MARCH 1, 2006

NATIVE HAWAIIAN SINGER SOLOMON HO’OPI’I DIED

Born March 28, 1935, in the village of Kahakuloa, Maui, Solomon and brother Richard were both taught to play the ukulele at age 3. Singing in church, they learned harmony. Inspired by Hawaiian musicians like Uncle Joe Keawe and Aunty Genoa Keawe, their open, robust style of falsetto (leo ke’eki’ e) singing carried over elements from ancient chant. In 1968, they formed a duo, the Ho’opi’i Brothers, and began performing in concerts and at hula festivals. They released their first album, No Ka Oi, in 1975, followed by 4 others on the Poki label. In the 1980s, Francis Ku’ailani joined on bass, though they also performed as a duo and with Da Bunch that included Aunty Genoa Keawe, Aunty Violet Liliko’I, Ledward Kaapana, Huanani Apoliona, and Barney Isaacs. The brothers performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival and were honored with a National Heritage Award and a Fellowship from National Endowment for the Arts in 1996. They also received the Na Hoku Hanohano Hawaiian Music 1997 Group of the Year Award.

Sources:

“Solomon & Richard Ho'opi'I,” National Endowment for the Arts.  Retrieved 10/26/2022, Solomon & Richard Ho'opi'i | National Endowment for the Arts

‎”Ho'opi'i Brothers,” Apple Music.   Retrieved 10/26/2022, ‎Ho'opi'i Brothers on Apple Music

Photo:  Courtesy of National Endowment for the Arts, 1996.  Public Domain.