Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 32, Number 3, 1 March 2015 — A musical tribute to the Golden Voice of Hawaiʻi [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A musical tribute to the Golden Voice of Hawaiʻi

Acelebration will be held at Hihon Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort on Sunday, March 29 in honor of the Golden Voice of Hawai'i, Alfred Apaka, on the occasion of what would have been his 96th birthday (March 19). The puhlie is invited to the AlfredApaka statue at 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Tapa Tower with a procession from the main lobby. An oli by Kai Markell and Pū'ali Ho'okani Pū (the eoneh shell regiment) with Richard

"Babe" Bell, pule by Kahu Wendell Davis followed by lei draping and music at the statue of Apaka with Danny Kaleikini, Mihana Souza, Hailama Farden, Hālau Hula 'o Hōkūlani and members of Celtic Bags & Drums of Hawai'i. For three hours a throng of performers will serenade in the Tapa Bar performing the songs made famous worldwide by Apaka, where his son Jeff Apaka performs eaeh Sunday. The biggest Waikīkī show cast includes Harry B. Soria Jr., Nona KramerWilson, Kawena Mechler, Lexington Hotel Dancers: Te Moana Makolo, Wailani Gomes Bell, Torea Costa, Leonani Kaleikini, Kaui Santana, Mamo Gomez Smith and Mona Joy Wong, Hula Lei Dancers of Leilani Alama, The Islanders: Alan Akaka, Gary Aiko, Kaipo Asing with Nina Kealiiwahamana, Aaron Mahi, George Kuo, Steve Akana, Cathy Foy and a special appearance by Henry Kapono Ka'aihue and more. Alfred Apaka was the most influential loeal performer of the 1940s and '50s, setting the standard for all modern Hawaiian music. During his statue's dedication in 1997, longtime family friend, the late Gladys Brandt, said, "His ability to render a Hawaiian melody was unduplicated for the time, and perhaps forever." George Kanahele, a critical observer of Hawaiian music later wrote, "Alfred Apaka possessed one of the most remarkable voices to ever eome out of Hawai'i." -Contributed by JeffApaka ■

Alfred Apaka at the Hawaiian koom at the Lexington Hotel in New York City. - Courtesy photo