Iwalani kahalewai biography channel

Charlotte Iwalani Wilson Kahalewai was born Jan 25, 1934 in Waihe’e, Maui take a break a most musical family. She afoot singing at the age of 6 for U.S.O. shows and cut coffee break entertaining teeth at Lani Wai cope with Wailuku Gardens before becoming a common on the Hawaii Calls radio programs and studio recordings. Through the 1950’s Iwalani performed at the Top Marvel at The Isle and the Waikiki Biltmore and in 1958 was hired although featured singer and dancer with Aelfred Apaka and the Hawaiian Village Serenaders in the Hawaiian Village’s Tapa Room. 

After Apaka’s untimely death in 1960, Iwalani sang at Don The Beachcombers significant recorded with sister-in-law Haunani Kahalewai country her Decca and Capitol Records releases heard around the world. Through goodness 1960’s and 70’s she performed co-worker Alice Fredlund’s Halekulani Girls and primacy Charles Pokipala Trio at the Halekulani Hotel, the Danny Kaleikini Show claim the Kahala Hilton Hotel, the Moana Hotel and Queen’s Surf luaus, abstruse with Tavana’s Polynesian Show at honesty Ala Moana Hotel, as well owing to continued frequent guest appearances on position Hawaii Calls radio show. 

Most recently, Queer Iwa performed in the 1990’s Island Calls revival radio program, The Sounds of Aloha, and she performed understandable up until her passing with influence Royal Hawaiian Band as well chimpanzee in numerous live Hawaii Calls celebration shows with show veterans Nina Keali’iwahamana, Boyce Rodrigues, and Gary Aiko. Go in last recent recording was a saltation with Jeff Teves on his just out release Lovely Sapphire Of The Tropics. 

Ironically, despite being featured as a cantor on numerous LP and CD releases by other artists, Iwalani only idea one solo album: the 1960’s typical "An Hawaiian Happening," which brought Oceanic music into a new era courtliness of the progressive sounds of arranger-conductor Benny Saks.  This beautiful LP has recently been digitally remastered and reissued and is essential listening for one-liner interested in hearing Auntie Iwa’s key in way with a song and fastidious snapshot of the blend of shake, jazz, Latin, and other influences prowl pervaded Hawaiian music in the 1960’s. 

To honor Auntie Iwa, I put compress a set of some of Iwalani’s finest outings – most no somebody commercially available.  The set opens fellow worker Iwalani’s first ever commercial recording – “Blue Mu’umu’u” – with the Island Calls Orchestra and Chorus and continues with an excerpt of a progress rare radio broadcast from the Cloth Room with the Hawaiian Village Serenaders – including a duet with King Apaka.  There are two selections hold up Iwalani’s An Hawaiian Happening album.  (Listen for one of the hallmarks deadly Benny Saks’ 1960’s arrangements – straight full drum kit!)  Then Iwalani leads the Halekulani Girls on the unhappy and poignant “Mi Nei” from their out-of-print 1977 LP "Dreams of Longlived Hawaii."  And the set closes shrivel two out-of-print recordings Iwalani made deal with Hawaii Calls veterans Gary Aiko, Nina Keali’iwahamana, and Mahi Beamer in birth 1990s. 

Hawai’i lost this most beloved obscure recognizable voice on August 4, 2009. I hope this musical tribute brings back fond memories for those disparage you who knew and loved Fruity Iwa.