Hawaiian music icon Sonny Kamahele passes

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

Just received this press release from Hawaii:

Sonny Kamahele
(Solomon "Sonny" Kamahele, Jr.) has passed away today at his home in Hilo at 11:06 AM, with his wife Margaret at his side. Sonny was 82. He was born in Honolulu on August 28, 1921.

Sonny had been battling cancer recently.

Numerous friends had been keeping in touch with him via telephone for the past several days, as he began to decline. Several entertainers sang his favorite songs to him over the phone. At the moment that he slipped away, Amy Hanaialii Giliam was singing "Sweet Little Baby" over the phone to Sonny. The tune was composed by Sam Koki, who was Amy's father's stepfather. Sonny performed with Sam Koki for several years in LA, and was known for his performance of the song. Sonny released an updated version on his last recording.

The legendary Hawaiian musician retired from performing last year, and relocated to a newly built home in Hilo. A grand farewell celebration was thrown for him at the Halekulani Hotel, where he had performed for several years.

Sonny had performed Hawaiian music since he was taught by his father, another noted Hawaiian entertainer, Solomon Kamahele, Sr. Numerous recordings and a long stint with Hawaii Calls, as well as a member of Alfred Apaka's famed Hawaiian Village Serenaders group, are just some of Sonny Kamahele's career highlights. Since the 1950's, Sonny was a close friend of Benny Kalama, who preceded Sonny in death.

Funeral dates and arrangements are pending, but they will be held in Honolulu.
Tentatively, services will be held at both St. Stevens and St. Anthony's, with burial at Hawaii Memorial Park.

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Sonny is and will always be one of the greatest. He has richly blessed this world with his gift of music. I feel lucky and honored to have met him and been in his presence as he played and sang the music that defines Hawai'i. My thoughts and prayers send a sad Aloha to him, his friends, and family.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Sonny was probably most noted for his singing ability more than anything else. He possessed a nice falsetto voice and knew every song or hula ever written. He also played a very pleasing style on steel and utilized the seldom used D9th tuning throughout most of his career. Sonny had a remarkable career going back to around his 18th birthday. His nickname was "Mr. Hollywood" for obvious reasons. He performed with the greatest legendary entertainers out of Hawai'i, Alfred Apaka, Harry Owens, far too many to list here. He was also one of the performers on the Webley Edwards (original) "Hawai'i Calls" radio program. Sonny did it all and he will always be remembered fondly as one of Hawaii's golden treasures. I know I will always miss seeing and hearing him.

Hank Mann · From: W. Los Angeles, California

I am deeply saddened by the news of Sonny's passing..I was blessed to meet Sonny at the Halikalani about four years ago. He was so mello and friendly and easy to chat with, I can see why they called him "Mr. Hollywood" He had such a
cool look about him. I never heard him play steel, but his "jazz Rythms" on guitar
were smok'n. He was very generous and
encouraging to me and I wish I could have sat in with him..The man was one of a kind and epidemised all that is cool about Hawaiian music. We perform his version of "e Huli Makou" here in California. that song will have a new meaning for me from now on... Rest in Peace Bruddah

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

Just this last June I saw Sonny for the first time, performing at "The House Without A Key" with Alan Akaka on steel. Sonny's vocals were the highlight of the performance. Later in the week Sonny and his family were at Auntie Genoa's gig and my wife and I had the opportunity to meet and sit and talk with them for awhile. Really nice folks. They don't make them like that anymore...

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I concure with all that has been said here about Sonny, and to say the least, there will never be another one like him. He made spending $ by diving for coins tossed into Honolulu Harbor, and personally greeted President FDR on his arrival in the mid '30s as the Police Dept's. mascot(Dad, Sol Sr. was a famous local musician and an officer in the HPD). Sonny's father heard him singing one day and guided him towards a lifetime of entertaining. His "on the 8th's" style of rhythm guitar was learned from the Western musicians he heard in Hollywood, and utilized that infectous beat til the end of his career to charge up any of the quicker Hawaiian #s. Vocally, he had a range stretching from a beautiful falsetto to a smooth baritone, and it all could be experienced in one sitting at any of his shows. He wrote so many wonderful songs, that a group today could do only his tunes for an entire evening and be well applauded. Steel wise, he was most unique. He stuck with the D9th for the most part, but also had Barney's E13 on top of his D8 Stringmaster(Mel Abe's old one). He had a languid touch that was the epitome of dreamy, and immediatly able to put the listener in a far away world. Most never saw the mind wobbling way he could incorporate his standard guitar rhythmic strum into his steel playing, quickly alternating between the two in perfect time, and along with his simultanious singing turned himself into a fabulous one man band. You would have to of seen it to believe it, simply stunning. My long time wish for Sonny was that he would have the chance to provide a crowd at any steel based show the opportunity to witness this ability, but we'll have to wait to join him to enjoy that now. Sonny was always up for showing anyone interested in learning what he knew, be it singing, playing, whatever. A very giving professional, and always good for a laugh. He played with virtually all the greats in Hawaiian music during the last half of the century. You name them, he knew them, and had all the stories. It was in Sonny's band that Jerry Byrd got his start in his 'new' career, on the beach at Waikiki. His most shining moment(probably) was in backing the greatest male singer in Hawaii's history, Alfred Apaka, as part of an outstanding all star assembly(The Hawaiian Village Serenaders) of which he was the last survivor. A character like Sonny could never have been invented, he had to be created from above, and given as a gift to the world. And now, after a fine lifetime of providing for us, he's back where he belongs(what a huge Heavenly luau must be going on now!). For those looking to hear his music, I suggest his 'Beautiful Hawaii' solo CD from a few short years back, containing the fun 'Let's Go Around The Island' and full of many other tunes that would have been instant classics had there been a worthwhile radio station to expose them, don't miss it. It's never going to be the same with him gone, but he'll be back soon, as he'll be laid to rest just a block away from where he lived in Nu'uanu Valley. Thank you Sonny, you were something else. Aloha, my friend.

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

What a beautiful tribute to a great entertainer, Ron. You covered it all and you did it so well! Mahalo braddah. In your tribute you mentioned:
============================================
"My long time wish for Sonny was that he would have the chance to provide a crowd at any steel based show the opportunity to witness this ability, but we'll have to wait to join him to enjoy that now."
============================================Well Ron, back in 1981 and 82 we, (the HSGA), put on two wonderful all day steel guitar Ho'olau'lea's, (concerts), in Kapiolani Park. (9:00a.m - 4:30pm). I was the guy who was asked to organize and emcee both of those two events. I spent hours phoning many, many local steel guitarists, most of whom were long 'retired' and were no longer playing, asking each to come out for some musical fun and play a few tunes in the park. Many of those whom I contacted did, some promised to do so, but never showed, others were simply no longer interested. Anyway, Sonny was one of those who promised to show up and he did to everyone's delight. Looking back in retrospect, I'm sure it must have been a rare occasion indeed to see and hear Sonny playing his steel exclusively to an audience instead of sitting on his stool at the Halekulani "House Without a Key" playing his old Gibson arched-top guitar, and singing as most of us fondly remember him.

Thanks again for this excellent tribute Ron...ya did well!

Graham Griffith · From: Tempe, N.S.W., Australia

1999 saw my wife Jenny and I in Waikiki for the HSGA convention and the highlight for us both was seeing Sonny at "The House Without a Key" ... without a doubt. We were privileged to see his lovely smiling face and hear his swinging guitar and relaxed vocals. What a man!

Graham

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

As always George, my hats off to you! The local Hawaiian/steel community owes you a debt of gratitude for your many years of support and hard work towards exposing the later generations to what they otherwise may have missed, and providing plenty of fine musical enjoyment for the rest along the way. I've always regretted not making those 2 early steel Ho'olau'lea's, as they showcased a lot of legendary locals of whom virtually all are now gone, as well as some of the new breed. It's terrific to know Sonny got his licks in at that time, and I thank you very much. At that time I was just beginning my interest in playing steel, having been knocked out by Jerry Byrd's first steel bashes at McCoy Pavillion, and had little knowledge of Waikiki for years yet to come. So it took awhile for me to catch up, and I feel quite fortunate to have become friendly with many of Hawaii's best musicians. Sonny was one of the nicest, and his shoes will never be filled. Again George, a big Mahalo to you. Now put another log on the fire!

[This message was edited by Ron Whitfield on 13 February 2004 at 10:25 AM.]

George Keoki Lake · From: Edmonton, AB., Canada

Ahhh, heck, geee whizzzz, blush, blush, Ron!
I did it only because I was, (and still am), dedicated to Hawaiian music, Hawaiians and their culture. It was a crazy way to spend an expensive vacation...on the phone constantly, and out in the hot sun as emcee and backup guitarist, but I'm happy it all came about....and believe me, it was FUN!!!! As you mentioned, many have left us who were at those bashes...Barney, Lani and Rose Moe, Jake Holck, Sonny, and others. I firmly believe, as Tony Todero titled his great book, there were "GOLDEN YEARS of HAWAIIAN ENTERTAINMENT", of which, Sonny and so many others now gone were the great creators. I guess I was very fortunate to have met, and even jammed with so many of these "now" legends.

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