Genoa Keawe
Encyclopedia
‘Aunty’ Genoa Leilani Adolpho Keawe-Aiko (October 31, 1918 – February 25, 2008) was a Hawaiian
musician. Aunty Genoa was born on the island of Oʻahu
in the Kakaʻako
district of Honolulu and grew up in Lā'ie
. She is an icon in Hawaiian music
and has been a mainstay on the Hawaiian music scene for more than 60 years. With her tremendous voice she has captivated audiences, kamaʻāina (locals) and malihini (visitors) alike. With a tremendous repertoire of traditional Hawaiian standards and Hapa Haole
tunes, she is without equal. Many local artists include Aunty Genoa Keawe among their many influences.
In 2005, she received an honorary doctorate
(Doctor of Humane Letters
) from the University of Hawai‘i
.
This move to Laie would help facilitate the phenomenal music career that would highlight her life. Aunty Genoa always loved to sing ever since she was a little girl. In Laie she received her early musical training as a member of a local LDS Church choir. It was in choir that she built up her repertoire, knowledge and appreciation of music. She attended school until the 8th grade. She and her husband, the late Edward Puniwai Keawe-Aiko, whom she married in 1935, had twelve children.
Keawe was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
at officers' clubs and at bandstand shows in Kailua. Eventually Aunty Genoa landed a radio show on KULA singing with John Kameaaloha Almeida
. Much like most other musicians, Aunty Genoa could not make a living solely on music. She also made money in her early years as a lei
seller and as a taxi driver.
Her long and illustrious musical career had taken her throughout the islands and around the world. She had played at luaus, lounges, bars, and on numerous radio and television shows.
Aunty Genoa had taken great pride in preserving "na mea Hawaii"
. She learned to speak Hawaiian through her mother-in-law, who spoke Hawaiian as her first language, and became a fluent native-speaker (the term for someone who has learned Hawaiian from someone who speaks it as their first language instead of learning it in school). She arguably has perhaps the widest repertoire of traditional Hawaiian songs. Like many old-time Hawaiian singers and musicians she plays her music by ear.
She had been recording music professionally since 1946. Her original record label was with the 49th State Hawaii record company. She then went on to record with Hula Records. After a falling out with the company she founded her own record label, Genoa Keawe Records, to record her music and the music of her family and friends.
Along with the band, who had often been known as Aunty Genoa's Hawaiians, she helped to perpetuate Hawaiian music over the past 50 years. Though the members had changed over the years, the sound still remained the same, uniquely sweet and Hawaiian.
Her signature, sweet falsetto
voice set the standard for the female Hawaiian falsettoists of today. Many of today's top entertainers count Aunty Genoa as one of their inspirations
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician. Aunty Genoa was born on the island of Oʻahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
in the Kakaʻako
Kakaako
Kakaako is the name of a commercial and retail district of Honolulu, Hawaii between Ala Moana near Waikīkī to the east, downtown Honolulu and Honolulu Harbor to the west. Kakaako is situated along the southern shores of the island of Oahu....
district of Honolulu and grew up in Lā'ie
La'ie, Hawai'i
Laie is a census-designated place located in the Koolauloa District on the island of Oahu in Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States. In Hawaiian, lāie means "ie leaf" . The population was 4,585 at the 2000 census.-History:Historically, Laie was a puuhonua, a sanctuary for fugitives...
. She is an icon in Hawaiian music
Music of Hawaii
The music of Hawaii includes an array of traditional and popular styles, ranging from native Hawaiian folk music to modern rock and hip hop. Hawaii's musical contributions to the music of the United States are out of proportion to the state's small size. Styles like slack-key guitar are well-known...
and has been a mainstay on the Hawaiian music scene for more than 60 years. With her tremendous voice she has captivated audiences, kamaʻāina (locals) and malihini (visitors) alike. With a tremendous repertoire of traditional Hawaiian standards and Hapa Haole
Hapa
Hapa is a Hawaiian language term used to describe a person of mixed Asian or Pacific Islander racial or ethnic heritage.-Etymology:In the Hawaiian language, hapa is defined as: portion, fragment, part, fraction, installment; to be partial, less. It is a loan from the English word half...
tunes, she is without equal. Many local artists include Aunty Genoa Keawe among their many influences.
In 2005, she received an honorary doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
(Doctor of Humane Letters
Doctor of Humane Letters
The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
) from the University of Hawai‘i
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
.
Early life
Genoa Leilani Adolpho's early years were full of moving about. She was born in 1918 in Kakaako in a stable. In her childhood her family moved about several occasions. Before she was ten years old she'd already lived on Kauai for several years and had moved back to Kakaako. By the time she was about 10 years old, her family had moved to Laie.This move to Laie would help facilitate the phenomenal music career that would highlight her life. Aunty Genoa always loved to sing ever since she was a little girl. In Laie she received her early musical training as a member of a local LDS Church choir. It was in choir that she built up her repertoire, knowledge and appreciation of music. She attended school until the 8th grade. She and her husband, the late Edward Puniwai Keawe-Aiko, whom she married in 1935, had twelve children.
Keawe was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Career
She began performing music professionally prior to World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
at officers' clubs and at bandstand shows in Kailua. Eventually Aunty Genoa landed a radio show on KULA singing with John Kameaaloha Almeida
John Kameaaloha Almeida
John Kameaaloha Almeida , was born John Celestino Almeida Jr. in the Pauoa Valley on the island of Oʻahu in Hawai‘i, to Portuguese contract laborer John Celestino Almeida Sr. and his wife Honolulu lei seller Julia Kamaka Almeida...
. Much like most other musicians, Aunty Genoa could not make a living solely on music. She also made money in her early years as a lei
Lei (Hawaii)
Lei is a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. The most popular concept of a lei in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers draped around the neck presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of...
seller and as a taxi driver.
Her long and illustrious musical career had taken her throughout the islands and around the world. She had played at luaus, lounges, bars, and on numerous radio and television shows.
Aunty Genoa had taken great pride in preserving "na mea Hawaii"
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
. She learned to speak Hawaiian through her mother-in-law, who spoke Hawaiian as her first language, and became a fluent native-speaker (the term for someone who has learned Hawaiian from someone who speaks it as their first language instead of learning it in school). She arguably has perhaps the widest repertoire of traditional Hawaiian songs. Like many old-time Hawaiian singers and musicians she plays her music by ear.
She had been recording music professionally since 1946. Her original record label was with the 49th State Hawaii record company. She then went on to record with Hula Records. After a falling out with the company she founded her own record label, Genoa Keawe Records, to record her music and the music of her family and friends.
Along with the band, who had often been known as Aunty Genoa's Hawaiians, she helped to perpetuate Hawaiian music over the past 50 years. Though the members had changed over the years, the sound still remained the same, uniquely sweet and Hawaiian.
Her signature, sweet falsetto
Falsetto
Falsetto is the vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the modal voice register and overlapping with it by approximately one octave. It is produced by the vibration of the ligamentous edges of the vocal folds, in whole or in part...
voice set the standard for the female Hawaiian falsettoists of today. Many of today's top entertainers count Aunty Genoa as one of their inspirations
Death
Following years of health complications, Genoa Keawe, affectionately known as Aunty Genoa, died in the morning of February 25, 2008, at the age of 89.External links
- http://www.HawaiianConcertGuide.com/ - Free podcast episode featuring a tribute to the life and music of Auntie Genoa.
- http://www.kpfk.org/ - Free podcast episode featuring a tribute to the life and music of Auntie Genoa.