Elaine Haimakaokalani Ako Spencer has been singing all her life. In 1976 she released her first album Mele Hali'a Aloha. Four years later in 1980 she and fellow artist Keith Haugen recorded an album of hula tunes entitled Lovely Hula Hands. It would be another 10 years before Spencer would record again. But Island Serenade showed that the songbird was still in the game. And in between she was always singing – singing at the Willows, at the Outrigger Canoe Club, at weddings, baby lu'au, parties, singing for halau in Hawai'i and in Japan. My Hawaiian Souvenirs is a snapshot of her long career.

Songs from Mele Hal'a Aloha and Island Serenade join three newly recorded songs, "Makee 'Ailana," "Waikaloa" and "E Ku'u Morning Dew." The new songs are arranged in hula tempo, plus some of the earlier songs have been re-mastered making them also suitable for hula. The backup musicians include some of Hawai'i's most notable: the late Billy and Buddy Hew Len (steel guitar and bass), the late Cy Ludington (guitar), the late Kalani Fernandes Jr. (bass), Hiram Olsen (guitar), Casey Olsen (steel guitar), and Lemuel Aweau (keyboards, vibes).

The new tracks were produced by Teresa Bright and include musicians Dwight Kanae (ki ho'alu), Casey Olsen (steel guitar), Danny Kiaha (bass), Dennis Keohokalole (guitar), Kit Ebersbach (keyboards) and Bright ('ukulele).

My Hawaiian Souvenirs is a tribute to the beautiful soprano voice of Elaine Ako Spencer that we all have enjoyed for so many years.