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• A Musical Tribute To The Golden Voice Of Hawaii Alfred Apaka

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  Type: Special Event
  Date: Sunday - 3/16/2014
  Time: 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
  Location:
  Hilton Hawaiian Village
  2005 Kalia Road
  Honolulu, HI 96815
  922-6965
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Program Kahu Wendell Davis Halau Hula o Hokulani Harry B. Soria, Jr. Danny Kaleikini Hailama Farden Kai Markell Aaron Mahi Mihana Souza Pa`ahana Doug Tolentino Pakala Fernandez Kaipo Kuhahiko Lexington Hotel Hula Dancers Mona Joy Leialoha Kaleikini Angie Costa Leolani Hagan Kaui Santana Wailani Bell Alii Noa Waipuna Kale Hannahs Matt Sproat David Kamakahi Queenie Ventura Kawena Mechler Chanel Kealoha Darren Benitez Moke Boy Richard Gideon And more

A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE GOLDEN VOICE OF HAWAII

ALFRED APAKA

SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2014

3:00 -- 7:00 p.m.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Picture taken at Queen Surf Beach 1950. In the background is the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and grotto of coconut trees and NO concrete. Alfred Apaka teaching his son Jeff how to play the `ukulele with his mother Edna Mae Blake-Apaka

A celebration will be held at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort on Sunday, March 16 in honor of the Golden Voice of Hawaii Alfred Apaka on the occasion of what would have been his 95th birthday (March 19). The program will start with a procession from the main lobby at 3 p.m., followed by blessing, lei draping and music at the statue of Apaka, and will continue with music at the resort's Tapa Bar where his son Jeff Apaka performs each Sunday.

Before Don Ho there was Alfred Apaka, the Golden Voice of Hawaii. During the 1940's and 1950's, Apaka was Hawaii's most famous entertainer and his show was a "must see" for all visitors. Apaka was indeed the most influential local performer of his time, setting the standard for all modern Hawaiian music. His voice, masculine good looks and personality truly helped put Henry Kaiser's Hawaiian Village Hotel on the map. During the statue's dedication in 1997, long-time family friend, the late Gladys Brandt said, "His ability to render a Hawaiian melody was unduplicated for the time, and perhaps forever." George Kanahele, a critical observer of Hawaiian music later wrote, "Alfred Apaka possessed one of the most remarkable voices to ever come out of Hawaii."

Born into a musical family, Apaka came from Hawaiian royalty. His great-aunt, Lydia Aholo, was an educator and the daughter of another great Hawaiian musician -- Queen Lydia Lili`uokalani. Apaka's son, Jeffrey, also a fine musician, says of his father, "I like to think that dad's musical training came in a direct line from the Queen." Alfred Apaka's father, Alfred Sr. was himself an accomplished musician and later recorded with his son for Capitol records.

Alfred Junior's great talent eventually landed him a spot as a featured singer on the famed Hawai‘i Calls radio broadcasts -- and then came regular shows with the Moana Serenaders at Waikiki's stately Moana Hotel. From the Moana, he moved to Don the Beachcomber's where in 1952, Bob Hope "discovered" him. Appearances on Ed Sullivan's prestigious Talk of The Town and The Dinah Shore Show followed giving national television exposure for both Apaka's golden voice and for Hawai‘i.

In Hawaii Apaka was best known for his lavish shows in the Hawaiian Village's Tapa Room and later in the property's enormous gold aluminum geodesic dome constructed by Kaiser to accommodate Apaka's large crowds. As his fame grew, he became a well known recording artist, spreading the appreciation of Hawaiian music to the world. Apaka was planning his own national television special at the time of his unexpected heart attack and death at the age of forty in 1960. He was buried with a microphone placed in his hands before his casket was closed. In 1997, Alfred Apaka was honored by a prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award and in 1999 with an album, Lost Recordings of Hawai‘i's Golden Voice.

Former This Week Magazine Publisher Ron Cruger wrote, "Because Hawaii is a land far removed from all others, the most distant populated place on earth, the people of Hawaii hold on to their traditions -- their history -- dreams. The splendid voice of Alfred Apaka remains in the memories of the Hawaiians. His magical voice filled the sweet Hawaiian air with thoughts of love and dreams of what could be. When Apaka sang a hush fell over those listening. Most had never heard such beauty weave through the air. It was romantic and strong. It made you dream. Hawaiians hold close to their hearts the feelings and the sounds of Alfred Apaka's music."

Source: Jeff Apaka

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