HARA honors legends of music, entertainment

STAR-ADVERTISER / JANUARY 2011
The Royal Hawaiian Band, marching here in the 2011 Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade, was honored Saturday with a special industry award for helping to perpetuate Hawaiian music.

Select an option below to continue reading this premium story.

Already a Honolulu Star-Advertiser subscriber? Log in now to continue reading.

Get unlimited access

From as low as $12.95 /mo.

Subscribe Now

The Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts celebrated its 30th anniversary by awarding 24 Lifetime Achievement Awards to nine individuals and the members of two groups during a luncheon at the Ala Moana Hotel on Saturday.

The honorees are:

» The Aliis: Showroom entertainers and hit recording artists for two decades. Al Akana, Rudy Aquino, Benny Chong, Manny Lagodlagod and Joe Mundo were the other half of Don Ho & The Aliis at Duke Kahanamoku’s in the 1960s. Carlos Barboza, LD Cabral, Danny Couch and Bobby King contributed to the group’s success in the ’70s and early ’80s. (Don Ho received lifetime honors in 1979.)

» Pua Almeida: Vocalist, musician, arranger and recording artist.

» Frank De Lima: Showroom entertainer, recording artist and the most successful local comedian of his generation.

» Wayne Harada: Longtime entertainment journalist and "Show Biz" columnist for the Star-Advertiser.

Don't miss out on what's happening!

Stay in touch with top news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It's FREE!

By clicking to sign up, you agree to Star-Advertiser's and Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. This form is protected by reCAPTCHA.

» Alice Johnson: Songwriter and recording artist who sang with the Royal Hawaiian Band.

» Kimo Kahoano: Pioneering Hawaiian-radio deejay, Waikiki showroom entertainer, recording artist and "Hawaii Stars" host.

» Moe Keale: Vocalist, musician, showroom entertainer, recording artist and actor who is considered one of the great Hawaiian voices of the 20th century. (He received lifetime honors in 2009 as a member of the Sons of Hawai‘i.)

» The Lim Family: Na Hoku Award-winning family group from Kohala comprising Elmer and Mary Ann Lim Sr. and their children, Elmer "Sonny" Lim Jr., Nani, Charmaine and Lorna Lim. (Sonny Lim received lifetime honors in 2010 as a member of the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau.)

» ‘Ihilani Miller: Vocalist, songwriter, choreographer and recording artist who sang with the Royal Hawaiian Band.

» Nalani Olds: Vocalist, recording artist, dancer and cultural resource.

» Betty Loo Taylor: Jazz pianist best known for her musical partnership with Jimmy Borges at Trappers and other venues.

HARA also will present a special industry award to the Royal Hawaiian Band for its contributions to the perpetuation and evolution of Hawaiian music. The band traces its roots to a group of musicians known as the King’s Band that was formed in 1836. Prominent bandmasters during the band’s 176-year history include Heinrich "Henri" Berger, Mekia Kealakai, Charles E. King and Aaron David Mahi.