Esteemed falsetto vocalist
dies of brain aneurysm

DENNIS PAVAO / 1951-2002

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By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com

Dennis Pavao, a talented musician and one of Hawaii's foremost falsetto vocalists, died yesterday at Maui Memorial Medical Center, where he was being treated after collapsing during a performance last week. He was 50.

"A fun-loving guy with a beautiful voice. Always laughing, (telling) crazy jokes," record producer Lea Uehara said of Pavao.

According to a friend of the family, Pavao had experienced several dizzy spells earlier in the week and was suffering from a severe headache. An MRI revealed the presence of a brain aneurysm. After surgery, Pavao's prognosis looked good, but by Monday afternoon his doctors prohibited visitors.

Shane Kahalehau, KPOA-FM's "Hawaiian Home Boy," described Pavao as "a treasure" and expects that, like Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole before him, Pavao will posthumously become a Hawaiian music icon.

"In today's island music there's not too many like him," Kahalehau said. "When Iz passed away, a lot of the younger generation started turning to his music. Now it's Dennis. It's sad that they have to leave before the younger generation starts noticing the importance of what they did for the island music."

Pavao had been a major figure in modern Hawaiian music for more than a quarter-century. He first gained fame when he and his twin cousins, Ledward and Nedward Kaapana, founded Hui Ohana in the early 1970s. The trio recorded a string of successful albums including "Young Hawaii Plays Old Hawaii," "Hana Hou" and "From Kalapana to Waikiki" before breaking up to pursue individual projects.

Pavao and Led Kaapana were Hoku Award winners as solo artists by the time Tom Moffatt brokered a Hui Ohana reunion in 1987. The reunited trio's recording of "Pua Carnation" won Single of the Year honors in 1988.

Pavao had won Male Vocalist of the Year honors in 1987 for "Ka Keo Ki'eki'e," one of several albums released by Uehara's Poki label. Another, "Hawaiian Soul," was the winner in the Traditional Hawaiian Album category in 1989, while a third, "Na Mele Henohano: Dennis Pavao," took top honors as Anthology of the Year in 1993. He subsequently recorded "All Hawaii Stand Together" for Poki, and two albums, "Wale No" and "Sweet Leilani," for Maui-based Pilialoha Records.

He is survived by wife Leialoha and six children.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Cards and condolences can be sent to the Pavao family in care of radio station KPOA 93.5 FM at 311 Ano St., Kahului, HI 96732; or by e-mail to dennispavao@hotmail.com.