Of vintage songs and music veterans

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Kahauanu Lake, who is producing and performing in Tuesday night's Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame 10th Anniversary Concert, is a Hall of Famer, inducted in 2004. Advertiser library photo 'NA 'ILINA' 7:30 p.m. Tuesday; pre-show music by Pa'ahana from 7 p.m. Hawai'i Theatre $20, $25 528-0506 (box office), 596-8885 (Native Books Na Mea Hawai'i) Featuring: Mahi and Gaye Beamer, Nina Keali'iwahamana, Emma Veary, Genoa Keawe, Gary Aiko, Randy Hongo, Harry B. Soria Jr., Pa'ahana, Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club, Kahauanu Lake Singers, Hawea Waia'u and son Kaina, Na Wahine Kuikawa, Ardis Gomes, Kula Abiva, Pi'ilani Smith, Na Kipu'upu'u

The more vintage, the better; the more exposure, the brighter the chances for perpetuation.

"What we're featuring is music that has been accepted throughout the ages, and still going strong today," said Lake, who helps keep the torch burning.

He is all about promotion, preservation and perpetuation, and that's also the creed of the Hall of Fame.

And his roster of performers in the anniversary shindig is all about veterans performing widely known tunes by historical and commonly favored composers.

"We're talking music by King Kalakaua, his sister Lili'u (Queen Lili'uokalani) and other royal patrons like William Leleiohoku and Miriam Likelike," he said of the motif of the concert and its participants.

"We picked people who perform the music of the composers. In Nina Keali'iwahamana's case, she does all of her mother's (Vicki I'i Rodrigues) music. Mahi Beamer does all of his grandmother's (Helen Desha Beamer) music and so on. These songs have come down to us through a period of time, and, very often, perpetuated by family members," said Lake.

Now 73, Lake said he has been an advocate and devotee of the songs by the likes of Maddy Lam and Mary Kawena Puku'i. He was a Hall of Fame inductee himself last year; Lam and Puku'i also are previous honorees.

"It's music by the best — and I honestly cannot think of anyone at the moment who has done so much and is still accepted throughout the ages," he said of the short list. One 2001 Hall of Fame inductee, the endearing and enduring Genoa Keawe, will be saluted in the concert.

"She's still going strong, and she embraced the music of many composers ... and these songs are still being performed today," said Lake. "Genoa's going full blast."

In the Hall of Fame's next 10 years, Lake envisions more grants and sponsorships to support the goal of acknowledging and then perpetuating Hawaiian classics. "This year, for the first time, we are getting a grant to do our work; next year, Kamehameha Schools will put on the concert, and maybe Kawaiaha'o will step in in the future," he said.

And inductees to the Hall of Fame will be named every other year instead of annually — or whenever suitable nominees emerge.

"It's one thing to promote, preserve and perpetuate the music — it has to be performed, too, so that the music influences the young people to continue that tradition," said Lake. The concerts, he said, mostly uphold and expose the music of the past recipients of the honor. As usual, the procession of songs will begin with a performance of "The Queen's Prayer," a composition by Queen Lili'uokalani.

"We've got to keep this tradition alive ... or it will die," he said.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, 525-8067 or fax 525-8055.

HALL OF FAMERS

1995

• Keaulumoku
• Henri Berger
• Charles E. King
• Joseph Kekuku
• Helen Desha Beamer
• Lena Machado
• Alfred Apaka
• Sol K. Bright Sr.
• Victoria K. I'i Rodrigues
• Mary Kawena Pukui

1996

• Sol Ho'opi'i
• Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs
• Albert R. "Sonny" Cunha
• Haunani Kahalewai
• Mekia Kealaka'i

1998

• John Kameaaloha Almeida
• Irmgard Farden Aluli
• R. Alex Anderson
• Bina Mossman
• David Nape

1999

• Royal Hawaiian Band

2000

• Madeline Kaululehuaohaili Lam
• Keaulumoku
• Ka'opulupulu
• Kapoukahi
• Kapihe
• Hewahewa

2001

• Genoa Keawe
• Haili Church Choir

2002

• Gabby Pahinui
• Ray Kinney

2003

• Kamehameha Schools

2004

• Kahauanu Lake
• Kawaiaha'o Church