My Turn
JOHN BERGER / JBERGER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Jane Moulon, Nina Kealiiwahamana, Aaron Sala, Timothy Ho, Uilani Bobbitt and Cynthia Rankin helped with the "Dreams of Old Hawaii" show Friday at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider.
The "Hawaii Calls" radio show in its heyday was unsurpassed when it came to spreading the music of Hawaii across the mainland and to foreign countries. Local players bring back
‘Dreams of Old Hawaii’
I used to watch the program from the beach some 50 years ago, when I was in my late teens, as it was presented on the Moana Hotel's Banyan Court. Listening to the program each week on the Armed Forces Network was a must when I was a soldier and later a civilian with the Stars and Stripes newspaper in Germany.
Sounds of the gentle surf rolling up on the smooth sands of Waikiki, the steel guitar, the familiar voice of emcee Webley Edwards and the music of Al Kealoha Perry and the Singing Surfriders pulled the heartstrings, especially if you were some 10,000 miles from home.
Last Friday night, many kamaainas turned out to see and hear something near to the dear old "Hawaii Calls" show at the Moana's Banyan Court. "Dreams of Old Hawaii" was presented, starring leading Hawaiian singers and musicians as well as some new faces.
The show was put together by Aaron Sala, Uilani Bobbitt and Timothy Ho, three UH graduate students working with outreach programs of the Mele Hawaii Institute.
Nostalgic "Hawaii Calls" film clips were shown before the show. Nina Kealiiwahamana, one of the great voices of Hawaii who sang on "Hawaii Calls," provided invaluable help with the program and was one of the bright lights in the show.
Another "Hawaii Calls" veteran, Beverly Noa, well known for her beautiful hula, was the solo dancer. Iwalani Kahalewai, Mahi Beamer, Alan Akaka, Kaipo Asing and Gary Aiko were the singers and musicians. All are big names in Hawaiian music. Halau Pua Alii Ilima, the Kamehameha Schools Concert Glee Club and Hawaiian Ensemble rounded out the cast.
Sala was an excellent emcee.
Aiko was the workhorse, singing several solos besides playing bass. His mother, the incomparable singer Genoa Keawe, was in the audience. Aiko opened the show with "Hawaii Calls" and "I Am Hawaii." He sang as Noa danced several numbers, including "Lovely Hula Hands." He and Kamahele sang a tender rendition of the popular "Hawaiian Wedding Song" together.
Kealiiwahamana showed her excellence on "Sweet Leilani" and Kui Lee's "I'll Remember You" as Noa danced.
The soloists were supported vocally by the other singers and musicians on most selections.
Alan Akaka's steel guitar solo of "Whispering Lullaby" was outstanding.
Surprise guest hula dancers included Pua Alii Ilima Kumu Hula Vicky Holt-Takamine and Gaye Beamer. Gaye danced to "Kimo Hula" as her uncle Mahi sang the song that was written by his grandmother, Helen Desha Beamer, a noted composer.
Just as in the old days, the entire cast sang "Aloha Oe" to close things out.
If Sala, Bobbitt and Ho will be graded for "Dreams of Old Hawaii," A+ is not high enough.
Ben Wood sold the Star-Bulletin in Honolulu
during World War II. His column, "Wood Craft,"
appears Saturdays. E-mail him at bwood@starbulletin.com.My Turn is a periodic column written by
Star-Bulletin staff members expressing
their personal views.
