MEKIA KEALAKAI–ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND CONDUCTOR–DIED
Born October 15, 1867, on Oahu, son of a sergeant major (“Mekia” means “major”), Mekia was sent to reform school in 1879 where he began musical training under Henry Berger, conductor of the Royal Hawaiian Band (RHB). Joining the RHB at age 15 as a trombonist & flutist, Kealakai also composed songs with Liliʻuokalani & Kalākaua. In 1895, he led RHB in an American tour. At the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, his “triple-tongue” technique led John Philip Sousa to tab him the “greatest flutist” he’d ever heard. Mekia also met his future wife there. For 10 years, Kealakai played in Hawaiian string bands on the West Coast before touring with “Major Kealakai’s Royal Hawaiian Sextette.” In 1914, he published a book on playing ukulele & taro-patch fiddle and, in 1916, at Mekia’s request, the Martin Guitar Company made its Kealakai model guitar which became Martin’s classic “Dreadnaught.” From 1920-26 & 1930-32, he led the RHB. Kealakai died in Honolulu. Kealakai entered the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1996.
Sources:
“Mekia Kealakai,” Royal Hawaiian Band. Retrieved 11/24/2022, Mekia Kealakai | royalhawaiianband (rhb-music.com)
“Dreadnought,” Images of Old Hawaiʻi. Retrieved 11/24/2022, Dreadnought | Images of Old Hawaiʻi (imagesofoldhawaii.com)
Wikipedia
Photo: Author and date unknown (likely 1920-26). Public Domain. Source: Hawaii State Archives. Call Number: PP-74-8a-013
Indigenous America Calendar 