Gusto and gut-wrenching laughter with the Kahumokus
"…as the evening rolled on and Uncle George started to feel ono for some Hamura Saimin and thinking of how to get his toe in the door before they stopped serving, he started in on what must be one of his most memorable stories – the fish story at the fancy resort in Maui – which had everyone in stitches with tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks. In his most eloquent and descriptive pidgin English, he painted visual images in our heads that were so bizarre they were almost fictional. Keoki, one of the guilty party in this fiasco, could testify to the authenticity of every word."
Click Here for the Photo Story by Anne E. O’Malley: E Kanikapila Kakou Opening Night
George Kahumoku approached me several months ago to help him launch his 2010 mainland tour on Kaua’i; it’s called “Generations” featuring the Kahumoku and Kamakahi father and son teams. The Kaua’i calendar is so booked up for events that the best I could do was to ask them to be part of EKK 27th season – “The Stories Behind the Songs” – because they are all outstanding composers and story-tellers. What a way to start the season with the Kahumoku’s in week one and the Kamakahi’s in week two along with the legendary Eddie Kamae.
Little did I realize that the bonus would be to hear George and Keoki perform together, harmonizing songs in a way that only family members can do. What a treat! Even for them, with George living on Maui and Keoki living on Hawaii island, this was a rare opportunity for them to perform together.
Earlier in the day, father and son offered in-depth ukulele workshops in the Jasmine Ballroom. George shared the basics to slacking down the ukulele strings, much like the slack key guitar. Keoki taught the regular ukulele playing. Phyllis Albert, who was listening in from the side, came up to tell me that Keoki is a phenomenal teacher. I had to mention that to George and he agreed, “Keoki is a better teacher than me!” Wow! How ‘bout that for a compliment from your own Dad.
The evening program started with the ukulele hour, but with a new sound system and a huge space where folks no longer had to sit bun-to-bun or on each other’s lap, it took a bit of trial-and-error to find the right way to keep the unique back-yard jam feeling. Plus factors are many – lots of parking, everything so spacious, beautiful setting, ono food and drinks handled by hotel staff, no worry about being over capacity even with huge attendance, and no scurrying around to find step stools or ice chests for extra seating.
George was a bit taken aback by the growing audience because the last time he did EKK 11 years ago in the St Michael’s Church parish hall, the numbers were so small that he asked everyone to sit in a circle; this Monday the number of participants increased ten-fold.
George, ever the entrepreneur, gave a bit of background about the various CD’s that were available for purchase. He also plugged his book, “The Hawaiian Way“ which is what started me off, a closet writer, on finally sharing my own writings with a larger audience. That is the reason that you all get so many e-stories from me. It’s all George’s fault.
Keoki led off the program with “ Noho i Pahala“, an ‘oli composed by Liko Puha at the Kahumoku ‘Ohana ‘Ukulele and Slack Key Workshop in Pahala. He shared a bit of history about the Kau district, once a bread basket of Hawaiian civilization where thousands thrived in an area with no water. What a great intro to Hawaiian music to learn a chant with proper flexing of the knees and all the little vocal inflections, wavering voice and grunts from the piko. Keoki also shared “You Are In My Arms” with a bluesy tempo.
The songs that they taught us, each with its own story, were exquisite melodies with beautiful harmony. At times I forgot to sing and just wanted to listen to them singing. “Ku’u ‘Aina Aloha ‘O Kahakuloa” (My beloved Land of Kahakuloa), composed by George with Hawaiian translation by Ke’haulani Shintani, is based on a geographically remote and very special place near George’s home on the Lahaina side of Maui, culturally connected with the legend of the birth of Maui by Hina, Goddess of the Moon, and musically describes the unique and stark beauty of Kahakuloa. As George went over the lyrics of the song, he touched upon many historical and geographical trivia. This was where Chief Kahikili tested the warriors and only those with the physical prowess to survive the gauntlet of challenges could serve in the royal army.
I will never forget my first and only trip to Kahakuloa, as we drove along that single lane cliffside donkey trail which they dare to call a road. I was shivering with acrophobia and crossing my fingers that no oncoming traffic would force us to reverse up the hill back to Lahaina.
An interesting aside by George was his reason for leaving his long time home in South Kona, where the vog threatened his health, and transplanting his farm to the northernmost tip of Maui where fresh clean air from Alaska, previously touched only by seagulls and whales, made it easier for him to breathe and live. Over the years he has farmed on Hawaii Island using ingenious planting methods in rocky ground and on Maui -- everything from taro, papaya, mac nut, ti leaves to cattle, pigs, goats; he even invited anyone in the audience to visit him at the northern tip of Lahaina but go there prepared to work the farm. Anyone need a little adventure in their lives….?
Based on the legend of Volcano Goddess Pele and her bovine boyfriend Kamapua’a, George describes the tempestuous centuries-long love struggle between the two, complete with all the pig grunts, goat blubbering and other sound embellishments that is George’s signature style of story-telling. Written at a tumultuous time in his own life, “Ho’okupu Kamapua’a” describes the womanly attributes of the goddess when peace is finally reached between the shape-shifting man-fish-pig and the beautiful woman of his dreams. Such a wonderful song to sing.
Revealing his softer feminine side, George composed “Ke Welina A Ke Aloha,” a mele inoa for his niece Kewelinaakealoha Kamoku while he was trying to rock this crying 6-week old baby to sleep. George said that in those days everything from car rentals to plate lunches to dog grooming services were being named “Aloha,” so he wanted a name other than Aloha to fit this child born on Valentine’s Day. Aunty Edith Kanaka’ole’s name choice translates to “the essence of love”. The song translation by Kalani Meinecke described the baby perfectly. The melody in this song is haunting; the harmony between father and son is exquisite. Such a wonderful gift!
George’s introduction to playing music at age 11 is his famous story about cleaning cars for Lippy Espinda at ten cents a car to playing a three-minute gig for Kui Lee at Forbidden City that scored him $27.10 from the appreciative audience of construction workers and stevedores. They sang Kui Lee’s “I will remember you” to acknowledge Kui Lee’s support of young talent; George has spent his lifetime doing the same. Not one to only talk; he backs up his words with action. Keoki is George’s own true son, but he parents 14 other hanae youngsters plus, over the years, has mentored over 100 problem youths in special programs. Besides coordinating and performing Hawaiian music all over the mainland, George has been running the well known Hawaiian music series at the Kapalua and the Kahumoku ‘Ohana ‘Ukulele and Slack Key Workshop on Maui. He teaches Art full time at Lahainaluna High School and is a sculptor in his own right.
“Aloha Hale O Ho’oponopono” with lyrics by Diane Aki and melody by George describes the way the students in this Kamehameha and DOE-sponsored alternative learning center in Honaunau never cut out of school because the curriculum is rooted in traditional Hawaiian values – fishing, hunting, planting, surfing, canoeing, hula, halau bulding, and building stonewalls. An upbeat song, it captured the spirit of this learning center.
Keoki wanted to share Aunty Irmgard Aluli’s “Boy from Laupahoehoe”, a lively hula number that brought Uncle Vern Kauanui up front to show his lively hula hips….boy, that Uncle can really “ame”! For visitors who had never experienced Vern, it was a visual treat. Wheee…haw!
“….as the evening rolled on and Uncle George started to feel ono for some Hamura Saimin and thinking of how to get his toe in the door before they stopped serving, he started in on what must be one of his most memorable stories – the fish story at the fancy resort in Maui – which had everyone in stitches with tears of laughter rolling down their cheeks. In his most eloquent and descriptive pidgin English (which made me nostalgic for my small kid time in Waimea Valley), he painted visual images in our heads that were so bizarre they were almost fictional. Keoki, one of the guilty party in this fiasco, could testify to the authenticity of every word.
In resort best practices, every care is taken by hotel staff to be sure that visitors from different cultures understand the hotel protocol and amenities for their best enjoyment, but perhaps in those early days, the hotel never thought that hosting a local Hawaiian ‘ohana from the boonies of Kona with their cherished Hawaiian cultural practices required the same “educational component” and needed to be treated and advised like people from a foreign country. But then …. there would have been no such stories of life adventures that fill the lives of the Kahumoku’s.
Both George and son Keoki have had more than their share of life’s adventures and these stories are recorded in wonderful Hawaiian songs and stories in his book. The stories could have gone on all night, but Hamura was calling.
The duo topped off their fish story with a favorite fish song from Niihau, “Aloha Ka Manini” and all too soon the evening had to come to an end. All rose to sing “Hawai’i Aloha” with a special remembrance to Uncle Kepa Goo and Rocky Pau who were faithful attendees of EKK through season 2009. It’s great that Faith Pau was present to carry on this family way of life.
Monday, January 25, we will feature the other half of “Generations” – the father and son team of Dennis and David Kamakahi -- along with their close friend and mentor, Eddie Kamae of “Sons of Hawaii” fame. 6:00 – 7:00 is the instrumental hour and the main program goes from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Food and drink is made available by Kauai Beach Resort so you can come straight from work.
Contact the Kauai Beach Resort at 245-1955 for EKK Special Room Discounts.
In March and April, George Jr, son Keoki and the father-son team of Dennis and David Kamakahi will be touring the mainland cities with “Generations”, so anyone up for a great show, check out their schedule on www.kahumoku.com and www.denniskamakahiproductions.com
(s) Carol Kouchi Yotsuda, www.gardenislandarts.org— “Celebrating 33 years of bringing ARTS to the people and people to the ARTS”
E Kanikapila Kakou 2010 -- Hawaiian Music Program is funded in part by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, the County of Kaua’i Office of Economic Development, and Garden Island Arts Council supporters with support from Kaua’I Beach Resort.
Garden Island Arts Council programs are supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of Hawai’i and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.