Eddie Kamae
Encyclopedia
Eddie Kamae is one of the founding members of Sons of Hawaii
. He is a 'ukulele virtuoso, singer, composer, film producer and primary proponent of the
Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance
.
. His grandmother was a dancer for King David Kalākaua's
court.
He learned to play the 'ukulele with an instrument his bus driver brother found on the public transport. Eddie would sit by the radio and try to play with any rhythm section he was hearing, usually Latin, classical and jazz tunes. When he was 14 years old, his father would take him to jam sessions where Eddie would get up on stage to play, earning accolades from the audiences who threw money at the performers' feet. Kamae began going to Queen's Surf to listen to the Hawaiian music being played.
In 1948, Kamae and Shoi Ikemi formed the Ukulele Rascals, the first known professional all-ukulele act.
Eddie began to teach 'ukulele. 2006 'Ukulele Hall of Fame Inductee Herb Ohta Sr., also known at Ohta-San, was mentored by Eddie.
in 1959, and the slack key virtuoso demonstrated a new way to make the 'ukuleke "talk story". Eddie himself would come to be known for his inventive methods of plucking all four strings simultaneously, playing the chords and melody at the same time. They began playing together and formed Sons of Hawaii
, with their first paying gig at The Sand Box.
and Pilahi Paki became Eddie's first teachers in the Hawaiian language. Eddie began to feel a growing need to teach the Hawaiian culture through music, to pass it along to succeeding generations. Eddie began to chart a new course with his arts.
His 1971 initial meeting with Hawaiian poet Sam Li'a Kalainaina resulted in Kamae's first documentary in 1988, LI'A: The Legacy of a Hawaiian Man . Together, Kamae and Li'a wrote Hawaii Pia Valley Song. Eddie has also produced the documentaries The Hawaiian Way The Art and Tradition of Slack Key Music (1993) The History of the Sons of Hawaii (2004), Words, Earth & Aloha: Source of Hawaiian Music (2005), Keepers of the Flame (2005) Lahaina: Waves of Change (2007).
Sons of Hawaii
The Sons of Hawaii was a Hawaiian musical group that popular to mainstream audiences from the 1960s through the 1990s.-History:In 1960 they opened at the Sandbox in Honolulu and were soon the highest paid Hawaiian group in the Islands...
. He is a 'ukulele virtuoso, singer, composer, film producer and primary proponent of the
Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance
Hawaiian Renaissance
The First and Second Hawaiian Renaissance was the Hawaiian resurgence of a distinct cultural identity that draws upon traditional kānaka maoli culture, with a significant divergence from the tourism-based "culture" which Hawaii was previously known for worldwide .-First Hawaiian...
.
Biography
Eddie Leilani Kamae was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised both there and in Lahaina, MauiMaui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. His grandmother was a dancer for King David Kalākaua's
Kalakaua
Kalākaua, born David Laamea Kamanakapuu Mahinulani Nalaiaehuokalani Lumialani Kalākaua and sometimes called The Merrie Monarch , was the last reigning king of the Kingdom of Hawaii...
court.
He learned to play the 'ukulele with an instrument his bus driver brother found on the public transport. Eddie would sit by the radio and try to play with any rhythm section he was hearing, usually Latin, classical and jazz tunes. When he was 14 years old, his father would take him to jam sessions where Eddie would get up on stage to play, earning accolades from the audiences who threw money at the performers' feet. Kamae began going to Queen's Surf to listen to the Hawaiian music being played.
In 1948, Kamae and Shoi Ikemi formed the Ukulele Rascals, the first known professional all-ukulele act.
Eddie began to teach 'ukulele. 2006 'Ukulele Hall of Fame Inductee Herb Ohta Sr., also known at Ohta-San, was mentored by Eddie.
Sons of Hawaii
Kamae was introduced to Gabby PahinuiGabby Pahinui
Charles Philip "Gabby" or "Pops" Pahinui was a slack-key guitarist.Gabby was born Charles Kapono Kahahawaii Jr. and later hānai-ed into the Pahinui family as Charles Philip Pahinui and raised in the Kaka'ako area of Honolulu in the 1920s...
in 1959, and the slack key virtuoso demonstrated a new way to make the 'ukuleke "talk story". Eddie himself would come to be known for his inventive methods of plucking all four strings simultaneously, playing the chords and melody at the same time. They began playing together and formed Sons of Hawaii
Sons of Hawaii
The Sons of Hawaii was a Hawaiian musical group that popular to mainstream audiences from the 1960s through the 1990s.-History:In 1960 they opened at the Sandbox in Honolulu and were soon the highest paid Hawaiian group in the Islands...
, with their first paying gig at The Sand Box.
Film producer
Mary Kawena PukuiMary Kawena Pukui
Mary Abigail Kawenaulaokalaniahiiakaikapoliopelekawahineaihonuaināleilehuaapele Wiggin Pukui , known as Kawena, was a Hawaiian scholar, dancer, composer, and educator.-Life:...
and Pilahi Paki became Eddie's first teachers in the Hawaiian language. Eddie began to feel a growing need to teach the Hawaiian culture through music, to pass it along to succeeding generations. Eddie began to chart a new course with his arts.
His 1971 initial meeting with Hawaiian poet Sam Li'a Kalainaina resulted in Kamae's first documentary in 1988, LI'A: The Legacy of a Hawaiian Man . Together, Kamae and Li'a wrote Hawaii Pia Valley Song. Eddie has also produced the documentaries The Hawaiian Way The Art and Tradition of Slack Key Music (1993) The History of the Sons of Hawaii (2004), Words, Earth & Aloha: Source of Hawaiian Music (2005), Keepers of the Flame (2005) Lahaina: Waves of Change (2007).
Awards
| Eddie Kamae Awards and Recognitions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Presented By | Award-Recognition |
| Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award | ||
| Charles Reed Bishop Award for best exemplifying the spirit and purpose of Bishop Museum founder Charles Reed Bishop | ||
| NEA National Heritage Fellowship | ||