered in Māori and Polynesian patterns. One of Sam’s latest creations was for singer Iam Tongi who won American Idol for 2023. When Sam heard that Iam was going to perform in Kahuku, Oahu, he wanted to create something special for him.
Sam spent 60 hours carefully carving beautiful designs to represent Iam’s Tongan whakapapa. The most important detail was Iam’s late father’s carved name, on the top, to help Iam remember his dad whenever he plays his guitar.
Sam has also made custom guitars for other musicians like Stan Walker, Josh Tatofi, and Kolohe Kai. He even has a project coming up with musician, Jack Johnson.
Sam doesn’t only make guitars for famous people. He believes that everyone has a story to tell, and he wants to help them preserve and share their stories through his beautiful art.
So, whether you’re a musician or just someone with a special story, Sam is here to make something amazing for you to treasure and pass on to the next generation.
