That one cold beer led to a night of Hawaiian music, more libations and a pizza with Bruddah's wife, Denise, during which, the mystery got solved. "We moved to Portland, Oregon for a while," explained Mrs. Aipolani.
A few days later, while sharing a brunch of ono grinds from the Lemon Grass Restaurant and Denise's own kitchen, the details get filled in.
The setting for a real Hawaiian `ohana is always a commotion where loved ones come and go and you better speak up lest you lose your turn to be heard. Here's what we caught on tape over the din:
BIW: I understand that you were born in Hilo and raised in Honolulu, so what brought you back to Hawai`i Island?
Aipolani: Aunty Diana Aki. Did you know that Aunty Diana brought me from Honolulu to Miloli`i to play for all the Hawaiians over there? It was the first time I went.
BIW: And when was that?
Aipolani: Back in the '80s I think it was.
BIW: Was there a concert or something going on down there?
Aipolani: Yah, yah. I think it was a concert for her son, a memorial for her son.
BIW: So what did you think of Miloli`i?
Aipolani: Well it tripped me out because the pigs over there are just like dogs. They go into the rubbish can and when you get up in the morning the pigs are right outside your door. First time I saw that for someone coming from Honolulu. Actually I was raised in Honolulu, but I'm from here, Keaukaha. Anyways, I also came back to Hawai`i Island because Honolulu was getting too crowded, and to get away from all the drugs, that's the lifestyle you know? Our kids are arriving now with the grandkids so hang on will yah? (Brother and Denise go greet the kids.)
BIW: Now Bruddah, you left to the mainland for a while, how come?
Aipolani: I needed a change. All my kids were all grown up already so my wife and I decided we would try something different.
BIW: How did you like it?
Aipolani: I loved it -- a different kind of beauty down there. But my kids were here and my grandkids were here and I wished they were up there so I got all homesick so we came home.
BIW: So how long were you up there?
Aipolani: Three years but I was homesick though. It was beautiful, but cold.
BIW: So how many kids do you have?
Aipolani: Two kids and 11 grandkids.
BIW: Dang, you two have been busy (directing my statement to the kids).
Aipolani: Yah, but what else is there to do in Hilo?
Denise: Read a good book.
Aipolani: You don't tell the kids to read a good book, come on. My family, they are all Hawaiians and all they do is entertain you know? My whole family sang. My sister won Merrie Monarch one year . . . my last name is actually supposed to be Kanakaole, my father was a Kanakaole, but he was hanaied by the Aipolani family . . . My grandmother was haole, Irish. When she passed away then my grandfather married again and then he had all these other kids with my other grandmother and then they took his rightful last name, BIW: Tell us more about how you got started in your music?
Aipolani: You know the Makaha Sons? We grew up with the Makaha family. I used to play music with Skippy, and he, my brothers and I use to perform at Pokai Bay Tavern, we recorded a song and then KCNN took us but then our manager got shot in the club where we was playin'.
BIW: What? What was that all about?
Aipolani: I don't know it was all over a $28 dollar tab . . . at the end of the night, when we was all ready to go, all I heard was a woman scream, "Oh my God he has a gun," but by the time I looked over, it was too late, the guy had his arm over the bar and shot my friend already . . . ''
BIW: What was the name of your group?
Aipolani: Akupalu
BIW: And the meaning of that is?
Aipolani: Chopped fish guts. Hawaiians eat that . . . So after our manager got shot, people would say, "See, see what happens when you go name the group dat kine name -- you want to see blood and guts?" I would say, "no, that's not why I named my group Akupalu, it was because we played all different kine music and everything was all mixed up.
BIW: Please tell me you changed the group's name after all that?
Aipolani: Yah we changed it. We continued to play and become popular without even having any recordings.
BIW: I understand that you had some bad dealings surrounding your music and its copyright. Can you tell us more about that?
Aipolani: When I was younger, and everybody started to take notice of my music, I was told that I would start being paid royalties. I didn't know about that kine stuff. Me, I'm so naive I thought I was just recording songs, and of course they're gonna play em' on the radio. But no, that is a whole different ball-game having your stuff played on the radio and then getting paid for your songs. I never knew that. So my manager told me, "Bruddah, you gotta go copyright your songs." Then I would say, "Oh, you can do that for me?" So the manager went off and took care of everything, come back and you look, eh he put his name next to the song. I wen write em and he has his name on it, written by: with his name first and then my name.
BIW: See what happens when you don't put that joint down long enough and take care of your own dealings/business?
Aipolani: Exactly. But til today, I still don't get nothing.
BIW: Isn't there a way you can switch this all around in your favor?
Aipolani: They tell me the only way I can do that is to take them to court. So I go see one lawyer and he said, "Waltah, I cannot help you because I represent your company.
BIW: Conflict of interest.
Aipolani: Yep. But I should be getting about a nickel for every time they play my music on the radio. You add all that up and that's a lot of money. But my lawyer told me what for do so I'm collaborating with a few of my guys right now.
See, that manager not only stole from me, but he is stealing from my family and my grandchildren.
BIW: That truly does suck. Your best bet is to go out and make more music bruddah. Isn't that what you are doing now?
Aipolani: Well, right now I am working on a Reggae album through Vegas; and here, I'm working on an all Hawaiian album.
Before, that is all I always wanted was to just wake up in the morning and hear my music on the radio. I've did that, over rated; now I want to see some money. You know the rich and the famous? Well, they can have their fame. That doesn't mean anything to me.
People can't believe I drive dakine car I drive. But it's the grandkids now I'm thinking about -- and my wife.
BIW: You will make a come-back, you'll see. But do us all a favor... read between the fine lines in the contract next time will yah?
Aipolani: Definitely.
Although bruddah has not titled any of his upcoming CD's as of yet, he is expected to release the Reggae album sometime this year and as for the Hawaiian album, "I'm just taking my sweet time on that one" he replies. To contact Bruddah Waltah for bookings or to find out more about our local hard-head, please contact Autumn Soares at (808)981-2680, fax (808)443-0884 or email bruddah at: walta001@hawaii.rr.com. You can also see him perform on Friday nights from 8-10pm at Shaka's in Pahoa and Tuesday, 6-9pm at Paradise Bar & Grill in Keaau.
kekoa75 wrote on Nov 3, 2008 11:15 AM: