Posted by Reid Kaplan on August 06, 1997 at 16:02:42:
Aloha oe, Uncle Charlie,
You might remember that, a few months ago, I asked you how we could find
traditional music and dance when we visited Maui again. You suggested
that we go to the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku and talk to
Uncle Sol Kawaihoa there. Well, we took your advice and I thought you
might like to know how it turned out.
I found a URL on the Web, http://www.mauimapp.com/calendar/caljul97.htm
and it contained this:
Uncle Sol Kawaihoa
"The Music and History of Slack Key"
Master Slack Key Guitar Artist
Fridays: May 2, June 6, July 11, August 1
12 noon to 1:30 p.m.
The Bailey House Museum
2375-A Main St
(on the road to Iao Valley, just above High) Street), Wailuku; 244-3326
Admission $5, RSVP please, 244-3326
We planned to go, but we wanted to make sure that we knew how to get
there, so we drove over from Mahinahina that Wednesday. We toured the
museum and asked the attendants about Uncle Sol and his lecture and
within a few minutes he appeared. After introductions, he spent an hour
or so with us, talking and playing. Then we returned on Friday for the
more formal lecture and demonstration. He gave us some handouts and we
took notes on methods and we listened as he talked and played with his
student Bruce Anderson for about 2 hours. Then he invited us to come
back on the next Tuesday for a jam session. After work, at about 4:00PM,
folks who play ki hio`alu stop by and pick and sing and talk story.
When we got there, Uncle Sol and 3 others were in the gazebo in the
garden playing and eating and talking. We introduced ourselves and they
accepted us instantly, offering us island treats like boiled peanuts,
pickled mango, etc. So, they took turns playing leads on the songs of
their choice while the others backed them
up and played rhythm and harmony. In between songs, more stories and
munching. This lasted until 7:30, an hour and a half later than they
usually stay. It turns out that one of them was Kevin Brown, a
professional musician with a 15 year old son, Ikaika , who is a
ki ho`alu prodigy with a recently released CD (which we bought later).
Also there was Henry Meyer, Kevin's teacher and Ikaikaís and Kevin's
musical producer (and a fine composer, too). He does this all while
being Telecomm manager at Kamehameha - Bishop Estate Schools. The
other person was a friend and student of Uncle Sol and Kevin, named Bill.
What beautiful music they made! No formal concert could ever compare.
Kevin invited us to come to the opening of a `ukelele builder's store
(Mele `Ukelele in Wailuku) on Saturday morning. We got there at 10:45AM
and, after welcomes by everyone and an opening chant, everyone went into
the back room (set up like a living room with sound system and food,
food, food) where there was a never ending stream of musicians into the
afternoon. Kevin acted as MC and opened up by playing, with Ikaika
leading, a song just for us. (I had told the guys on Tuesday that I
liked a song called Punahele by Ray Kane, but nobody there knew it very
well - so Kevin remembered and he and Ikaika learned it just for us.
(Really considerate.) What talent: in addition to the Browns, there was
Wilson Kanaka`ole from Hana who was a revelation on the `ukelele
(guitar, too), Ernest Pua`a (we saw him at the Hula Grill, too), and
many others. But, the important thing for us was how friendly everyone
was to us, a couple of malihini. Real aloha, real memories, Uncle.
E malama pono,
Reid Kaplan