ROD OHIRA'S PEOPLE
Teen generous with gift of song
By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ken Tatafu was born with a spinal defect and a gift.
Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser
The gift is a singing voice that allows him to do for others.
Ken Tatafu is honored to have his name listed on a mural in Palolo. The mural in the Ted Morioka Gym is dedicated to exceptional children, including Tatafu, who is a grandson of the late legislator for whom the gym was named.
At age 15, his heart-warming smile and positive outlook of life from a wheelchair is inspiring.
Using his musical talent as a tool, Tatafu has dedicated himself to helping other people.
In 1998, he performed "This Is the Moment" from the Broadway play "Jekyll and Hyde" on a special "Hawai'i Stars" karaoke show to earn $10,000 from the Weinberg Foundation for the charity of his choice.
Tatafu, a Kaimuki High sophomore who is of Japanese-Tongan ancestry, designated $5,000 each to Jarrett Intermediate and Jefferson Elementary, two schools he attended.
Tatafu performs at many functions but only accepts donations, all of which goes to charity. He recently donated $100 he received for appearing on the Department of Education video "What's Up Fables" to the late Loyal Garner's medical fund.
"Singing makes me feel good," said Tatafu, grandson of the late Ted Morioka, who represented Palolo in the Legislature for 16 years. "It builds my self-confidence. When I sing, I forget I'm in a wheelchair.
"If I can give something back to make others happy, that's what I want to do," he said. "Ever since I was born, the community has given to me. Shriners gave me a wheelchair and two surgeries. The Department of Health helped pay for my voice lessons."
Tatafu's name and those of eight others appear on a mural inside Ted Morioka Gym, formerly known as Palolo District Park Gym. The Na Waiwai 'O Palolo or "Treasures of Palolo" mural is dedicated to children who have done something exceptional for the community.
Other names on the mural are Mary Chanthabandit for her volunteer work with Hawai'i Blood Bank and youth soccer; triplets Rachel, Tahra and Sara Hussey for coaching softball and tutoring youth; Palolo Tenants Association volunteers Cecilia Sefo, Fa'auliuli Moetoto and Kristine Carden, and Kevin Sai Kuen Doo, an Eagle Scout and volunteer at Palolo Chinese Home and Shriners Hospital for Children. The Husseys and Doo are attending college on the Mainland while the others are Kaimuki High students.
"Ken is an exceptionally generous person and wise beyond his years," said Maura O'Connor, chairwoman of the Na Waiwai 'O Palolo selection committee. "He doesn't dwell on himself. It's a rare quality that someone so young thinks so much of others."
Tatafu has been singing for as long as he can remember. He began taking voice lessons at 7 years old. "I think it's inspiring for people when they see him in a wheelchair singing," Kaimuki High special education teacher Lila Tatafu said of her son, the youngest of three children. "They realize for themselves that if he can do what he loves, so can they."
Ken Tatafu regards his developing tenor voice as a gift. He enjoys performing with his 20-year-old brother, Elitei Tatafu Jr., who has been performing in local community theater musicals, or Ohana 'O Mele, a Kaimuki High group, or just by himself. His favorite songs are show tunes, especially "The Impossible Dream."
Hawai'i resident Jim Nabors sang it the first time Tatafu heard the "The Impossible Dream" on a TV episode of "Gomer Pyle."
"The words 'this is my quest to follow the star' is so meaningful to me," Tatafu said. "It tells me everyone is sent down here to accomplish something. Nothing is impossible if you reach for your dreams and goals."
"My quest is to brighten other people's lives," said the young singer, who hopes to meet Nabors one day. "So I'm going to follow my dream to be a singer."
Tatafu, who plays the 'ukulele and drums, gains self-confidence each time he performs in public.
"When I'm on stage, I feel like I can do anything," he said. "My grandma (Alice Morioka) taught me to always think in a positive way."
He's aware that life is the biggest stage of all, and his performance there is what counts most. "Even if I didn't sing, I would still have friends and family who see me as Ken and not someone in a wheelchair," he said. "They see the person."
Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.
