Eddie Kamae
Eddie Kamae (4 August 1927 - January 7, 2017) was a Hawaiian musician, one of the founding members of Sons of Hawaii. He was a 'ukulele virtuoso, singer, composer, film producer and primary proponent of the Hawaiian Cultural Renaissance*.
Eddie Leilani Kamae was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised both there and in Lahaina, Maui. 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.
Eddie Kamae died on January 7, 2017 at the age of 89.
Sons of Hawaii
Kamae was introduced to Gabby Pahinui 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.
Film producer
Mary Kawena Pukui 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 Jr. 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
YearPresented ByAward-Recognition
1978State of Hawaii, House of RepresentativesResolution for outstanding achievements in Hawai‘ian musical performance, research and recording
1978National Association of Television Programming ExecutivesIris Award
1978New York International Film FestivalAward
1979Honpa Hongwanji Mission of HawaiiLiving Treasure of Hawaii
1984March of DimesNo Ka Oi Award for outstanding showmanship
1989Brigham Young University-Hawaii and The Polynesian Cultural CenterNa Makua Mahalo Ia Award for a lifetime of dedicated service to the people of Hawai‘i through musical composition and performance scholarship
1992Hawai'i Academy of Recording ArtsNa Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award
1993Hawaii Delegation of the United States CongressJoint Resolution to Eddie and Myrna Kamae for service and accomplishments in leadership, music and film
1996Bishop MuseumCharles Reed Bishop Award for best exemplifying the spirit and purpose of Bishop Museum founder Charles Reed Bishop
2000Commission on Culture and The Arts for City and County of HonoluluLifetime Achievement Award
2001Ukulele Hall of FameInduction
2002Hawaii International Film FestivalTo Eddie and Myrna Kamea for their ongoing contribution of their Hawaiian Legacy Series
2005Hawaii Governor Governor LingleJuly 24 declared Eddie Kamae Day
2005House of Representatives, State of HawaiiResolution for Achievement in Hawaii Music and Film
2006The Hawai‘ian Cultural Foundation at Pacifika New York Hawai‘ian Film FestivalLifetime Achievement Award
2006New York City Council, Councilman John LiuProclamation for Contributions to the Perpetuation of Hawaiian culture through music and film
2007National Endowment for the ArtsNEA National Heritage Fellowship
2007Hawaii Tourism AuthorityKeep it Hawai‘i Kahili Award, recognition of perpetuation of Hawaiian culture.
2007Hawaiian Music Hall of FameInductee
Discography
Yesterday & Today, Vol. 2 (2009) CD (Hawaii Sons)
Yesterday & Today (2008) CD (Hawaii Sons)
This Is Eddie Kamae (2008) CD 1197 (Omagatoki Japan)
Eddie Kamae & Friends (2006) CD 8542 (Hawaii Sons)
Heart of the Ukulele (2004) CD 3002 (Surfside/Mahalo)
Eddie Kamae Presents: The Best of Sons of Hawaii, Vol. 1 (2004) CD (Hawaii Sons)
Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii (2004) CD (Hawaii Sons)
Christmas Time With Eddie Kamae & Sons of Hawai'i (2004) CD 1014 (Hawaii Sons)
Sons of Hawaii (1998) CD 8516 (Panini)
Music of Old Hawaii (1962) CD Hula
Bibliography
Kamae, Eddie; Houston, James D (2004). Hawaiian Son. Hawaiian Legacy. ISBN 978-1-883528-28-7.
*The First and Second Hawaiian Renaissance (also often called the Hawaiian Cultural 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 Hawaiʻi was previously known for worldwide (along with the rest of Polynesia). Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
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