Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 31, Number 6, 1 June 2014 — Dennis Kamakahi, slack key master, was a songwriter in the Hawaiian poetic style [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Dennis Kamakahi, slack key master, was a songwriter in the Hawaiian poetic style

By Lynn Cook Fond memories and g 1 o w i n g praise eeho in the messages from around the globe, celebrating the creativity of a man whose music accomplishments could have filled several lifetimes. The Rev. Dennis David Kahekili-

mamaoikalanikeha Kamakahi, who had lung cancer, died April 28 at age 61. Mulhple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts, plus his induction into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame made his family proud and made him more humhle. "Dennis Kamakahi will be remembered as one of the greatest composers of Hawaiian songs in modern Hawai'i," says Keith Haugen, a fellow musician and friend for four decades. "He penned Hawaiian songs that will live forever. Shows in Waiklkl and around the world open with his songs." Kamakahi, who appeared on three slack-key compilation albums that earned Grammy Awards, was often called a musician with "an old soul and talent beyond his years." In 1973 when Eddie Kamae reorganized the Sons of Hawai'i, he invited Kamakahi in. They opened in 1974 at the Territorial Tavern, playing on as a group for 20 years and earning a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Through 2004 Kamakahi continued to work with Kamae on soundtracks for Kamae's award-winning Hawaiian Legacy Foundation video series.

Kamae introduced Kamakahi to Mary Kawena Pukui, who introduced him to the Hawaiian poetic tradition. As quoted in John Berger's book Hawaiian Music and Musicians, Kamakahi said the Hawaiian way of poetry, "... it's hard to write that way. Instead of just writing lyrics you go way into it,

deeper into the song." Of the 500-plus songs he wrote, "Wahine 'llikea" brings dancers to their feet. Adults tear up at his music in the movie The Descendants and children smile at the songs he produced with son David for Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has A Glitch. Dressed in his signature hlaek, he often talked on stage about his blessings, his family and about playing music since he was 3, encouraged by his first mentor, his grandfather David Naoo Kamakahi. In 2003 he released a second alhum with son David, titled The Gift of Music - From Father to Son. In 2004 he produced Pa 'ani, his son's first solo 'ukulele effort. It won a Hōkū award, followed moments later by a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Kī Hō'alu Award for dad, recognizing slack-key mastery. In his last days at Queen's Medieal Center, family and friends gathered around and did what Kamakahi loved most - they laughed, sang and made a joyful noise, sending him off, as a hospital staff member said, "to play his next gig for the angels." ■

Lynn Cook i.s a loeal freelance journaīist sharing the arts and culture ofHawai'i with a glohal audience.

/ HE HO'OMANA'O . > IN MEM0RIAM l

1953-2014

Dennis Kamakahi. - Courtesy: Milton Lau