Louis R. “Moon” Kauakahi
My first experience with music was at the age of 5. How I learned to play my first instrument, the ‘ukulele still is a mystery to me. But I played the ‘ukulele at that young age with my cousin, Emily (Sharon) Lapera in front of my aunt’s house in Nanakuli. The first and only song I knew how to play then was called "Cotton Fields." Both of us would play it a few times whenever I would visit my grandaunt down at her beach house in Nanakuli, I using my Grandaunt’s pineapple-shaped ‘ukulele and my cousin on another ‘ukulele.
I credit my father mostly for my musical background; he was a musician himself in the early 1900’s on the island of Kaua‘i, along with my grandfather, granduncles, aunts and uncles. My father played the ‘ukulele, guitar both standard tuning and ki ho`alu, the upright bass, and steel guitar.
While on Kaua‘i, both my father and grandfather played with the likes of Alfred Alohikea. When he moved to this island, he lived somewhere on Cooke Street in the Kaka’ako area and also played with the great ki ho`alu master, Gabby Pahinui.
While growing up in Nanakuli I was surrounded constantly with music, usually on weekends. While in school I had the privilege to sing with the Nanaikapono Boy’s Choir, directed by Mr. Clarence Awaya during my grade school years. Mr. Awaya also was my band and music teacher throughout grade school, middle school, and high school. Later on I attended the Leeward Community College and took one year of band.
It was during my years in the choir that I first tried a music arrangement with the song, "Lei Aloha, Lei Makamae." Although it was to be a two-part harmony, I created a third part and tried it at one of the rehearsals. Needless to say, the choir teacher didn’t think it belonged with that song, so I sort of dropped that idea for awhile.
During my high school years I had the privilege to attend summer classes and classes at the University of Hawai`i with students from other high schools in a program called, "Hawai‘i Upward Bound." It was there that my interest in Hawaiian music peaked after hearing some of the students playing a selection from the Sunday Manoa called "Kawika." To name these two students is an honor for me – David Tupa, class of 1974, Nanakuli High School, and Terry Smith, class of 1972 or 1973, from Aiea High School. Both of these students were playing this song in a stairwell at University High School. My interest in contemporary Hawaiian music grew.
In my junior year in high school we formed a combo with me on ‘ukulele, Jerome Koko as well on ‘ukulele, William Ho‘ohuli on guitar, and Fred Domingo on electric bass. We had no name for our group, but practiced during lunch in the high school band room. We entered several competitions during our high school years, but the highest we ever placed was 1st runner up.
In my senior year, we entered a state musical competition but were placed in an instrumental category, which somehow did not suite us well, since we were being a vocal group. Although we tried an instrumental from Ohta San called "Song for Anna," we did not place or, rather, we placed but not at the top. After that competition I did not really think of ever going into music again. Instead I wanted to be a math teacher. So I went back to school only to meet up again with Jerome Koko and some other classmates of mine. We again formed another group, still with no name. We concentrated on music by the Sunday Manoa, Gabby Pahinui, and the Sons of Hawai‘i.
In 1975, the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau was formed with Skippy and Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, Jerome Koko, Sam Gray, and myself, but prior to that Melvin Amina was also a part of this musical combo. When we recorded our first album called, "No Kristo," Melvin left the combo to form his own group.
1976 marked our first professional career as a group. We were the opening act for a very popular group back then called "Na Keonimana" consisting of guitarist Mike Ka‘awa and Keli‘i Tau‘a, John Kekuku, and Alan Pokipala.
I have composed and co-composed songs and, as of this writing, I cannot remember how many. I can safely say over 10 songs; how much over will require me to really dig deep into the recesses of my mind and my car trunk, bags and boxes at home.
Besides the music I also learned the hula. My first experience with hula was while attending Leeward Community College with a lady named Auntie Noelani Crabbe. She taught the ancient style of hula. I also learned from the late Darrell Lupenui during the latter part of 1978, and I was thrilled to become a member of his halau called "Waimapuna." Those were my formal years of dancing because we learned singing and dancing while attending Nanaikapono Elementary School from Kupuna Kai. Every Tuesday and Thursday she would teach us the Hawaiian Language, a song, or a dance. Those were wonderful times.
I think I have probably covered the main part of my musical career. There you have it...a sneak peak into a small part of my life…
Moon
