Sons of Hawaii

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The Sons of Hawaii was a Hawaiian musical group. For over 30 years The Sons of Hawaii played Hawaii's most beautiful music, that was lost to the mainstream years before. In 1960 they opened at the Sandbox in Honolulu and were soon the highest paid Hawaiian group in the Islands.[1] In 1961 they released their first album, "Gabby Pahinui with The Sons of Hawaii."

The group was originally formed in 1960 under the leadership of Eddie Kamae with members Gabby Pahinui, Joe Marshall and David "Feet" Rogers. Each of these musicians came to the group with years of experience in not only Hawaiian music, but many other kinds, such as American swing, Jazz and Latin rhythms.


Kamae had long been one of Hawaii's top ukulele players. Known for his technical wizardry and unique blend of Spanish rhythm, he toured the mainland and was a featured soloist in a show that brought the sound of the 'ukulele to the status of a full-fledged solo instrument.
Pahinui had been playing (slack-key guitar) clubs in Hawaii for over 20 years and had a loyal following of devoted fans. Gabby played with many of the great bands and musicians of his time and the all-weekend jam sessions at his home were legendary.[2]
Marshall had been (upright bass) playing music since high school. He had played with the best Hawaiian musicians, and was a singer.
Rogers, steel guitarist, was just 16 when he joined the band. Kamae, Pahinui and Marshall drove across the island to hear this young man play. His father was also an accomplished steel guitar player.[3]


In the 1940's through the 1950's traditional Hawaiian music was hard to find. Most music played for the many visitors on the islands was tropical ballads, typically found in Hollywood musicals.

Afterhours, local musicians would get together and play the traditional Hawaiian music for themselves. These "jam sessions" were generally at luaus, parks, and a popular place for the local musicians, Charley's Cab, a cab driver's retreat next to Hawaiian Electric building. Many of Charley's drivers at the time were Hawaiian musicians. This was the cab stand that Eddie Kamae got his start performing before others.

A few years after the group was formed they tended to go their own separate ways until the middle to late 60's where they reformed with the members, Kamae, Marshall, Rogers, Atta Isaacs and Bobby Larson.

During this time, Kamae revitalized the music by going to the rural countryside and learning from the old-timers both the music and meanings. The rural folks shared with him old family songs and their meanings. Burl Burlingame, of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin describes this as:


"Although the group was a hit from the first, one of the first stumbling blocks was that none of the members spoke Hawaiian. Kamae sought the advice of Mary Kawena Pukui, legendary Bishop Museum master of the Hawaiian language, and this started him on his life's parallel journey along with music; a consuming scholarship of all things Hawaiian, and more importantly, a student of the process by which such knowledge is transmitted between generations -- or not transmitted."[4]


By the end of the 60's the group was comprised of, Kamae, Marshall, Rogers, Sonny Chillingworth and Zulu, who acted on Hawaii Five-0. In 1970, the group reassembled once more, this time to make another album. To the original four musicians was added ukulele master Moe Keale.

In 1973, Kamae brought the group back together, minus Gabby, and added a young Hawaiian singer-songwriter named Dennis Kamakahi (Grammy Award winning recording artist and music composer). This was the fifth Sons of Hawaii incarnation.

In 1989, the seventh and final incarnation of the Sons of Hawaii consisted Eddie, Joe, George Kuo, Braddah Smitty, Dennis Kamakahi and sometimes Gary Haleamau and steel player Paul Kim would join them. When Joe Marshall passed away, Ocean Kaowili became the bass player. This was the last Sons of Hawaii, as Eddie Kamae retired in 1992.[1]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b Brudda Bu's Ukulele Heaven
  2. ^ All About Jazz
  3. ^ Sons of Hawaii pt. 2: Joe Marshall and David "Feet" Rogers
  4. ^ Honolulu Star-Bulletin

[edit] External links