Here is another request received at Territorial Airwaves: ["Thank you for sharing wisdom and great music.
One day while listening to the Territorial Airwaves radio show, I heard the most fun song---the words included "Put the puka in the Pali".
Can you give me information about the song, singer, and recording?
My husband enjoyed the story about the song and would love to hear it too!
Thank you Sandra Carlson, Mililani, O'ahu, Hawaii" ] Mahalo for your nice thoughts & your request, Sandra.
Andy Cummings composed the legendary hapa haole classic tune, "Waikiki". But Andy also wrote many songs promoting civic projects. In 1947, Frank Judd (1915 - 1976), of the Honolulu Junior Chamber of Commerce petitioned Andy to write a song to promote the construction of the first vehicular traffic tunnel through the Ko'olau mountains. Andy was asked to come up with a tune that would help increase public opinion in favor of the stalled tunnel project.
Andy's song, Puka In the Pali, urged Hawai'i's constituents to choose between Kalihi, Manoa, or Nu'uanu, to aid the windward O'ahu residents' commute to Honolulu via tunnel. The song boosted the campaign towards success, and in 1957, the Nu'uanu Pali tunnel was completed. When it was time to record the dittie, Andy enlisted his pal, Hilo Hattie, recently returned to Hawaii from her latest tour, to sing in front of Andy & his Hawaiian Serenaders. The 1st tunnel eventually went through in Nu'uanu, followed three decades later by the tunnel through Kalihi. So far, the public has blocked all attempts of a tunnel through Manoa. (Want to learn more about Andy Cummings? Check out the compact disc in our Territorial Store, "Andy Cummings, the Wandering Troubadour".)
Length: Released on: 05-06-2009 Artist/Compiled by: Hilo Hattie with Andy Cummings & his Hawaiian Serenaders
Ku'u Home (Old Plantation)
We recently received this request from the island of Maui: ["Dear Mr. Soria: I am the great granddaughter of Rose Tribe, the singer & ukulele player from back in the early 1900's. It is my understanding that you may have some of my great grandmother's music in your collection. Could you feature a recording of her on Territorial Airwaves? Also, what station on Maui carries your show? I used to love to listen to it when I lived on O'ahu. Mahalo, Rynette "Ipo" Keen ]
We are so pleased to honor Ipo's request by sharing an early Columbia recording of Rose Tribe playing ukulele and singing "Ku'u Home", (Old Plantation), composed by David Nape & Mary Jane Montano. We share, too, the portrait of Rose Tribe that Ipo sent us. Rose Tribe lived from July 15, 1890 to February 18, 1934, and is credited as one of the earliest Hawaiian female falsetto voices recorded. Also, our "Territorial Airwaves" radio show can be heard on right here at www.territorialairwaves.com. See you on the radio! [Photo: Rose Tribe, courtesy of her great granddaughter, Ipo Keen. ]
Length:2:52 Released on: 06-02-2009 Artist/Compiled by: Rose Tribe
"Pua Tuberose" - George Kainapau & Vickie I'i Rodrigues
Zachary Helm, brother of the late George Jarrett Helm, and father of Raiatea Helm, contacted us regarding a song search. ["Aloha Harry B.: Long time no see! I am trying to locate an old 78-rpm record of the song "Pua Tubarose" by an old time artist. The composer credited for the song is Kimo Kamana. I know that this song was done by my brother, George Helm, and also by the group, Sunday Manoa. I'm trying to find a recording of the song made further back in Hawaii's history. Would you happen to have an old recording of this song? Mahalo very much. Zack Helm."]
In response to Zack's request, we've uploaded a nice early version of "Pua Tubarose" done by the great falsettoist George Ka'inapau, in a duet with Vickie I'i Rodrigues, recorded in Hawaii in the post-WWII 1940s. The lyrics were published in a Charles E. King songbook.
Length:2:39 Released on: 05-31-2009 Artist/Compiled by: George Ka'inapau & Vickie I'i Rodrigues
Malihini Molly
Don McDiarmid, Sr. wrote several hapa haole tunes during his lengthy career in the Islands. One of the least known is a parody he wrote about the high powered haole women that came over from Hollywood to dominate Waikiki for a brief season, and then return to the coast. Danny Stewart handles the vocals on this rare hapa haole classic.Length:2:48 Released on: 01-01-1947 Artist/Compiled by: Don & his Hawaiians
"Na Kupuna Nights" - Billy Hew Len & his Moana Serenaders
"Na Kupuna Nights" was a long-running popular evening concert event in the Banyan Tree Courtyard of the historic Moana Hotel. This recording by Billy Hew Len & his Moana Serenaders made in the late 1950s became the theme song for the much antiipated gatherings. Kalakaua Aylett is featured on vocals.Length:2:40 Released on: 01-01-1958 Artist/Compiled by: Billy Hew Len & his Moana Serenaders
