Sonny Kamahele to retire Aug. 26, be there!

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Yup, Mr. Hollywood is doing his 20 year Halekulani 'House Without A Key' gig for the last time this Tuesday evening. For those of us lucky enuf to watch Sonny do his thing within spitting distance from the crashing Waikiki surf and in full view of Diamond Head, while under the 100+ year old Keawi tree backed by beautiful Pacific sunsets, this will indeed be the end of an era, never the likes to be seen or heard again. As sad as it is, at least he's going out on his own terms, ALIVE. While never the most prolific of steel players, he non the less posesses an array of impressive steel styles, most of which are rarely heard, as he usually plays his own brand of 'standard' rhythm guitar for the crowds. To see him singing and applying these same rhythmic strokes into his lovely steel playing, thus becoming a one man band, is stunning and unforgettable. Truly, a unique person and performer(and funny too!). Jerry Byrd's first full time gig in Hawaii was with Sonny's band. Sonny has played with all the local greats, most of whom he has outlived by far. Jerry said recently, he's not going til Sonny goes. Lets hope that's far into the future for both these wonderful guys.

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

I was lucky enough to see him perform during my two visits to Hawaii. Sonny *IS* Hawaiian music! I love his vocals, his jazzy rhythm playing, and his distinctive steel sound. I've never seen him play steel, but have several of his records where he plays it beautifully...It's a style that defines that "Hawaiian" Sound. Alan Akaka told me he plays in D9th (the late Merle Kekuku also used this tuning). I also hear what sounds like C sharp minor 9th on some of his old records. Although it's sad to see him retire, I hope he will make some special appearances now and then to show all who hear him what Hawaiian music is [was] all about.

I sure wish I could be there on Tuesday night! That's a video moment for sure!!!

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

Of course, this is a sad event but I am happy that Sonny is going out on his own terms. He is a legend in Hawaiian entertainment. We have enjoyed his singing and music every time we were at the "House Without a Key" (The Halekulani) and he will be missed. Sonny seldom played steel at the Halekulani. You'd usually see him playing his old Gibson rhythm guitar and he was usually the emcee. Whenever he did play steel, he always preferred the D9th tuning which very few steel guitarists use these days. He and (the late) Merle Kekuku both favored D9. Here in Canada, Billy Reid Jr in Burlington, Ontario still plays D9 as did his {late} father, Billy Reid Sr. D9 was also one of the tunings which Dick McIntire used occasionally, as did many other old timers. Sonny composed a number of very nice Hawaiian songs, among them, "Napua". He has had a remarkable musical career dating all the way back to playing with the famous Harry Owens Orchestra at the Monarch Room of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. (Sadly, that famous room has been inactive for many years.)

If Sonny should read this, I want to wish you much happiness in your retirement my friend, and hope you really don't put that guitar down for good, but keep on entertaining at back yard luau's and the like. God Bless you, Solomon "Sonny" Kamahele...you are indeed, a great Hawaiian Treasure!

[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 21 August 2003 at 08:18 PM.]

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Thank you gentlemen for your appreciative thots on the one and only, Sonny Kamahele. George, I'll pass on your's personally, as I'll see him in about an hour for tonites show(2nd to last). And Jeff, tommorow's show will probably be video recorded.

[This message was edited by Ron Whitfield on 26 August 2003 at 11:29 AM.]

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Thanks, Ron!

Sonny is one of my musical heros! Please let him know that one of his biggest fans wishes him the best!

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

Appreciated Ron...I only wish I could be there for his final bow. Sonny has been there, done that, and is the dean of Hawaiian entertainers today. He is one of the last remaining survivors of the "Golden Era of Hawaiian Music". His presence, talent and big smile on stage will be missed.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Big smile and big hands too! Imagine all the crazy-span chords he's held.

It always cracks me up when Sonny makes light of his age and fakes a back spasm on the way off the stage.

There were once a lot of fabulous archtop rhthym players in the islands but Sonny has survived most of them... and he's probably been on more albums than anyone... so to me, he will always be thee Hawaiian "Mr. Rhythm".

Ron, see you at the Halekulani tomorrow!

[This message was edited by Jeff Au Hoy on 26 August 2003 at 02:22 AM.]

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Keoki, Sonny was very happy to know you are thinking of him and he passes that Aloha right back to you. Bit it was a bitter/sweet time last night at Sonny's gig, he's not delighted with the fact that it's all over. Starting with a somber 'Aloha Tears', it was evident he was wishing it wasn't so. His spirits picked up tho when he saw Jerry Byrd walk in, who was then escorted to the front row table of/by big Ben Chapman(The Creature of the Black Lagoon). Lots of smiles now. Seizing the moment, Jerry strode over to Sonny and pretended to discombobulate his tuners. -insert rimshot- This set the tone for the rest of the evening and should help make tonites show a glorious event. THE place to be? WAKIKI!

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Where's Barbara Eden when you need her? I need her to cross her arms, nod her head, and teleport me to Waikiki tonight! Of all places on Earth to be tonight, Ron is right -it's the Halekulani!

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Quick Jeff!, where's the nearest lottery?! It will be a special night, both Sonny and Mars making history at the same moment.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Sonny would have needed a 3 ft. neck to accommodate all the beautiful leis bestowed upon him by admirers at last nights final performance. At times, he needed to sit down to rest from the sheer weight of all the scented appreciation. He went out in classic and appropriate style. With a very full house and a star filled crowd singing his praises, a light rain(an Hawaiian blessing) sadly ushered into retirement one of Hawaii's finest performers. However, the light has not gone out completely, he told us he's hanging on to his guitars, "just in case somebody calls". I hope he gets a call today.

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

So Ron,

What were the last few tunes of the night?
What closed the show?

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Thanks for keeping us posted, Ron! I know it was a wonderful evening. Did he bring his steel guitar by chance?

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

The show's final tune was Sonny's own Kuuipo. No steel by Sonny. He would not have been able to see it with all the leis on anyway. As for the video history, only about the first hour was captured, unless someone else made the effort.

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

Again, mahalo nui loa for passing on my good wishes to Sonny, Ron...very much appreciated. It was mentioned by Jeff (above) that Sonny is probably one of the last of the arch-top rhythm men in Hawai'i. I can think of only 4 others, Hiram Olsen, Walter Mo'okini, Kuki Among and his brother Alex who still hold to the great sound of the arch-top. There was a time when most every rhythm guitarist in Hawai'i played an arch-top...one only has to look at the old photos. I far prefer the arch-top to the round hole as the rhythm cuts through much cleaner. Listen to any of the many, many recordings with Sonny on rhythm and you'll hear what I am referring to....it's a great sound...especially when it's NOT amplified.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Aloha George, no sweat, I was more than happy to let Sonny know he's thot of by his friend in far off Canada. He needed all the positive words he could get on Monday nite, you could see in his eyes the sad fact that it was all crashing to an end. I share your preference for the arch top, especially for the good old style that Sonny exemplifies. Unfortunately, we'll have to minus Walter from that waning list of current players. While, thankfully, Walter(what a beautiful human being) is still with us, he was rudely dismissed by mgt. from his long held duties at the Halekulani because, get this, he was taking to long to get back to the bandstand after breaks! In his 80s, with 2 recent knee operations, and these bums humbug him like that! Screw them. He was so disappointed that he sold all his guitars and will NOT be playing again. He did keep his Stringmaster 1x8 that was picked out and brought to Oahu by his(then new) brother in law, Freddie Tavares, in 1949. As for the Amongs, I'll have to see what(hopefully) they are up to these days. Thanx for caring for these great folks, and we hope to see you here again soon doing what you love to do!

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

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

Yah Ron, I had heard earlier of the lousy treatment afforded Walter who is a gem of a person. He, like Sonny and (the late) Benny Kalama are amongst Hawai'i's greatest musical treasures. These hotel a-holes know more about food than they will ever know about entertainment. None of them have a clue, (or care), about the treasures in their midst. The news that Walter has given up and quit really saddens me. Very few realize that, besides being an excellent rhythm man, bassist, along with a gorgeous pure falsetto voice, Walter also plays one of the sweetest steel guitar you'll ever hear. To be fired because of age mobility is totally disgusting ! His talent only improved with age. It brings tears to my eyes as I contemplate about the way he was treated.

Jeff Strouse · From: Jacksonville, Florida, USA

The highlight of my two trips to Hawaii was seeing Mr. Sonny perform at the Halekulani with Alan, and seeing Auntie Genoa and her Hawaiians at the Marriott.

It's very sad to see that the most beautiful music on earth is appreciated by so few. And those cold fish business men (i.e. hotel management) who are lucky enough to have the living legends of Hawaiian music grace thier stages, don't seem to have a clue that it's the music that gives the atmosphere of what Hawaii is all about for the guests. I'm glad you shared that story George...now, I'll be sure never to stay in the Halekulani.

Although I enjoyed both my trips, Waikiki seemed a bit "different" the second time around. As I stood on Kalakaua Ave one evening, facing the beach and the lit torches, I hummed one of my favorite tunes while listening to the waves crash against the beach. I was interrupted though by a car alarm; and when I turned around I realized the concrete jungle that was all around me...streets full of cars honking at one another, and skyscrapers reaching up to the clouds. I know the building were there on my first trip too....I just didn't notice them as much, I guess.

I wondered what it must have been like to be in Waikiki back in the 40's, 50's, and 60's....during the 'golden age' of our favorite music.

On Sonny's album "Sounds of Hawaii", there's a picture of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel on the back cover. There are no ugly concrete monstrosities anywhere in sight. I even heard that in the 30's and 40's, there were pineapple fields around it. How lucky the visitors to Waikiki were back then, to stroll into the Surf Room and see a living legend...Sonny Kamahele with his Surf Serenaders! I bet the view from atop Diamond Head was quite different back then, too.

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

Jeff, Your description of Honolulu, (Waikiki) fits most any city USA. It's sad but true. We've been to Hawai'i, (Waikiki) on 22 occasions to date. Yet despite the idiotic car alarms consistently disturbing the peace, police sirens, and all sorts of other sounds one would never associate with "Paradise", it's the music of Hawai'i which is our only drawing card. When we were at Surfer's Paradise in Australia, I thought, "wow, now here is planning!" It's not perfect, however by comparison to Waikiki it is a far cry from the mess which has been created in the name of 'progress'. I can recall the "national birds" of Hawai'i, those huge giant cranes in 1970 erecting all those high rises along the beach which changed the scenery in Waikiki forever. Why did they allow ANY buildings on the ocean side of Kalakaua Av. ? At one time, only the Moana and the Royal Hawaiian were oceanside. Too bad it couldn't have stayed that way. At least in Surfer's Paradise, the beautiful beach is there to be seen in plain view from the main avenue. None of the buildings are on the beach....(at least, when we were there!)

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