Fellow Hawaiian music star composes, records tune for Koko

The late John Kapualani Koko, the beloved bass player of the Makaha Sons who died June 25, is being remembered this week with the release of a new song, “Just a Little,” written by Del Beazley.

Beazley, a Na Hoku Hanohano-winning musician, recorded the song Monday with the surviving members of the group: Koko’s brother, guitarist Jerome Koko, and Louis “Moon” Kauakahi.

“Just a Little” is available as a free download at the Makaha Sons website, www.makahasons.com.

Selling the song “was not where we wanted to go with this,” Beazley said between takes at Kapena De Lima’s Bu-Print Studios in Kaneohe. “(The song) was something I wanted to do to honor a friend, and it helps us to heal, too, from the loss — to honor a friend and remember what life is about. Live it full. Live each moment (and) be a positive influence on people.”

The song is also meant to spur financial donations to help Koko’s family with his medical bills and funeral expenses. He is survived by his wife, Tonia, four sons and two grandchildren.

Public viewing will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today at Mililani Mauka Mortuary, continuing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Koko died at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center while waiting for a heart transplant. He was 51. Beazley said he wrote the song that evening “as my way of dealing with my good friend’s death. … I just sat down and I wrote, and within a half an hour or so, I came up with a very simple tune to honor my friend.”

“I asked Moon and Jerome to come and help because I wanted to capture that signature Makaha Sons sound. The song is real simple, and I think everyone can take something away from it.”

Jerome Koko said he was “blown away” when Beazley sent him a demo version of the song. “When he asked us if we would add the Makaha Sons flavor, we thought it was really nice (of him),” he said.

The recording commemorates a friendship that goes back more than 35 years.

“We basically broke into the music business as very young men,” Beazley said. “The Kokos lived four doors from my grandmother, and back in 1975 John invited me to go play with their group, which was called Na Leo o Nana­kuli and became 3rd Road Delight. Long (story) short is our friendship goes back many, many years. It was hard for me to even fathom his passing.

“I miss his Facebook posts in the morning. That ‘Kokolicious’ thing (he did on Facebook) was hilarious. It could brighten up your day.”

Beazley included the term “Kokolicious” in the lyrics of his new song for that reason.

“The big picture is, ‘Take care of the ones you love and take care of things while you still can.’ John lived it to the fullest and he touched many lives. The outpouring of aloha at his passing kind of symbolizes the greatness of the man and the way he’s touched lives around the world. That smile was really infectious — it lit up the room.”

Beazley added that he decided to record the song with three guitars but no bass.

“(The bass) belongs to John, and that’s our way of honoring him.”