Monthly Archives: March 2014

Royal Hawaiian Band on major tour, 1906.

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THE HAWAIIAN BAND HAS LEFT

Miss Annie Leilehua Brown is the Kahuli¹ that has Left.

Madame Nane [Nani] Alapai Pulled Out Over Some Issues—The Places They Will Visit.

MISS ANNIE LEILEHUA BROWN, THE KAHULI OF THE HAWAIIAN BAND WHO HAS LEFT.

On the evening of this past Wednesday, the Royal Hawaiian Band gave their aloha to the communities of their beloved land, and travelled across the wide ocean to the Golden Gate [Ipuka Gula] of San Francisco, and from there they will travel the major cities of the Father Land. They made the deck of the Steamer Korea adorned with them.

There were sixty people on there of the band and glee club, and the majority are Hawaiian, with a few Portuguese; and some people are waiting in San Francisco to join up with the band there. All of them are under the management of Mr. J. C. Cohen, the haole who took the band earlier to Portland [Pokolana].

There is one sad thing, and that is the dropping of the sweet-voiced singer of the band, Madame Nane [Nani] Alapai. Due to a differences between her and J. C. Cohen about her husband, Mrs. Alapai has left the band, and returned to the bosom of her beloved husband; this is a noble example of the power of aloha that is triply bound betwixt a man and his wife; and she will abandon the prestige and power of money.

Hawaii however does not lack in all sorts of singers, so that band is not missing a singer being that they were accompanied by Miss Annie Leilehua Brown, the bird that enlivens the nights of Niolopa. Upon this Hawaiian girl lies the hopes of J. C. Cohen that Hawaii will be lauded with much praise, and that before the band returns home, this girl will become something big.

There are men in that band with beautiful voices, and they will be made to sing solos. There is Jack Ellis, one of Hawaii’s fine tenors; Beni Jones, the bull of the Kawaihau Glee Club; William Ellis and Solomon Hiram, the baritones. When they are all singing together, it is just so beautiful!

These below are all of the people in this tour of the band:

Executive Staff—J. C. Cohen, general manager [lunanui]; A. A. Lotto, business representative [lunahana]; W. Prestidge, master of properties [malama waiwai]; W. Schwartz, assistant master of properties [hope malama waiwai] and librarian [malama pepa].

THE BAND.

Captain H. Berger, Director.

Clarinets—D. K. Naone, C. Palikapu, F. Santanna, L. Salamanco, P. K. Kakalia, S. Opeka, J. M. Gomes, A. H. Elona, P. Kanoho, A. Baker, G. K. Gilman, D. Nape, S. Santanna.

Saxophones—W. S. Ellis, L. Nunes.

Oboes—K. Peters, D. Kaiwi.

Drums—J. Naone, J. C. Freitas, J. Colburn.

The Brass Section.

Cornets—J. Amasiu, Charles Krueter, L. Waiamau, R. W. Aylett, W. Anahu, M. Moniz, W. Sea.

Baritone Horn—M. Mendoza.

Tubas—R. H. Baker, J. Kanoho, J. Kaaua, J. McCabe.

Alto Horns—M. Garcia, R. S. Kapua, G. Wela, H. Keawe.

Trombones—H. Heanu, J. Punua, J. Pa, S. Hiram.

GLEE CLUB.

Directors—Sonny Cunha and W. S. Ellis.

Double bass—R. H. Baker; Violinists—J. Colburn, C. Palikapu; flutists, D. Kaiwi, D. Nape; Piano, Sonny Cunha.

Singers—John S. Ellis, tenor, soloist; Ben Jones, bass, soloist; W. S. Ellis, baritone, soloist; Solomon Hiram, J. Harrison, P. H. Kakalia, W. Sea, H. Heanu, H. K. Clark, K. Peters, J. Kamakani, L. Waiamau, J. Edwards, R. W. Aylett, Joe Pa, J. Akana, H. Keawe, J. K. Kaaa, R. S. Kapua, J. Punua.

Female singer—Miss Lei Lehua [Leilehua]

THE PLACES THEY WILL TRAVEL.

May 28 to June 4, 1906, Oakland, California.
June 5, Stockton, Yosemite Theater.
June 6, Sacramento, Clumie Theater.
June 7, on the road.
June 8, 9, Portland, Oregon, Hellig Theater.
June 10, 11, 12, Seattle, Washington, Grand Music House.
June 13, Victoria, British Columbia, Victoria Theater.
June 14, Vancouver, B. C., Vancouver Music House.
June 15, Watcom, Washington, Beck Theater.
June 16, Everett, Washington, Everett Theater.
June 17, Tacoma, Washington, Music House.
June 18, Aberdeen, Washington, Music House.
June 19, Yakima, Washington, Yakima Theater.
June 20, 21, Spokane, Washington, Spokane Theater.
June 22, Missoula, Montana, Music House.
June 23, Helena, Montana, Helena Theater.
June 24, Great Falls, Montana, Music House.

¹Kahuli are the famous singing land shells which are often used to describe sweet-voiced singers.

(Kuokoa, 5/25/1906, p. 1)

UA HOLO AKU LA KA BANA HAWAII

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 21, Aoao 1. Mei 25, 1906.

June 25, Anaconda, Montana, Margaret Theater.
June 26, Butte, Montana, Broadway Theater.
June 28, Pocatello, Idaho, Auditorium.
June 29, Logan, Utah, Thatcher Music House.
June 30, July 1, Ogden, Utah, Music House.
July 2, 3, 4, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake Theater.
July 5, Salida, Colorado, Music House.
July 6, Pueblo, Colorado, Music House.
July 7, Colorado Springs, Music House.
July 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, Denver, Colorado, Tabor Grand Theater.

(Kuokoa, 5/25/1906, p. 8)

HOLO AKU KA BANA HAWAII.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIV, Helu 21, Aoao 8. Mei 25, 1906.

Kamehameha Schools Song Contest, yesterday and today, 1944 / 2014.

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[Found under: “News From Boys, Girls Kamehameha School”]

By HARRIETTE HURLEY

People who enjoy Hawaiian music have expressed the desire to know the meanings of the Hawaiian songs. Translations of the two prize songs to be used in the Kamehameha School for Girls’ song contest to be held on February 13, appear below.

Mrs Mary Kawena Pukui, translator at the Bishop Museum and director of Hawaiian activities at the Kamehameha Preparatory School, has translated the songs.

The junior division prize song is Pa’au’au Waltz. Selected for the senior division prize song is Lei Awapuhi.

Translation of Lei Awapuhi

I hear the voice of a loved one say
Let me pluck and wear the flower
To string a lei for my leaf bud to wear
My love was strongly attracted
To the choicest flower that ever bloomed
Let me, darling, string it into a lei,
O let your ginger lei be mine. Continue reading →

Hole Waimea i ka ihe a ka makani, 1927.

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A NAME SONG FOR LIHOLIHO.

HE INOA NO LIHOLIHO.

Hole Waimea i ka ihe a ka makani,
Hao mai na ale a ke Kipuupuu,
He laau kalaihi ia na ke anu,
I oo i ka nahele o Mahiki,
Ku aku la oe i ka Malanai a ke Kipuupuu,
Nolu ka maka i ka oha wai o Uli,
Ninau eha ka pua o Koaie,
Eha i ke anu ka nahele o Waika-e,
A he aloha—e,
Aloha Waika ia’u me he ipo la,
Me he ipo la ka makalena o ke Koolau,
Ka pua i ka nahele o Mahulei’a,
E lei hele i ke alo o Moolau,
E lau ka huakai hele i ka pali loa,
Hele hihiu pili noho i ka nahele,
O kuu noho wale iho no i Kahua e-e,
A he aloha e-e,
O kou aloha ka i hiki mai i o’u nei,
Mahea la ia i nalo iho ai.

(Kuokoa, 7/14/1927, p. 6)

HE INOA NO LIHOLIHO.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXVI, Helu 28, Aoao 6. Iulai 14, 1927.

Hawaiian boy in the military writes home to his mom, 1921.

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A LETTER FROM A BOY TO HIS MOM.

JOHNSON KEALOHA

February 23, 1921.

To My beloved Mama:—I received your letter, and with much aloha for you and papa, I am writing this letter. I was pleased to find out that you guys received the check that I sent, that check that you sent to me and that I sent back.

Mama, I had a very happy experience here in Balboa; we had a swimming meet, competing with the swimming team of the Balboa Club. I won the 50 yard meet, and the competitor for the Balboa Club lost. Older brother Kalei was with me, he is now the captain of the Yeoman of the warship Wyoming. Kaehu won the 200 yard meet, this was a race where you swam face up. We lost the relay race [heihei paku’i], however some of us were right behind the winner. We will race once again on the 24th of this month with that same club. I believe that by the time you receive this letter, we will soon reach San Pedro in a couple of days.

I am in good health, and I hope that so too are you two and everyone as well at home. O Mama, one more thing I wanted to tell you, of which I am happy about, and that is this, I received my gold medals a few days ago, from the Mayor of New York. I will send the medals to you, when he returns to the states.

In a shooting practice amongst the Pacific and the Atlantic fleets, the Pacific won in a competition held in the sea of Panama. I will stop here, because I am returning to catch a skiff to go back on board the battleship New York, so much aloha for you and papa and all of the family.

March 15, 1921.

My dear Mama:—I am sending the two of you this dipoloma [palapala homaikai] given for crossing over the Mediterranean Sea [Kaiwaena] with a American battleship. I was going to send you this with the other things I sent you,  but I forgot because I was very rushed, so I will send you this “diploma” now, and I hope that you will get it.

Mama, I want you to frame this diploma in a big wooden frame so that it doesn’t get damaged, and I also hope that it will be something nice for the family to look at always. Both older brother Kalei and I crossed over the Mediterranean Sea. Write me if you get this diploma.

I am in good health, and so too is older brother, Kalei. I hope that there will be a swim meet between us and the club of South California this coming month; our superior is organizing a meet between the club of the warships of the Pacific and that of California.

I am stopping here and will write again to you mama. Give my aloha to papa and all the family at home. From you loving child,

JOHNSON KEALOHA.

(Kuokoa, 4/8/1921, p. 2)

HE LEKA NA KE KEIKI I KONA MAMA.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LIX, Helu 14, Aoao 2. Aperila 8, 1921.

Alii from history who understood English, 1942.

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The Royal Men and Royal Women Who Knew English.

The Royal Men
Kamehameha, Ka Na’i Aupuni

Liholiho, Kamehameha II
Kaumualii (the High Chief of Kauai)
Humehume, George P. Kaumualii, Jr.
Kuakini (John Adams)
Poki
Hoapili
Kalanimoku (Bill Pitt)
Kaiana
Laanui
Kalakaua,
Keoua
Kekauonohi
Alapai
Kekauluohi

The Women
Keopulani
Piia Namahana
Kaahumanu
Kalapua
Kapiolani
Kinau
Kamamalu
Naihe
Liliha

These High Chiefs of Hawaii nei, the men and women and important advisers of Kamehameha, all of them knew English. They were not limited at all, as if it was part of the Hawaiian language.

Do remember, my conversation companions of the Hoku o Hawaii, the delicacies from which you get your fill, O Hawaii, which come from your kupuna, they will never be all consumed by us by gorging, as long as you continue to subscribe to our beloved spokesman, so that you may keep seeing the fatty delicacies of the birthing Stones of this land. There were many other alii who knew the English language, but these should suffice; and amongst the makaainana, the language of the haole (English) was wide spread; it was most widely known by the children, from those of the high to low classes.

[This is from a regular column called “Na Iliili Hanau” [The Birthing Stones], written by George K. Kane, Sr., speaking on a variety of historical topics.

(Hoku o Hawaii, 4/8/1942, p. 4)

Na Alii Kane ame Na Aliiwahine Ike i ka Olelo Beretania.

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXXVI, Number 42, Aoao 4. Aperila 8, 1942.

Nipper and Hawaiian Music, 1917.

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Victor
“HIS MASTER’S VOICE”
REG. U.S. PAT OFF

To insure Victor quality, always look for the famous trademark, “His Master’s Voice.” It is on every Victrola and every Victor Record. It is the identifying label on all genuine Victrolas and Victor Records.

All the fascination of Hawaiian music is in these Victor Records

There is a quaint and dreamy beauty to the music of Hawaii as it comes like the whispering breeze from the mid-Pacific. It breathes the lightsome spirit of this land of sunshine. Its laguorous rhythm is typical of Hawaiian life, of the swaying trees, the beating surf, of the joys and sorrow of this interesting music-loving people.

And all the enchantment of Hawaiian music, all the charms of their quaint instruments, all the peculiar beauties of their light voices are brought to you on Victor Records. You are in fancy transported to these far-off islands.

18132 10 in. 75c
On the Beach at Waikiki—Medley Hula (with Ukulele and Guitar by Louise and Ferera) Horace Wright-Rene Dietrich
My Luau Girl (with Ukulele and Guitar by Louise and Ferera) Horace Wright-Rene Dietrich

17701 10 in. 75c
Hawaiian Waltz Medley (Guitar Duet) Lua and Kaili
Kilima Waltz (Guitar Duet) Lua and Kaili

65344 10 in. 75c
My Honolulu Hula Girl In English and Hawaiian (with Quintette) E. K. Rose
One—Two—Three—Four In English Hawaiian Quintette

65348 10 in. 75c
Aloha Oe (Farewell to Thee) (Liliuokalani) Hawaiian Quintette
Kuu Home—Native Plantation Song (with Quintette) S. M. Kaiawe

17710 10 in. 75c
Honolulu March (Guitar Duet) Pale K. Lua-David Kaili
Kohala March (Guitar Duet) Pale K. Lua-David Kaili

17767 10 in. 75c
Hilo—Hawaiian March Irene West Royal Hawaiians
Wailana Waltz Irene West Royal Hawaiians

Hear this fascinating Hawaiian music today at any Victor dealer’s. He will gladly give you a copy of the special Victor catalog of Hawaiian Records, and play any music you wish to hear. And he will demonstrate the various styles of Victor and Victrola—$10 to $400.

Victor Talking Machine Co., Camden, N. J.

Important Notice. All Victor Talking Machines are patented and are only licensed, and with right of use with Victor Records only. All Victor Records are patented and are only licensed, and with right of use on Victor Talking Machines only. Victor Records and Victor Machines are scientifically coordinated and synchronized by our special process of manufacture; and their use except with each other, is not only unauthorized, but damaging and unsatisfactory.

New Victor Records demonstrated at all dealers on the 28th of each month.

Victrola

“Victrola” is the Registered Trade-mark of the Victor Talking Machine Company designating the products of this Company only.

Warning: The use of the word Victrola upon or in the promotion or sale of any other Talking Machine or Phonograph products is misleading and illegal.

[It is interesting to note that many of these records can still be heard today (although well worn) on Youtube!]

(Bismarck Tribune, 2/20/1917, p. 2)

Victor

The Bismarck Tribune, Twenty-Seventh Year, Number 43, Page 2. February 20, 1917.

“Lei o ke Aloha” band making music abroad, 1919.

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Hawaiian Musician Boys Making Progress

From the right, Samuel Keaunui, leader and manager; Dan Smith, tenor; John Kahookano, guitarist and steel guitarist; James Holstein, baritone.

There are a great and many Hawaiian youths that have left Honolulu to go to America to sing and play music, with much acclaim everywhere they have travelled, like what has been reported about them in newspapers in America, which makes Hawaiian music famous, and makes Hawaii nei famous as well.

There has been a letter received by the Editor of this press, Charles S. Crane, from Jimmy Holstein, explaining the progress made in their singing and music; this is happy news for their many friends here. Here is what he had to say:

“I am sending a picture of the Club “Lei o ke Aloha,” managed by Samuel Keaunui, a boy from Honolulu, that I want you to print in the newspaper if possible.

“We are comprised of five members, and are acting under the Acting Company, Western Show Print Co., of Seattle, Washington. We have just began, but we hope that we will travel all the states as well as Canada, as per the itinerary prepared by Thomas J. Culligan, the one making this club famous in Seattle.

“Currently we are moving from one place to another everyday, aboard trains, ships, automobiles, hardly ever spending more than a night in one place. While constantly travelling, we have much appreciation for this work because of the great delight received from our singing and music; and this is what we strive to attain. We hear much of Hawaii from those who went there and whose desire never ends to go there once again.

“Until now, we hear much of the admiration for Hawaii from the fathers of the poor and the rich, who spent some time there, and this has become something that the Hawaiian boys enjoy.

“Once we were invited to play for a ball, by a millionaire, and because of our find singing, we were invited to parties of prestigious people. The hospitality we received from various people in certain places has been great.

“We are all from Honolulu, and are not drinkers, and this is something which our leader is proud of. We are but youngsters, as seen in the picture; the oldest of us is 26, that being Dan Smith, our tenor, who was with Toots Paka before, that Hawaiian boy that was famous for some time; the club famous for acting.

“Being that we hope to travel through all the states and some of Canada, we will have a long story when we return to our land of birth. I will write to you all the time to tell you how we are doing. For now, there is nothing  we have to complain about, like what we have seen, or the true enthusiasm of the audiences wherever we’ve played at, and we are working in every way to bring fame to Hawaii.

“Since we are getting ready for tonight’s gig, I will stop here; give the boys’ aloha to Honolulu, and my great aloha to the boys of the press.

“Yours sincerely,

“JIMMY HOLSTEIN.”

(Kuokoa, 8/15/1919, p. 2)

Holomua Ia Poe Keiki Hawaii Hookani Pila

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVII, Helu 33, Aoao 2. Augate 15, 1919.

Papaikou School graduates, 1919.

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This is a picture of the students who graduated from the school of Papaikou, Hawaii. The total number of children are eleven, but the astonishing thing is that there are no Hawaiian children amongst this crowd. From the children who graduated, eight of them are Japanese, five boys and three girls. Where are the Hawaiian children, the hope of this race to be looked to in the future? These children are prepared to enter Hilo High School in this new school year.

(Kuokoa, 8/15/1919, p. 1)

He kii keia no na haumana...

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVII, Helu 33, Aoao 1. Augate 15, 1919.

Diamond Kekona writes home, 1908.

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A LETTER FROM FOREIGN LANDS.

This past week, Mr. D. K. Kekona received a letter from his child Dimond Kekona [Diamond Kekona], written in the city of Philadelphia, United States of America, telling of how they are doing and their progress of their work in the foreign lands.

These are Hawaiian boys who left the beloved shores of Hawaii nei and sailed to other lands in search of fortunes through singing and playing music with their various instruments. According to what he reported, their work is going well; they receive around $1,425 every week.

They are under the direction of a haole that shows movies named Mr. Lubin, and on the first night that showed the movies in the city of Philadelphia, along with their singing of Hawaiian songs, they received a huge sum of money, and on that night in their estimation, there was about ten-thousand people or more gathered there to see the performance of the Hawaiian boys which they heard about.

In their band is seven actual Hawaiian boys; each of their names are: Dimond Kekona [Diamond Kekona], Charles Kalahila, E. Davis, Frank Forest [Frank Forrest], Harry Parker, Sam and Willie Jones. There are many other Hawaiian bands in America and they travel all over the place.

Here is the gist of the letter:

To My Dear Papa,

Mr. D. K. Kekona, Aloha to you and all the family:—I have found the perfect time to write to you this letter to tell you how we are and how our work is here.

We opened a show in the city of Philadelphia before a large group of people that numbered about ten thousand. Mr. Lubin is our leader, and he shows movies with our assistance in our singing Hawaiian songs along with playing instruments. Hawaiian songs are very popular. The audience was filled with delight and were pleased until the time when the program let out for the night. The money we make is about $1,425 a week and we earn very good wages for the week. We will be touring other places with our singing.

There are just seven of us Hawaii boys. We are all doing good and are in good health. It is very cold here.

(Kuokoa, 11/20/1908, p. 4)

HE LEKA MAI NA AINA E MAI.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 47, Aoao 4. Novemaba 20, 1908.

Hawaiians singing on the East Coast, 1908.

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A SINGING GROUP OF HAWAIIAN YOUTHS TOURING IN THE EAST

Their Singing was Received with Much Delight

The picture above is a picture of some Hawaiian youths travelling America singing, and from what one of them wrote to Honolulu to his father, we can see they are making progress in their singing in America.

They were in Philadelphia at the time this picture was taken, and being that there are many places where they have been requested to go to perform music, they might be in some famous hotels now in America, or perhaps in Washington according to what Diamond Kekona wrote to his father here.

All of these boys did not leave Honolulu for America thinking that they would be making a living playing music, but some boarded trading ships, and upon arriving at America, they gave up sailing and met up with each other and decided to go around singing, and their progress has been witnessed along with them making a good living.

They met a young Hawaiian who was living in Philadelphia for 24 years, and he was working playing music and he was one who helped these Hawaiian boys immensely.

Those standing—E. Davis, William Jones, Diamond Kekona, William Puhia.

Seated—Frank Forrest, Harry Parker and Charles Kalahila.

(Kuokoa, 11/27/1908, p. 1)

HE HUI HIMENI O NA KEIKI HAWAII E kAAHELE MAI LA MA KA HIKINA

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 48, Aoao 1. Novemaba 27, 1908.