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 | Breeze of hawaii News - 12-June-2005 |  |
 Makaha Sons Group with Interesting History
Fanaddicts Friend: Sharlene Oshiro with the Makaha Sons (John Koko, left, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi and Jerome Koko) at the group's pre-concert party
The first time around, when Jerome Koko helped get the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau started in the mid-1970s, he was happy playing backyard parties and baby luaus and thought the group as a part-time thing. Then he left the group after several years to pursue other interests and formed a duo with his younger brother John. It would be several years later when Louis "Moon" Kauakahi asked him to help rebuild the group in '82.
All for promoting the Sons' "Take a Walk in the Country 3" concert at the Waikiki Shell.
AS WITH so many other things in the 29-year history of the group now known as the Makaha Sons, the history of their concert series takes some explaining. The old Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau were involved in some concerts out in Waianae while Skippy was still alive, and the final version of the group -- made up then of Kauakahi, the Koko brothers, and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (IZ)of Over the Rainbow fame -- did a series of successful "Makaha Bash" concerts right up until Iz abruptly quit the group shortly before "Makaha Bash 6" in 1993. As part of Iz's "divorce" from the band, it was agreed that Moon, John and Jerome would drop the " ... of Ni'ihau" from the group's name.
Several years and many Hoku awards later, the Makaha Sons decided to resume the summer concert series, but under a new name. The first "Take a Walk in the Country" was actually presented back in Waianae, but since then the Sons have been, as Kauakahi put it last year, "bringing the country to town."
By any standard, this year's concert offers an incredible lineup of Hawaiian artists. As luck would have it, the bill includes two of this year's top Hoku Award winners, Raiatea Helm and Na Palapalai. Also joining the Sons are other multiple award winners Keali'i Reichel, Willie K, Ho'okena, Aunty Genoa Keawe and Troy Fernandez.
NOT THAT the Makaha Sons are slowing down themselves. "Every month, we're in Japan, and then all over (the U.S.)," Koko says. "We've been traveling every week for three months straight. This week, we took a break to get ready for 'Take a Walk.' " Hawaiian music is kind of on a decline, but now since there's the Grammy (category), it might be an influence for more groups to get into the traditional side.
TRIBUTE TO IZ
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