Irmgard Farden Aluli, musician and composer, dead at 89
By Curtis Lum and Wayne Harada
Advertiser Staff Writers
Irmgard Farden Aluli, who wrote fondly and sang endearingly of the Hawai'i and family she loved, died yesterday at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center. She was 89.
Advertiser library photo • Aug. 29, 2001
Aluli was surrounded by family and friends who sang many of her favorite Hawaiian songs and celebrated her life. Hailama Farden, Aluli's grandnephew and fellow composer, said her passing was peaceful and inspiring.
Irmgard Farden Aluli treated fans to "O Makalupua" at the Windward Community College campus in August.
"We were all there singing for her and doing our family thing, and singing her songs," Farden said. "Then my Uncle Buddy — her baby brother — leaned over and said, 'Goodbye, Irmgard,' and not even five seconds later she just went."
Composer of more than 300 tunes, Aluli was one of 13 children of Charles and Annie Farden. Music was a staple in the family's Lahaina home.
Her signature tune, "Puamana," was the focal point of her vocal-instrumental livelihood. The tune spoke lovingly of the family home, Puamana, on the Valley Island, and a group of the same name was organized in the early 1980s by Aluli.
Hailama Farden considered himself lucky to have learned the art of composing from such a great woman.
"She had so much to share," he said. "We just lost our last great composer. I put her up there with Helen Desha Beamer and Johnny Almeida."
For 14 years, Puamana was the draw at The Willows restaurant in Mo'ili'ili, then a popular dining spot. Aluli's rich alto voice often took a backseat to the harmonic blend of Puamana, but her seasoned guitar stylings and her presence were formidable.
A longtime Kailua resident, Aluli and her late Maui-based sister, Emma Sharpe, kept the entire clan of sisters, brothers, nephews, nieces, cousins, grandchildren and great-grandchildren enmeshed in song.
She said she never intended to be a professional musician, because she was raised and she believed in the family notion of singing and sharing in the spirit of fun. Indeed, she was a late bloomer, launching her career after she was married.
While living on the Mainland, she realized the value of her Island roots and her unending love for Island music.
"She was such a beautiful lady," Farden said. "Aloha emanated from her."
In 1998, Aluli was inducted into the Hawai'i Music Hall of Fame. Just two months ago, she was honored as a living treasure by the Prince Kuhio Hawaiian Civic Club.
Also recognized by the civic club was educator Gladys Brandt. Last night, Brandt called her longtime friend "one of the great ladies of Hawai'i."
"She was a wonderful example of a kupuna," Brandt said. "She raised and served her people, and she was loved by them. We will miss Irmgard."
Entertainer Mahi Beamer said he grew up with the Aluli family and the two families were very close.
"A long time ago my dad and mother were very close to them and they used to be down at their house and they had a big piano there. Daddy would play, and we'd play and Irmgard would play. It was just a wonderful musical time every time we got together," Beamer said.
Funeral services are pending.
Correction: Emma Sharpe's surname was misspelled in a previous version of this story.
