Listen: AI songs at the Honolulu airport?

Since November, Honolulu’s airport has added 17 AI-generated island- and airport-themed songs into its rotation.

“Seeing businesses turn to AI, is not what we meant by suggesting folks stop expecting free music from artists,” said Oʻahu musician Travi Dee.

One song goes: “From the baggage crew to the TSA line, everything’s fine. We move together, help the keiki, kūpuna and friends from afar, each one’s ʻohana, that’s who we are, aloha every day at HNL.”

The transportation department did not answer a question about who was behind the idea for the motivational songs, which play at the top of the hour.

Ever since Hawaiʻi became a commercial airline destination in 1935, some version of Hawaiian music has been used to greet or soothe travelers at Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.

In the 1950s, that included performances by Joseph Kahaulelio’s hula troupe, newspaper archives show. A 14-day Hawaiʻi package tour advertised in the Waco Herald in 1964 promised “hula girls and music, dancing and singing” upon arrival at the airport.

In this decade, Hawaiian Airlines staff still perform “local style” sets in lounges, and slack key master Uncle Ledward Kaapana is known to break out his guitar for a kanikapila while waiting to board. At least until a security guard asks him to stop so people can hear the announcements.

Now, as artificial intelligence creeps into many aspects of online life, AI music is gaining a foothold in the soundtracks of public and corporate spaces.

Is HNL's new tracklist charming or unsettling? Weigh in below ⬇️

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