James K. Pohina, 87, retired musician and long known as the oldest member of the Royal Hawaiian band, died at 7:10 p. m. Thursday at the residence at 2116 Ladd lane. Continue reading
The news was told in our office, the laws to give pensions to some Hawaiians who served for many years in government jobs like James Pohina, S. Kamakaia, George Waipa, and some other Hawaiians. Continue reading
After working as a musician in the Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] for 51 years, James Pohina, one of the oldest persons working with the band, decided he was at a place where he would retire with a pension from the county government. Continue reading
He is one of the members of the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] established by Professor Northcock, a British man, and under his instruction, Jack Kuamoo acquired a superior talent in playing the smaller drums. There is no one amongst the Hawaiian people and amongst those who play the smaller drums of our band these days that can follow after the talent that Jack Kuamoo had.
In 1895, the Royal Hawaiian Band went to America under the leadership of Professor Libornio, a Filipino, and his abilities in drumming smaller drums diminished in the places where we in the band played. He was a known expert in his talent taught to him until proficient, and it is the old kamaaina of Honolulu nei who are the witness to this.
With his death, he left behind three of his old friends still living: Frank Mahuka, living with his children, grandchildren and many of his family in Kalihi Camp; James Pohina, and the one writing this [Samuel K. Kamakea], still with the band today. All of the old ones of this profession in 1870 have died, and we are the old members left alive today. But we are to follow too on the same path, so who amongst us three will be the one to go after Jack Kuamoo.
Because of the unforgettable remembrances of Captain H. Berger for Jack Kuamoo, he was invited by the members of the Band to offer some dirges at the crypt of Manuel Silva, and the loving invitation by the band was accepted, and at half past three in the afternoon of this Wednesday, the band played some mele kanikau for Jack Kuamoo.
We, the old members of the band, are giving our right hand of true aloha, and join with you O Wife who is left without a husband, and grieve with you, and mourn with you, and carry with you the sadness borne upon you; and may the Heavens wash away all of the streaks of tears from you.
We with sincerity,
FRANK MAHUKA,
JAMES POHINA,
SAMUEL K. KAMAKEA.
[Does anyone know who the Professor Northcock mentioned refers to?]
(Kuokoa, 9/26/1913, p. 3)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LI, Helu 38, Aoao 3. Sepatemaba 26, 1913.
nupepa 