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“Wonderful! How can you top that?”
“Another winner! Now that’s what it’s all about!” “Thanks so much for doing this … this is the real deal! … highlight of my trip!”

Glowing praises were falling into my basket as happy EKK fans walked out the doors of Island School Main Hall where they were treated to an evening of Kaholokula music, dancing and stories.

No complaints about the crowdedness or the uncomfortable humidity because the experience shared by all bonds everyone into a sense of community…of shared enjoyment …of new awareness of what it means to live on Kaua’i.

Twenty years ago, a much younger Robbie Kaholokula and his musical group shared an evening of wonderful harmonies and Puamohala danced a hula. “E Kanikapila Kakou has come a long way in these twenty years because maybe back then there was fifty people there,” shared Robbie.

Earlier in the day he offered to print out 50 sheets of songs and I told him that just would not cut it; I often run off 200 song sheets and still run out. So I ran off 250 sheets and still ran out.

Robbie was a drill master with the ukulele group; he was making sure they played and sang the songs the right way. The loud singing and strumming almost drowned out the loud talking of the early birds who come early to get good seats. A wonderful photo exhibit put together by daughter Lei U’I kept many busy getting acquainted with the Kaholokula Ohana.

Robbie and son Baron, back from Kamehameha for a week, harmonized beautifully as hulas were danced by Puamohala, then Pua with daughter Lei U’i, and then by members of Puamohala’s hula halau; everyone strummed and sang “Keali’i.”

“Pua Olena” composed by James Kaholokula has got to be one of the most exquisite hula when danced by Puamohale. “Waipouli” also written by Dad James and danced by the halau took us back to days when there were race tracks alongside the century old coconut trees still standing in Waipouli.

Wonderful history of the Kaholokula’s were shared between the music and dancing beginning with Pua’s version of how Robbie and Puamohala met. Roselle Bailey’s halau was preparing to dance songs by the Kaholokula’s, so Kumu Hula put young Pua in charge of coordinating rehearsals and performances with the Kaholokula rep who happened to be Robbie. A friendship blossomed despite the intense high school rivalry of Pua from Waimea HS and Robbie loyal to Kapaa HS.

Puamohala told Robbie she was going away to college in Hilo, but they kept in touch, writing to each other every single day until she returned to Kaua’i. The long distance romance developed into a lifetime of music together. Robbie and brother Kimo were part of Na Kaholokula under the patriarchal leadership of composer Jimmy Kaholokula.

All Robbie wanted to do was play music and they did a lot of this until Hurricane Iniki wiped out nearly all entertainment jobs for large musical groups.

The couple shifted gears and continued to survive with the Robbie and Pua Show at the Outrigger Kaua’I Beach: Mele Louge. Pua said that working with only Robbie rather than a whole group really helped them to hone in on their music and get to know each other much better. They really valued that quality time spent together.

This continued until Robbie suffered a stroke on the day that his mother passed away, leaving him paralyzed on the right side of his body, unable to play an instrument or even be able to speak understandably. With Pua’s devoted care, a great sense of humor, persistence, and a good job at the County, Robbie’s recovery has been rapid and remarkable…allowing him to share music again at EKK.

Robbie said being able to share at EKK was especially important to him as this is the first time he is performing in public since his stroke, and also because he has been hearing so many wonderful things about EKK from everyone. It also gave him a first-hand view of one of the events funded by the program he manages at the County.

We have heard so many intergenerational tug-of-wars stories in musical families but Robbie’s story about him and his Dad takes the cake. Jimmy wrote a song called “Hule’ia” which he dedicated to their families living along the Hule’ia River where one can get the scent of wild coffee growing all around. It’s an amazing place with a view of Alekoko Fish Ponds and the Queen Victoria profile on Ha’upu mountain.

One day Robbie and brother Kimo were working on the arrangement and were laying the basic music tracks for the piano and ukulele when Dad asks, “What song is that?”
Sensing trouble, Robbie told him it was a song he wrote called “Hule’ia” “I don’t think so . . . but just carry on,” replied his Dad.

When they played it, Dad said, “The piano playing is impeccable and the ukulele is nice, but that’s not how I wrote the song…not even close to what I wrote.” The argument between father and son continued for days until they reached a blowout. His father was adamant and would not budge. Robbie, knowing that the composer should have the last say on how the song was meant to be played, took the tape out of the player and rolled it out the door. Dad turned to his wife in outrage, “Did we raise our sons like this . . . so disrespectful!” but told Robbie to go and pick up the tape.

When they finished the arrangement, Robbie asked Dad to sing the song with them as they had arranged it, and Dad did. But for many months following, he played the song to each and every friend and asked them, “You like this song? I no like this song.” When they asked him who was singing it, he admitted, That’s me singing but I don’t like it . . . the ending is junk.” Under pressure, some of his friends agreed they did not like the song…..BUT….that year “Hule’ia” was nominated for the Na Hoku Hanohano award.

Puamohala, Lei U’i and three of her halau members danced the beautiful arrangement while Robbie and Baron harmonized.

Robbie confessed that the tape he threw out the door was actually blank. Grinning, he pointed to the back of the room and said, “My pastor is back there saying, ‘You evil boy!’”

One thing that his father James loved doing was translating popular music into the Hawaiian language and Robbie sang with gusto “And I Love You So” by Perry Como and “Puff The Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary … and we all sang along.

After intermission, we reviewed “Keali’i” with everyone dancing and then Robbie invited the musicians to join him for a backyard jam and Fran Nestel, Kawika Hanakeawe, Blaine Michioka, Rocky Pao, and Ezra “Pono” Nero all sat on the edge of the stage and jammed songs such as “He’ia”and “Auhea Wale Oe” (Lei U’i danced). Pua danced to “Hi’ilawe” as only Kawika can sing it. Rocky went through verse after verse of “Manuela Boy” and another song that homesick Hawaiians sing when they have to go to school on the mainland. The surprise of the evening was young Ezra Nero who sang “Noho Pai Pai.”
His wife was one of Puamohala’s dancers.

Too soon, it was time to join hands and sing “Hawai’i Aloha”… a fitting end to such a special evening of aloha.

New to E Kanikapila on March 27 will be Barry Kimokeo and Na Kama, comprised of Eric Lee, Brian Mersberg, and Danny Naipo. All of them are from O’ahu.

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