Waikiki ’73: That is John Moses Puha Sr.

Honolulu Star-Advertiser reader Keoni Nishiyama identified the man playing the mandolin at a bus stop on Kalakaua Avenue as his Great Great Grandfather, John Moses Puha Sr. of Papakolea. This iconic image by Eric Yanagi is the cover photo of the book "Waikiki ’73."

John Moses Puha Sr. was born in 1900 in Olowalu, Maui.

His grandson John Puha III, speaking through Ellen Nishiyama, said Puha Sr. was a very religious man and a member of the Auwaiolimu Ward of the Mormon Church where he led the choir."He never had a cross word about anyone. Describing him as "sweet and humble", he was the kind of person who would invite you into his home as a guest.

A retired Territorial elevator operator, Puha who also played the guitar and ukulele was introduced by his close friend Johnny Alameida to Larry Kimura, then a Hawaiian music disc jockey at KCCN. Kimura, now an Assistant Professor of Hawaiian lanuage at UH Hilo, had begun an ambitious project to interview and record the ever dwindling numbers of native Hawaiian speakers. This included Alameida, "The Dean of Hawaiian Music".

Puha’s interview, dated March 13, 1973, was conducted in Hawaiian. He spoke of his home and school in Olowalu. He played and sang four songs, one of which was the ever popular "Henehene Kou Aka." A tape of the show is currently archived in the University of Hawaii system.

Kimura when shown a photo of Puha said, "That is how I remember him. A small man, very kind, a gentleman." Puha’s music was entertaining and pleasant he said.

Grandchild Syd Kaai wrote that he also used to play near the McDonalds at Fort Street Mall. Ellen Nishiyama said about his music: "He liked to make people smile, everything (he gave) was from his heart."

Puha died in Honolulu in 1995, at age 95. Granddaughter Winona Puha emailed saying that when employees of the Fort Street McDonalds had learned of his death they took out a public notice in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The notice was a thank you to him for entertaining all of their customers.

Thank you all for your responses.

—George F. Lee
Photo Editor
Honolulu Star-Advertiser