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My Turn Ben Wood |
Kamae was key player
in musical renaissance
Hawaiian Son," a biography about the life and music of Eddie Kamae, will hit the bookstores on Nov. 16. It was written by James D. Houston, with Kamae. The 259-page, handsomely crafted book includes more than 60 historical photos, drawings and album covers."I love the book," Kamae said. "It talks about my life, my wife, my teachers and those who gave me guidance."
Kamae, the late Gabby Pahinui and their fabulous Sons of Hawaii group, formed in the early '60s, have to be at the top of the list when it comes to the cultural renaissance of Hawaiian music.
Pahinui, the great slack-key guitarist and singer, is no longer with us. And some of the other wonderful members of the Sons -- Feet Rogers, Moe Keale and Joe Marshall -- are also gone, as are slack key guitar giants Sonny Chillingworth and Atta Isaacs, who at times sat in. But Kamae and his unique ukulele mastery and singing, thankfully, are still going strong.
Faces may have changed in the Sons of Hawaii group but under Kamae's leadership, the marvelous Hawaiian music continues. Dennis Kamakahi was with the group for several years. Today's Sons group is made up of Kamae, Braddah Smitty Smith, Ocean Kaowili and Pekelo Cosma. How about the colorful names of those fine musicians?
Kamae, 77, has not limited his Hawaiian cultural endeavors to music. He must have been struck by a lightning bolt packed with enlightenment somewhere along the line as he has become a master at making documentaries for his Hawaiian Legacy Series.
With help from such noted Hawaiians as Mary Kawena Pukui, Pilahi Paki, Iolani Luahine, Sam Li'a Kalainaina, "Papa" Henry Auwae and others, Kamae has been able to focus his cameras on people and places that are unreachable by other filmmakers. Instrumental to the success of his documentaries are Kamae's wife, Myrna, and Houston.
It's appropriate that a party to launch Kamae's book will be held at the Halekulani Resort. Halekulani G.M. Fred Honda and Kamae lived in the same School-and-Vineyard area near Kauluwela Elementary when the were kids.
Star-Bulletin staff members expressing
their personal views.