Click on the first letter of a song title for index
COLLECTING HAPA HAOLE SONGS: This website is no longer being updated, but it contains all the lyrics the webmaster has found.
Please don't write asking for songs that are not on the website. The webmaster does not have
ANY sheet music or ukulele chords.
If you are looking for a recording of any song written in the 1916-1929 period, chances are there was never
a recording made. Sales of sheet music were the way a song was distributed and if popular, it may have been
performed on the radio. These songs, generally by mainland composers, were novelties at the time and had
very limited recorded exposure.
>> (Continue reading "Collecting Hapa Haole Songs")
BACKGROUND Until 1912, most Hawaiian songs were written in the Hawaiian language. That year, a stage
play opened on Broadway, Bird of Paradise, which featured five Hawaiian musicians. Songs included
in the show were "Mauna Kea," "Old Plantation (Kuu Home)" and "Waialae." The play was a success, and
The New York Times called the music "weirdly sensuous." The play toured extensively and has been
filmed twice.
Then in 1915 a troupe of Hawaiian entertainers went to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San
Francisco and, in the Territory of Hawaii pavilion, the main attraction proved to be a show of Hawaiian music
and hula performed by The Royal Hawaiian Quartette, led by George E. K. Awai. >> (Continue reading "Hapa Haole Songs Background")
PERFORMERS Hapa Haole music was disseminated mainly by Hawaiian performers who either performed in Waikiki
showrooms or who spent decades away from their beloved home touring the Mainland. A database of many
musicians and dancers is here and will be updated in the future. My personal
favorite Hapa Haole songs are listed here.
LINKS Huapala, the Hawaiian music lyric site is a treasured resource.
A really creative source for information about Hawaiian music and performers is the
Hawaiian Music Directory
Harry B. Soria's "Territorial Airwaves" program of pre-statehood Hawaiian music can now be heard online at
hawaiian105.com.
The best Hawaiian music station currently on the air (and live online) is
am940.
DA STUFF This website does not intend to infringe on anyone's copyright. The copyright laws were enacted to protect the
sales of a copyrighted item. Any song on this website that is available today in sheet music form has been so
noted and links to published or recorded material have been provided when possible. Mostly, the lyrics on this
website are not available for sale anywhere and likely never will be again. But if any copyright holder objects
to the inclusion of any of his or her material, it will be removed immediately upon notification.
The lyrics have been taken from the original published sheet music where possible. Transcriptions suffer from
mis-heard words, performance variations and poor memories. If anyone has corrections, lyrics for a song listed
but without words, or any information about a song that is not included, please contact the
author of this website. Copyright dates are often approximate
as many early songs were self-published then later picked up by a larger music publishing house. The most
common sheet music might then have a later date.
This website is for research purposes only. All lyric copyrights remain with the original copyright holders.
Though it is common today to use the Hawaiian language's diacritical marks (e.g. Hawai'i), we have not done so.
Some of these symbols are not available in even the most common fonts and during the period covered by this
website, were not used at all.
Where sheet music or recordings of songs are available, the LP, 45, 78, cassette or CD is listed and if still in
print, links have been provided to sources for these recordings and sheet music. Known to every Hawaiian
musician is Harry's Music Store, 3457 Waialae Ave., Kaimuki, (808) 735-2866. It's an astounding source, for
out-of-print sheet music (it's their original stock!), CDs and all things relating to Hawaiian music and musicians.
A great lover of island music is Larry W. Jones. His
website showcases his own compositions and he has contributed much material to this website.
MAHALO
This site would not have been possible without the help of Kawika Trask and Keao Costa, two superb Hawaiian
musicians who are among the few who truly strive to keep this kind of music alive.
Anyone interested in Hapa Haole and Hawaiian music at its finest is
encouraged to stop by the Halekulani Hotel's beachside bar any evening from 5:30-8:30 p.m. where several
groups of
island musicians perform, including sensational steel guitarist Alan Akaka. Dancing with them is one of the
loveliest hula dancers in Hawaii, Kanoe Miller.
And much aloha for the kokua from my kumu hula, Pohai Souza, and my hula sisters of Halau Hula Kamamolikolehua.
Lastly, this site is dedicated with love and aloha to Dorothy Fonte, Gard Kealoha, Gerry
Robinson and Jimmy Ai
