A Tribute to Moe Keale - His Colleagues Remember

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A Tribute to Moe Keale
His Colleagues Remember

I kanaka no `oe ke mâlama i ke kanaka.
You will be well served when you care for the person who serves you.

Moe Keale's voice gave me chicken skin. That hair-raising tingle that is other worldly in a very nice way. The colleagues that he joins rejoice. There's IZ smiling with his brother, Skippy, and slack key legend, Gabby "Pops" Pahinui, as Moe joins them, strumming his `ukulele. They sing in heavenly four-part harmony. The colleagues he left behind remember him as a " gentle, giving treasure in the Island entertainment scene."

Dennis Kamakahi, performed with Moe Keale as a member of Eddie Kamae's Sons of Hawai'i. Kamakahi is also a member of Nâ `Ôiwi (The Native Born).

"Moe had a great sense of humor. I was the baby of the group, when I joined the Sons of Hawai`i in 1973, but I had known Moe from his beach days. He had a neat four-part harmony group."

"In those early days, he looked like a walking mountain — he was huge, about 300 pounds — but he had a real big heart. Big people have big hearts, I guess, and the thing about him I'll always remember was his outrageous sense of humor. He always had a story to share, a joke to tell. And when he sang, he had that pure Ni'ihau voice, that real sound of Hawai'i."¹

"When I first met Moe Keale he was playing in the Taro Patch Lounge in what is now the Miramar Hotel. I was still attending Kamehameha High School and my buddies, Bruce Spencer, Danny Akaka Jr, Aaron Mahi, Patrick Asing, and I would sneak on over and jam with the man nicknamed "Animal".

But far from his intimidating stature at that time of being 300 lbs and a good surfer to boot, Moe had the heart of gold and a demeanor of gentleness. It was his love for music and his love for Hawaii that shined through his soul.

His voice would make even the angels stop and listen as he sang with that nahenahe voice that only comes from the Island of Ni'ihau. His laughter was infectious and his jokes and stories were hilarious. Even his antics onstage when we played together as the Sons of Hawaii were unforgettable. Like the show at the Lahaina Civic Center when he actually bent a steel chair while sitting on it and crashed to the floor. Now I've been in professional music for 32 years, yet I have never seen a spectacle like that that would actually bring the audience to their feet in a standing ovation. And the laughter was thunderous.........

It was always laughter.......that's what I remembered about Moe and of course that angelic voice singing Kanaka Waiwai, He Punahele No 'Oe, E Ku'u Morning Dew.......The Sunday jam sessions with the Sons of Hawaii at the old Territorial Tavern and of course Hawaii 5-0. He even asked Paul Martinez and I to record with him the main theme for the TV program "Little People" at the Warner Brothers Studio in Burbank.

But as I sit and reflect, I think what I'll remember Moe for would be the last time I saw him in Kaua'i last year. Na 'Oiwi was there to promote our 1st album and after we finished he said to me........wow.....you guys sound like the old days.....the Sons......remember those days?

I can never forget, I was the baby of the group at 19 when I was asked to join but I knew one thing, I had an older brother I could look up to and I'm proud and glad I did....... Aloha Moe......tell Feets, Joe, Atta, and Gabby we still love them.....and always remember.....We are the Sons of Hawaii and we are Hawaiian......

Aloha, Dennis Kamakahi"
Source

"This is the hardest story I've ever had to write. On one of my early trips to Hawaii - many years ago - Helen and I visited O`ahu's Ward Warehouse, a shopping center near Waikiki.

It was there that I heard "real" Hawaiian music...

Moe Keale was more than my friend; he was my Hawaiian brother.
Aloha JOE®

Read Aloha Joe's touching remembrance in its entirety here.

Aloha Joe,
Internet 24-Hour Hawaiian Radio host and personality with Uncle Moe

"He was a beautiful, soulful man, who had a wonderful way of uniting people around him. It was always a great feeling to be around him."

Keola Beamer, a longtime singer-composer-musician who now lives on Maui.

Roy Sakuma, organizer of the annual summertime 'Ukulele Festival at Kapi'olani Park, said that Keale's generosity quickly made him part of the 'ohana.

"From way back, he would always tell me, don't call, just put my name down. I'm going to be there every year for you," said Sakuma of Keale's commitment to share his talent with the public.

"It's a real tribute to Moe that he wholeheartedly came out for the people and the kids. He had become tradition, usually coming on at 12:15 p.m., so we're planning to play a quiet song at that moment at this year's festival."¹

"Moe was a multi-talented, sweet man. He did everything right, from beating the Tahitian drums to acting and singing, everything."¹

Don Ho

Bill Kaiwa knew Keale from their "hanabata" (childhood) days

"All our treasures are going, I was with Moe two Sundays ago. I waited at the hospital for six hours the first time he had a heart attack a year ago. He was feeling fine, looking fine. I am shocked."¹

¹Source: Honolulu Advertiser, 4/17/02, Mike Gordon and Wayne Harada

Lots of photos:

>> REMEMBERING UNCLE MOE

When I received the call about the passing of Moe Keale, my entire world stopped.

Not only was Moe a gifted entertainer, he was my FRIEND. My very first radio interview was Moe Keale, it was his also.

When we celebrated our birthday, he was always the first to entertain. He was the first presenter at Na Hoku Hanohano for several years.

Whenever we did anything, Moe Keale was number 1.

Moe Keale was my Good Luck Charm and I will miss him. I Love You Animal . . .

Krash Kealoha

not available

Krash Kealoha, musician and radio personality

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