Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 25, Number 5, 1 ʻApelila 2008 — Genoa Keawe [ARTICLE]

Genoa Keawe

1 925-2008 Hau'oli Akaka OHA Education Hale Director, Hawaiian music artist and entertainer Some years ago I was emceeing John Kaimikaua's concert series and on the billboard was Aunty Genoa Keawe. So a few days before the concert, we all got together and we went to breakfast. While we were at the table waiting for the food, Aunty started giving us a lesson in how to hold that note in Alika. She was giving us breathing lessons and nobody could hold that

note as long as her no matter how hard we tried. She was encouraeine even thoush we sounded terrible. (Lauehter.)

I remember my 4-year-old son was in the studio the first time he heard Aunty's sound and he was just crooning. He grew up to love that sound. I mean how many young teenagers are there who want to go special to the Marriott just to hear Aunty? And Aunty would eall him up to play steel guitar. She brought people to love Hawaiian music by including them. Haunani Apoliona OHA Chairperson, Hawaiian music recording artist and entertainer At Aloha Grill back in my college days, she would end the evening with either Peaceful World or Johnny Mathis' One God. And that brings into play her faith and the discipline of her being able to hold that note for so long. She had a gift and she nurtured it. Jerry Santos Founding member of Olomana, Hawaiian music recording artist and entertainer Aunty Genoa for me was such a great example because of her music portraying who she was on an everyday basis. At 89. she thought nothing of picking up her 'ukulele and coming down to the Hilton and sitting in. When I think of myself as a musician, I think what a great example she set. If you love music, it is timeless and you are never too old to go and share it. Being around her made for a lifelong quest to hear more songs. An example: One night I was on the stage and singing Pua Carnation and she waved her finger at me like don't stop now and then she went into Green Carnation. I knew it existed but didn't really know the song at the time. It was all woven together though in quite a niee medley. See KEAWE on page 24

KEAWE CūūtiūUEd fram page Ū3

Jay Junker Sometimes at Aunty Genoa's eoncerts, the intermissions were as long as the sets because everyone wanted to eome up and give their aloha. She always wanted to talk to everybody. She never cut anybody off. For her, if the intermission has got to go long, it goes long. I remember how one night Aunty Genoa and Aunty Violet are closing the show and they get a standing ovation just for walking out. Aunty Genoa walks up to the microphone and goes, "Yes, don't we look great!" and then she waits until the laughter dies down and she adds: "And we dye ourhair!" (Laughter.) Kama Hopkins I knew her basically from the time I was bom 34 years ago. To play music with her as her grand-nephew was fun because she really loved her family. Anytime someone wanted to dance hula or play music with her, she was very supportive. Now this doesn't mean she always said, "Good job!" Right on stage, she looked at me and said, you're not singing it right ! (Laughter.) 2