Major Kealaka [Major Kealakai] of Royal Hawaiians at Star Theater “First Half.”
(Munice Sunday Star, 9/17/1916, Second Section, p. 3)
The Munice Sunday Star, Volume 39, p. 142, Second Section, Page 3. September 17, 1916.
The Act That Pleases
MAJOR KEALAKAI AND
PRINCESS ULUWEHI
and Their
Might it be “Ka Ipo Lei Manu,” generally credited to Queen Kapiolani?
To the Kuokoa Newspaper; Aloha nui: So that people know the truth, I am Mekia Kealakai, the one who composed the kanikau of King Kalakaua, “E O E Kalani Kaulilua,” of the Kawaihau Glee Club which existed then. The ones who sang this dirge were these: Continue reading
Lihilihi o ka Lehua
Aala o ka Hinano
He nahele kii wai a ka ua
Koolua e lia mau nei. Continue reading
The famous Kawaihau club, now reorganized under Charles Hopkins, who has done so much for Hawaiian music, and which has delighted society with its playing from the time of Kalakaua until now, gives, under the patronage of the Princess Kawananakoa, a dance at the Young Hotel on Friday evening next for which tickets are on sale at the drug stores, Wall Nichols, McInerny’s and Wichman’s.
Eighteen first class musicians, players and singers both, will give dancers a treat never before planned on such a scale. The musicians of the club are: Major Kealakai, Charles Palikapu, Sam Nainoa, John Edwards, John K. Nahaolelua, George K. Nahaolelua, Z. Kapule, Solomon Hiram, Jim Shaw, Jim Kulolia, Joe Kulolia, H. Keaweamahi, H. Paakea, Duke Kahanamoku, William H. Keawe, Ben Jones, Kalani Peters, and the program starting with a grand march at 8:30, and including a schotische and medley, reads as follows:
1. Grand March and Waltz ….. Amistad
2. Two Step ….. Hula o Makee
3. Waltz ….. Wahikaahuula (Princess Kawananakoa)
4. Two Step ….. Manoa Anuanu Wau
5. Waltz ….. Waialae
6. Two Step ….. He Manao
7. Waltz ….. Hiu No Wau
8. Two Step ….. Maunaloa
Ten Minutes Intermission.
9. Waltz ….. Ko Leo
10. Schottische ….. Koni Au Ika Wai
11. Two Step ….. Tomi, Tomi
12. Waltz ….. Pulu Pe Ike Anu
13. Two Step ….. Ai Aka Honehone Ana
14. Medley ….. E Maliu Mai
EXTRAS.
1. Two Step ….. Waikiki Mermaid
2. Waltz ….. Halona
3. Two Step ….. Lau Vabine
4. Waltz ….. Puu o Hulu
Sonny Cunha is to be floor manager.
(Pacific Commercial Advertiser, 6/19/1904, p. 6)
Sunday Advertiser, Volume II, Number 77, Page 6. June 19, 1904.
On Monday, this town received the sad news about the death of Diamond Kekona, the son of D. K. Kekona of this town, in Berlin, Germany, on the 13th of last month, February.
It was Mrs. Diamond Kekona, the wife of Kekona, who sent the sad news of the death of her husband to Mekia Kealakai, the leader of the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii], because he was a friend of the young Kekona and his wife when they were all living in London.
A letter was also received by Mr. D. K. Kekona, the father of the young man, confirming the news about the passing of his son.
Diamond Kekona was born on the 6th of October, 1890, so at his death, he was thirty-three years old and some.
Diamond left Honolulu in 1905 for New York, with a group of singers and musicians. He spent many years in America in this occupation.
During the great war of the world, Diamond Kekona was in England, and he enlisted in the service under Britain, going off to war in France and Belgium. He married a British woman and had two children, however the two of them died.
At the end of the war, Mr. and Mrs. Kekona lived in Belgium, and just last year they went to Berlin, Germany, where they met up with Joe Puni, William Kanui, and Joseph Nihali [?]; but according to the letter of Mrs. Kekona, he did not get along with Joe Puni, and they did not talk.
Mr. Kekona was not sick for long before he died, it was just a week; and in the letter his wife wrote to Mr. D. K. Kekona, she told him of her intent to return the body of her husband to London to bury, in her homeland, close to her home.
With the passing of this Hawaiian youth in foreign lands, he left behind, grieving for him: his young British wife; his grandmother, Mrs. Makalohi, who is 91; his father, Mr. D. K. Kekona, working in the sheriff department and a pastor of the Christian Science Church [Hoomana Naauao]; two younger brothers named Hugo and August Kekona; and their sister, Mrs. Lonohira [Mrs. George Lonohiwa]; and a big family.
(Kuokoa, 3/22/1922, p. 1)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LXI, Helu 12, Aoao 1. Maraki 22, 1922.
From within the various papers of the deceased Queen Liliuokalani, the Honorable H. L. Holstein, the executor of the deceased queen’s estate, found two mele which she composed herself, and which Honolulu’s people have not heard before; however, on the evening of this Sunday, the mele will be sung by the Royal Hawaiian Band [Bana Hawaii] outside of Kapiolani Park, under the direction of Mekia Kealakai.
The words of these compositions are profound, unlike most of the mele composed by other famous composers of Hawaii nei; this shows that there are but few people who are adept at composing mele like Queen Liliuokalani.
Being that Mekia Kealakai is one of those skilled at composing Hawaiian mele while he was a member of the Hui Kawaihau [Kawaihau Glee Club], there will be nothing lacking in his directing of the playing and singing of the Royal Hawaiian Band, when the mele are sung, drawing forth feelings of admiration from the audience.
Here below are the mele composed by Queen Liliuokalani:
Ei ae ka ua kuakualua
Ke nihi ae la i ka moana;
E uhai ae ana e ike kona pili,
Kahi wai kaulana i Haliilua.
Hui.
Maeele au i ka ua la,
Kilikilihune ka nahele la,
Hoopulu ana i ka palai.
Pulu au i ka ua anu au maeele,
Hoopulu ana i ka palai.
Ke walea la oe i ka la’i o Maunaloa,
I ka uluwehi nani a o ka lehua.
He mea nani ke aloha,
Ke hiki mai i o’u nei;
Me he opuu lei daimana,
Kahiko no kuu kino.
Hui.
Kuu lei popohe i ka la’i,
Nohea i Mu’olaulani,
Ko beauty la he mau ia,
No na kau a kau.
He pua iluna ka’u li’a,
He mea laha ole na loko;
He waiwai hiilani na’u,
O ka oi no ia o Hawaii.
[This must have been some performance! “Nohea” is also known as “Nohea i Mu’olaulani” and as just “Mu’olaulani.” I am not sure why this song is referred to as an unknown composition in 1920. But does anyone know if there are any recordings of “Ka Ua Kilihune o Kona”?]
(Kuokoa, 12/10/1920, p. 3)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke LVIII, Helu 50, Aoao 3. Dekemaba 10, 1920.
Here below is a letter received as well as a program from some performances given by the Kawaihau Glee Club at Spokane, Washington (not Washington in the East, but Washington State to the North of California). It is apparent from the letter that the actions of that haole taking these Hawaiian boys around is much appreciated, and this is seen as below:
Spokane, Wash., October 7, 1905.
S. K. Nawaa, Aloha to you:
We’ve arrived in this beautiful town, we left Frisco on Saturday the 7th [?] at 11 a. m. and got to Seattle in the morning, at 7:30 a. m. boarded the 8 o’clock train for Spokane. Our contract is for 3 months. If they are taken by the sound of Hawaiian music, we will stay on for another 6 months, which would make 9 months total. Perhaps we will be like old grandparents by then.
I have sent a newspaper to you. But here is the thing, I had problems with the postage, so you will have to take care of it.
We really are thankful for our Boss here, W. L. Greenburn [?], he is an investigator. The one problem is that he treats us as if he is our father. Everything is first class, from the train, to the boat, to the hotel, and so forth. My friends, James Shaw, John Edward [Edwards?], D. Nape [David Nape], C. P. Kaleikoa, James Kulolia, James Kamakani, Kalani Peters, H. Kaeo and me, your friend as well, we are all in good health. As soon as I get acclimated to how it is here, I will write again.
Much Aloha,
Mekia Kealakai.
SILVER GRILL
MUSIC PROGRAM
Opening Enkakement of King Kalakau’s Kawaihau Orchestra.
EVENING PROGRAM, 9 to 12
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1905.
1 March “Hiki Mai” Arr by Berger
2 Song “Lei ohaha” Kealakai
3 Song “Ua hiki no me au” Kulolia
4 Song “Awaiaulu” Lala
5 Waltz “Aloha kuu home” Mahuia
6 Song “Eleile” Queen Lil
7 Song “Ooe no kai ike” Huelani
8 March “Maui” arr by Berger
9 Bass Solo “Wiliwili wai” Kamakani
10 Song (a dance) Hawaiian Maid” Kaeo
11 Waltz “Kawaiahau” Mekia
12 Song “Lei Lehua” King Kalakaua
13 Song “Malanai” Queen Lil
14 “Karama” Grey
THIS EVENING’S PROGRAM.
1 March “Lake” Nape
2 Song “Kawaihau” Mekia
3 Song “Maemae Lihau” Makini
4 Ballad “Like no a like” Alice
5 Song “Old Plantation” Nape
6 Song “E lei no au” Kapoli
7 Waltz “Kawaihau” Kealakai
8 Hula (a dance) “Komikomi” Eluene
9 March “Moana” Kaleikoa
10 Song “Pili aoao” Kulolia
11 Song “Lulu wai aloha” Kalani
12 Hula (a dance) Moanalua Kaeo
13 Ballad “Kaiulani” Eluene
14 Song “Ninipo” Pali
15 Song “Puni Kauoha” Mekia
16 Song “1, 2, 3, 4.” Kimo
17 Farewell Song “Aloha oe” Queen Li
18 Hawaiian National Anthem “Hawaii Ponoi King Kalakaua
[I am assuming that they copied the program as it was printed out in Washington…]
(Kuokoa, 11/3/1905, p. 5)
Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, Buke XLIII, Helu 44, Aoao 5. Novemaba 3, 1905.
nupepa 