Category Archives: Entertainment

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.

“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.

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.

The Hypnotists at the Savoy, 1911.

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Savoy Theatre

POSITIVELY THE LAST WEEK

of

AYESHA

and

BARNETT

THE WORLD’S GREATEST

HYPNOTISTS.

Packed to the Doors Last Night.

NEW SENSATIONS NIGHTLY.

Rightly Termed the Funniest Show

on Earth.

If You Want to Laugh, Don’t Miss It.

POPULAR PRICES.

(Hawaiian Star, 9/12/1911, p. 6)

Savoy Theatre

The Hawaiian Star, Volume XIX, Number 6070, Page 6. September 12, 1911.

Moses Kawaa hypnotized at the Savoy Theatre, 1911.

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[Found under: “Nuhou Kuloko.”]

Here are the astonishing haole showing their amazing feats at the Savoy. On the night of this past Monday, the young boy by the name of Moses Kaawa [Kawaa] was put to sleep, and he is on display in one of the windows of the furniture store of Hopp [Hapa] for two days, and on the night of this past Wednesday, he was awakened from his sleep after sleeping for forty-eight hours. This coming week, someone will be put to sleep and buried in the ground with some space for him to breathe. This theater is always filled with spectators!

(Aloha Aina, 9/16/1911, p. 4)

Eia no na haole hookalakupua...

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke XVI, Helu 37, Aoao 4. Sepatemaba 16, 1911.

Sleeping in a window front, 1911.

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FATHER WANTS SON IN HYPNOTIC SLEEP WAKED

Kawaa, father of S. W. Mosis, who at the present time lies asleep in J. Hopp & Co.’s window, is frightened of the effects that the long sleep may have on his son and asked this morning that Barnett should wake him up.

Barnett argued the point with him however, and refused to do anything of the kind stating that the boy was all right and that no harm would come to him. The father went away very dissatisfied with the whole business and Mosis will sleep on until tomorrow night when he will be brought back to life at the Savoy.

(Evening Bulletin, 9/12/1911, p. 6)

FATHER WANTS SON IN HYPNOTIC SLEEP WAKED

Evening Bulletin, Number 5029, Page 6. September 12, 1911.

Ray Kinney Band, 1940.

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The picture above is of Ray Kinney, and he will be seen with his three friends, who are the band that plays at the Hotel Lexington [in New York], and some Hawaiian Girls; they are here to perform for three days at the Mamo Theater [Halekeaka Mamo], beginning on this day, February 21. With Kinney (on the far right), are Keoki Kainapau, Tommy Castro, Sammy Makea and Nick Paul.

(Hoku o Hawaii, 2/21/1940, p. 3)

O ke kii e kau ae la maluna...

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXXIV, Number 43, Aoao 3. Feberuari 21, 1940.

Sam Lia Kalainaina’s daughter weds, 1940.

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A FINE MARRIAGE

MR. AND MRS. EMILIANO BARROGA

Joined in the holy covenant of marriage were Miss Anna Keolaanalani Lia Kalainaina, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lia Kalainaina of Kukuihaele, Hamakua, with Emiliano Barroga, a Filipino youth, an Owner of some passenger buses between Kukuihaele, Honokaa, and based in Hilo, and he holds many shares in a Insurance group in Manila; by the Catholic Priest, Father Henry, at the Catholic Church of Honokaa, on August 31 at 6:00 P. M.

After the ceremony was over, married couple, the parents, and the crowd headed for Kukuihaele Hale, as the family and many friends of all ethnicities were waiting to welcome them with a great Banquet to honor the Young Couple. Continue reading →