Uncle Moe Keale
a favored son of Hawaii
Hundreds gather to
pay their
last respects to the Waikiki
legend who touched them
By John
Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com
Moe Keale touched Hawaii and
the world in many ways -- as a beach boy, musician, recording
artist, actor, practitioner of traditional Hawaiian healing and
humanitarian -- and among the hundreds of people who filled
Kawaiahao Church to pay respects last night were those who had known
him in all those roles.
Jon de Mello of the Mountain
Apple Co. had produced his first and arguably greatest solo album,
"South Sea Island Magic." Michael Kelly, Dawn Gohara and
Rhoda Ann Kihikihi represented Hawaiian Radio KCCN. Jim Linkner, who
had won a Hoku Award for his work engineering Keale's second solo
album, was also there. So was Kihei DeSilva, his song-writing
partner when he recorded his third solo album, "Imagine,"
in 1996, and Keith Haugen, a friend from his days as a member of the
Sons of Hawaii.
Paying their respects as
well were other members of the Hawaiian music community who had
worked with him or been inspired by him over the past 40 years:
Imaikalani Young, Robert Cazimero, Ernie Cruz Jr., Bobby Moderow,
Brittney Anelaikalani Jennings and Kapena DeLima.
Jan Brenner was there with
talent agent Chriss Heyd, who booked many of Keale's long-running
gigs in Waikiki. So was Dick Rodby of Kemo'o Farms, Palani Vaughan
and Louis "Moon" Kauakahi of the Makaha Sons.
The line of people waiting
to personally pay their respects to Moe, his wife, Carol, and son,
Nalani, was so long that a number of people were told that they
would have to wait until the services were over.
However, everyone received a
single kukui nut as a memento.
Margaret Doversola, who knew
him as an actor on "Hawaii Five-O" and "Magnum, P.I.,"
described Keale as "someone who shared his spirit with all of
us." Ka'uhane Lee, speaking on behalf of those who knew him as
a healer, combined the metaphors of Polynesian navigation and
healing in remembering him as "the greatest navigator and the
greatest healer."
"There was always
laughter. That's what I recall about Moe," Dennis Kamakahi said
as he shared several stories of their days together in the Sons of
Hawaii.
Sam Po'omaihealani, a friend
from Keale's days on the beach as a boy (years before he became a
Waikiki beach boy), recalled youthful stunts and high jinks, and
pondered the process by which a boy named Wilfred grew into the
teenager known as "Animal" -- and how "Animal"
eventually became "Uncle Moe Keale."
Po'omaihealani spoke of
dropping by the Sheraton-Waikiki to visit Keale on April 14. Keale
had played his favorite song without being asked, and they had
talked a bit afterward, catching up on old times.
Less than 24 hours later,
Moe Keale died.
"He gave me his time
(and) his music," Po'omaihealani said. "That was his gift:
his love of life, his love of family, his love of music. Moe, we
love you, too."
There will be a musical
celebration of Keale's life starting at noon Saturday at the Hula
Mount at Kuhio Beach. A brief ceremony will take place on the beach
at 6 p.m., followed by a scattering of the ashes at sea.
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