Category Archives: Music

More from the Pacific Northwest, but a little more “recent,” 1912.

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A LETTER FROM AFAR

(Written by Sam K. Nainoa.)

The following letter is written by Sam K. Nainoa from Seattle, after the passing of several weeks since he left his homeland with his queen, on their travels, explaining some major things that they saw in their sightseeing of these foreign lands, and this will be something which the readers of the Kuokoa will rejoice in because of the progress witnessed by the two of them made by the Hawaiian youths living in that foreign land.

SEATTLE, May 16, 1912, Aloha oe:—Here we are, staying in this town; we’ve been here almost two weeks, meeting with the Hawaiian boys, and we are full of joy.

There is a great number of my classmates living here, all of them Hawaiians; they are playing music and singing, and they are making a lot doing this work; and some of them married haole women, and they are truly taken by this land, with no desire at all to return to the land of their birth.

Some of them have land and are well off; according to what they tell me, their thoughts of returning to Hawaii are no more; this is where they will live and they will leave their bones in this foreign land.

We went touring around another area farther across this expansive ocean for a few days and came right back, and am writing this letter to you. We went sightseeing at a wood mill, at a place called Port Blakeley, which is one of the largest mills in the world.

What I saw was truly amazing. There are many Hawaiian boys indeed living there, and to go from one area to the next, you travel by steamship. The Hawaiians take a fancy to living there, and for work, they do lumbering.

Hawaiians have no problem with jobs there; they have work at all times.

Some boys from Port Blakeley came to Seattle and got together with us and the band boys who live in Seattle; they insisted that we go with them to where they live, and there was not refusing the hospitality of the kamaaina, so we went aboard a steamship, spending a few days there and immediately returning back.

There were two Hawaiian women there with their husbands, and they have become mothers to the Hawaiian boys there; their living is easy, and they get along lovingly; I would not be mistaken to say there is a place for them in this land without their parents [he mua a he hope ka noho ana o ka aina makua ole ?]

There is bountiful food there, and when we arrived, two pigs were roasted as is the custom of Hawaiians, and all the luau foods were prepared like inamona, limu eleele, dried fish, alamihi crab, raw fish, and their poi was poi palaoa [flour poi].

Here they have dried opelu and dried nehu and many other things so that Hawaiians living here have nothing to complain about; they have everything, perhaps even more than Hawaii.

We enjoyed ourselves, and there was but one thing to do, that is to sing and to play music, and we were terribly happy. There is an over abundance of palai fern there, it is protects your feet [he pale wawae ia mea he palai ?] and it grows all the way until the ocean. When we went pole fishing, we caught poopaa and also large kuahonu crabs. There is a fish that looks like opelu here, and perhaps it is opelu; so too with the puhikii, which is good eating raw.

There are so many delicacies here: salmon worked in with tomatoes and onions; and according to what these Hawaiians say, there is no food that you can’t get here, you have so much to choose from to satisfy your wants.

These people were very kind to us, and we are greatly indebted to them for their hospitality, and these Hawaiians of ours are blessed in making this place somewhere that they look for their livelihood.

This is enough for now, and maybe there will be more free time here after to write more of our travels. All the Hawaiians here give their aloha to our lahui.

Your friend,

S. K. NAINOA.

(Kuokoa, 6/7/1912, p. 6)

HE LEKA MAI NA AINA MAMAO MAIA

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVIII, Helu 23, Aoao 6. Iune 7, 1912.

On Liliuokalani’s composition of “Mele Lahui Hawaii,” 1898.

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“In the early years of the reign of Kamehameha V, he brought to my notice the fact that the Hawaiian people had no national air. Each nation, he said, but ours had its expression of patriotism and love of country in its own music; but we were using for the purpose on state occasions the time-honored British anthem, “God save the Queen.” This he desired me to supplant by one of my own composition. In one week’s time I notified the king that I had completed my task. The Princess Victoria had been the leader of the choir of the Kawaiahao church; but upon her death, May 29, 1866, I assumed the leadership. It was in this building and by that choir that I first introduced the “Hawaiian National Anthem.” The king was present for the purpose of criticising my new composition of both words and music, and was liberal in his commendations to me on my success. He admired not only the beauty of the music, but spoke enthusiastically of the appropriate words, so well adapted to the air and to the purpose of which they were written.”

(from Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen, pp. 31–32.)

“Ina makahiki kinohi o ka noho moi ana o Kamehameha V., ua hoike mai oia ia’u i ka mea oiaio, aohe himeni lahui o na kanaka Hawaii. O na lahuikanaka, wahi ana, aka, koe kakou, ua hoopuka ae lakou i ko lakou makee a me ke aloha i ka aina ma kona mele ponoi, aka, ia wa e mele ia ana ka himeni o Beritania, “E ola ka Moiwahine i ke Akua,” no na manawa nui. O keia kana i makemake ai e kulai, ma o kekahi mele a’u e haku ponoi ai. Maloko o ka manawa o hookahi pule, ua hoike aku la au i ka moi, ua pau ka’u hana i ka hana ia. O ke Kama’liiwahine Vitoria, ke alakai o ka papa himeni o ka luakini o Kawaiahao, aka, i kona make ana ma ka la 29 o Mei, 1866, ua lilo ae la ia’u ke alakai ana. A maloko o keia hale, a na ia papa himeni i hoopuka mua mai i ke “Mele Lahui o Hawaii.” Ua hoea ae ka moi no ka manao ana e hooponopono i ka’u mele i haku ai, i na huaolelo a me ka leo, a ua haawi mai hoi oia i kona mau hoapono no ka holopono o ka’u mea i hana ai. Aole wale o ka leo kana i mahalo ai, aka, ua hoopuka ae oia i na huaolelo walohia nui o ka hoomaikai no ka pili pono o na huaolelo i ka leo mele.”

(Aloha Aina, 5/14/1898, p. 7)

KA BUKE MOOLELO HAWAII I HAKUIA E KA Moiwahine Liliuokalani...

Ke Aloha Aina, Buke IV, Helu 20, Aoao 7. Mei 14, 1898.

Hawaiian National Anthem, 1866.

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Mele Lahui Hawaii.
(The Hawaiian National Anthem.)

1

Ka Makua Mana Loa,
Maliu mai ia makou,
E haliu aku nei,
Me ka naau haahaa;
E mau ka maluhia,
O nei Pae Aina,
Mai Hawaii a Niihau,
Malalo o kou malu.

Cho.—E mau ka Ea o ka Aina,
Ma kou pono mau,
A ma kou mana nui,
E ola, e ola ka Moi.

2

E ka Haku malama mai,
I ko makou nei Moi,
E mau kona noho ana,
Maluna o ka Noho Alii;
Haawi mai i ke aloha,
Maloko o kona naau;
A ma kou ahonui,
E ola, e ola ka Moi.

Cho.—E mau ka Ea o ka Aina, &c.

3

Malalo o kou aloha nui,
Na ‘Lii o ke Aupuni,
Me na Makaainana,
Ka lehulehu no a pau;
Kiai mai ia lakou,
Me ke aloha, ahonui;
E ola no makou,
I kou mana mau.

Cho.—E mau ka Ea o ka Aina, &c.

The Hawaiian National Anthem.

1

Almighty Father,
Heed us,
Who turn to you,
With humble hearts;
Let there forever be peace,
In these Islands,
From Hawaii to Niihau,
Under your protection;

Cho.—Let the Sovereignty of this Land be for always,
By your never ending righteousness,
And by your great power,
Long live, long live the King.

2

O Lord, protect,
Our King,
Let his rule continue,
Upon the Throne;
Bestow him aloha,
Within his heart;
And by your grace
Long live, long live the King.

Cho.—Let the Sovereignty of this Land be for always, &c.

3

Under your great love,
Are the Alii of the Nation,
And the Makaainana,
All the people;
Do watch over them,
With aloha and magnanimity,
Let us live,
By your eternal power.

Cho.—Let the Sovereignty of this Land be for always, &c.

(Kuokoa, 11/24/1866, p. 2)

Mele Lahui Hawaii.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke V, Helu 47, Aoao 2. Novemaba 24, 1866.

John Palimoo, Jr., steel guitarist on the radio, 1927.

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ENTERTAINING THE MULTITUDES ON K. G. U., JOHN PALIMOO, JR.

He is a member of the Firemen’s Glee Club [Kalapu Himeni], the one who entertained the pubic many a time on K. K. U. [K. G. U.] recently, receiving acclaim because of his new way of playing on his guitar, making it sound like bells.

[Notice the first line on the right column. On occasion, there will be a misplaced line or section, especially in the later years of the newspapers, and the line that reads “le ai iloko o ka muliwai he ekolu” seems to be out of place.

Does anyone have any information on this steel guitar player, John Palimoo, Jr.?]

(Kuokoa, 9/8/1927, p.2)

HE MEA HOOHAUOLI MA KE K. G. U. I KA LEHULEHU, JOHN PALIMOO, JR.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXVI, Helu 35, Aoao 2. Sepatemaba 8, 1927.

Beginning of KHBC, the famed radio station of Keaukaha, 1936.

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The Radio Station, K.H.B.C. is Ready

Everyone talented in everything from Singing, Oli, Playing Instruments any type, and so forth, are invited to come to the radio broadcast station office in Keaukaha, K. H. B. C. The preparations for this begins on the afternoon of Monday, April 13, 1936.

The Station introduction goes, “K.H.B.C., Hilo, Hawaii, the Home of Pele.”

This Station will open on the first of May, therefore, we want these talented people to come to K. H. B. C. from now forth to prepare for the approaching first day of May.

[Vickie Ii Rodrigues’ famous composition, still heard today, begins: “Aia i ka la’i, ulalaeho; O Keaukaha la, ulalaeho; K. H. B. C., ulalaeho; Ka home a’o Pele, ulalaeho!” (There in the calm, ulalaeho; Of Keaukaha, ulalaeho; Is K. H. B. C., ulalaeho; The home of Pele, ulalaeho!)

I still recall my mom, who was born and raised in Ninole, saying that she used to listen to that station…]

(Hoku o Hawaii, 4/15/1936, p. 2)

Makaukau ka Hale Radio K. H. B. C.

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXVII, Number 39, Page 2. April 15, 1936.

Musical Group, The Bohling Sisters, 1940.

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The Five Bohling Sisters

Photograph by Oue Studio, Kealakekua

This group of skilled sisters will appear with their musicians and sing and hula at a concert with the Hawaii County Band [Bana Kalana o Hawaii] on Friday, December 20th, and at the Naniloa Hotel, Hilo, on Saturday, December 21, while being broadcast on KHBC.

Beginning from the left are the sisters: Hattie, Carrie Leialoha, Charlotte, Annie Lana and Bella Luana. Carrie Leialoha and Annie Lana are twins and are playing special.

[Anyone have any information on this musical family? Charlotte Bohling wrote a regular column for the Hoku o Hawaii reporting the news from Kona.]

(Hoku o Hawaii, 12/11/1940, p. 1)

Na Hoahanau Elima A Bohling

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XXXV, Number 33, Page 1. Dekemaba 11, 1940

Royal Hawaiian Band gets new instruments, 1912.

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EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION.

We, the boys of the Royal Hawaiian Band, by means of our committee, give our great appreciation to the Honorable, Joseph J. Fern, Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of Honolulu, for their approving our request for new wind instruments.

Although we requested $1500 for the costs of the new instruments, they kindly granted us at the meeting of Wednesday, the 27th of March, 1912, the sum of $1800.

We, with sincerity,

Robert H. Baker,
Lowell Kupau,
D. K. Naone,
S. K. Kamakaia,
A. H. Tallett.

(Kuokoa, 4/5/1912, p. 6)

HE HOOMAIKAI.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLVIII, Helu 14, Aoao 6. Aperila 5, 1912.

John Ioane Ukeke, in his earlier days! 1880

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CHINESE THEATER!

OPENING

A GRAND CONCERT!

Of all types of Hawaiian Music, on the night of the

SATURDAY NIGHT, THE 26TH OF THIS MONTH!

AT THE

Chinese Theater!

SEASIDE OF AINAHOU.

There will be some Mele performed with Native Hawaiian instruments, and some with Haole instrments.

By the Famed One

MR. JOHN IOANE UKEKE!

IS THE ORCHESTRATING.

THE PERFORMANCE.

1. IPU PERFORMANCE [LEALEA PAIPU]—4 girls whose steps are like flashes of lightning.

2. CHEST SLAPPING PERFORMANCE [LEALEA PA-I-UMAUMA]—3 boys with swift hand motions.

3. MODERN PERFORMANCE [LEALEA HOU LOA]—4 dolls. The dolls will do a Hula Olapa, and their hand motions will be like those of a human.

4. UKEKE PERFORMANCE [LEALEA UKEKE]—Mr. John Ioane will show his total skill with the metal ukeke (Jew’s harp) with Hawaiian songs and Haole songs—He will exert himself with his ukeke playing in all fashions—[It doesn’t help that the image is not clear, but cannot make out the next line and a half. Anyone?] and your hearts will be captured.

5. ULIULI PERFORMANCE [LEALEA ULIULI]—2young children. They will show the fluttering and rattling of this thing, the Uliuli.

6. BANJO PERFORMANCE [LEALEA BANJO]—S. Kalama will exhibit his full skill at the Banjo; and its sound is like the ten-stringed lyre of Mahone [this is probably a reference to a story running in the Kuokoa: “KA MOOLELO O BERIANA KA WIWO OLE A ME MAHONE KE KOA” (4/26/1879–11/20/1880)]

FIVE MINUTE BREAK.

7. ACCORDIAN PERFORMANCE [LEALEA KOLIANA]—Henere [Henry] will show his skill at playing the Accordian, and the sounds he makes: Chinese, hoaeae, oli and the musical scale [pakoli]; it will make the crowd laugh and your sides will hurt.

8. OHELO PERFORMANCE [LEALEA OHELO]—2 women. They will show their abilities at this amusement. This is the amusement of the alii of the olden days that they greatly enjoyed.

9. KUI PERFORMANCE [LEALEA KUI]—2 women. These two ladies will display their readiness at this amusement while from their mouths come mele.

10. UKEKE PERFORMANCE [LEALEA UKEKE]—Mr. John Ioane will show his playing of the ukeke with Mele of the King; and this sweet voice of the ukeke will be accompanied by the steps of some girls doing lele this way and that.

11. MODERN PERFORMANCE [LEALEA ANO HOU]—The Famous Mr. Ioane will show once again some new things that will have the audience in stitches.

The doors will open at 7 P. M. Performances begin at 8.

ENTRANCE FEE: $1.00, $ .50. Tickets [Balota ?] available from hand of those in charge as well as at the entrance.

(Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, 6/26/1880, p. 2)

HALE KEAKA PAKE!

Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, Buke III, Helu 26, Aoao 2. Iune 26, 1880.

Famed Dandy, Ioane Ukeke, is no more. 1903.

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His Joyous Voice is Gone.

On Friday of this past week [5/1/1903], Ioane Ukeke died, and with his death, so too has one of the famous people of thirty or forty years ago left. Those days, Ioane was seen on the streets of town in full attire of a gentleman, and he was often mistaken by the foreign haole, as a prince of the land; but these past years, he went blind, and he was seen on the street sides playing the ukeke and sticking out his hat this way and that for some coins given charitably by the passersby.

Ioane is very famous in Hawaii for his playing of the ukeke. In his youth, he was a hula teacher [a’o hula], and he often went before the court of the alii as a hula leader [poo hula ?]. In those days, Ioane was seen on the streets in a velvet suit, beaver hat, glasses and a cane; he was called “Dandy” by the haole.

(Kuokoa, 5/8/1903, p. 6)

Ua Nalohia Kona Leo Uhene.

Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLI, Helu 19, Aoao 6. Mei 8, 1903.

Because February shouldn’t be the only Hawaiian Language month… 1948.

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THE MOTHER TONGUE

We frequently speak to our dear readers about our Mother tongue, not about our teaching them the Hawaiian language, but that the light of our beloved language from our forefathers is being extinguished.

Being that this is a new era, and we see and realize that there is a drastic reduction in the number of our generations capable in our mother tongue. There are many of our youths these days who have no knowledge of our language, but when you listen to them singing, they sing Hawaiian songs. Sometimes when our children speak Hawaiian, their production of the language is so strange, and sometimes our naau [gut, heart] aches at their mispronunciation of words.

There are many Hawaiian songs sung with incorrect pronunciation. Our children are neglecting trying to acquire knowledge and proficiency in speaking the mother tongue. Look at the other ethnicities like the Filipinos and the Japanese, they haven’t forgotten their language. If parents spoke in their own language then the children would hear; and when we talk to them, they’ll ask, “he aha kau e olelo mai nei? [what are you saying?]”

Some people bewail, “If only Hawaiian-Language Schools were reopened, that would be a good thing because we’d get knowledge and proficiency in the Hawaiian language and it would revive our language.”

That is astonishing. Should a young Hawaiian have the desire to acquire knowledge and competency in the Hawaiian language, he should try to get this competency by studying diligently by himself and to get together with an adult for help and there would be great progress. Some say that Hawaiian can be gotten just like that, not like the languages of other people. Perhaps it is true, but if you go back and think with great seriousness, you will see that the Hawaiian language is not easy.

Within the many Hawaiian words, spellings might be the same, but the pronunciation and meanings of those words are different.

One thing that will give every youth proficiency is the reading of Hawaiian newspapers and Hawaiian books like perhaps the bible. Those things will give knowledge and competence in our native language.

We point out that because of the great love of a certain father, Joseph N. [Nihiaumoe] Koomoa, for the Hawaiian language, he thought it would be important to publish some Hawaiian songs and Hawaiian Hula and print some booklets, and through that someone could make time to read the Hawaiian language and perhaps that way the person could pronounce the words while understanding the kaona [underlying meanings].

This man sent those Hawaiian songs and hula to a Newspaper company to be printed in booklets, and it will be sold to the person or persons who want those books. This is a good idea of Joseph Koomoa’s, and we hope that your books that are being printed will become books that give knowledge to the Hawaiian youths of this age and of the future. Aloha to us, O Hawaiians.

Should you want one of those books, they will be available at the shop of that Hawaiian on Waianuenue Avenue, and also the former fire station [?] According to what was announced, the books will probably cost 35 cents each.

We want our youngsters to get a hold of this and and improve themselves to the best of their ability so that they can get proficiency in our mother tongue. Letting these go would be like forgetting our own selves.

“RISE YOUNG HAWAIIANS, GRASP OUR MOTHER TONGUE AND GO FORTH AND LET US BE TRIUMPHANT BY BEING PROFICIENT IN THE HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE.

Forge forward with no fear. So that you can get knowledge and proficiency in your own language—that will be your triumph.

We give our congratulations to you, Mr. Joseph Koomoa, for you attempt to revive the prized language of ours. You will be helping for all times [E kokua mau ia mai nohoi oe i na wa apau. ?]

Help ourselves Hawaiians, and don’t let the benefits go to those others [E kokua iho nohoi ia kaua Hawaii, aole hoi hoolele aku i na pomaikai ia lakou ma. ?]

[Anyone know of any copies of these music booklets by Joseph N. Koomoa still in existence???]

(Hoku o Hawaii, 2/11/1948, p. 2)

Ka Olelo Makuahine.

Ka Hoku o Hawaii, Volume XLI, Number 19, Aoao 2. Pepeluali 11, 1948.