Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 21, Number 9, 1 September 2004 — Chicago ʻukulele club spreads aloha [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Chicago ʻukulele club spreads aloha

By Carol \wata with Hifumi Sato Recently, after performing on a loeal television show, several members of the Nā Kūpuna 'Ukulele Club stepped into a parking garage elevator. In walked a Sikh gentleman. With a smile, he said, "Aloha." Several hours later, outside a restaurant, a Latino man pushing his mother in a wheelchair smiled and said, "Aloha." It is this kind of warmth and friendliness that the Nā Kūpuna 'Ukulele Club engenders from the people of Chicago whenever they're out and about ... just walking down the street or performing. With their aloha attire, friendly smiles and wonderful playing, singing and dancing, people are naturally drawn to them. Who are the Nā Kūpunas and how did they get started? It all began with a woman named Helen Kuwashima. She was born and raised on the mainland and married a Maui boy, Hiro. Currently in her early 70s, Helen attended a birthday party in 1997 where some of the partygoers sang Hawaiian, Japanese and American songs accompanied by the 'ukulele. She enjoyed it so mueh that she discussed the possibility of getting together to learn to play with a few people. They contacted Calvin Lee, who volunteered to teach the group. Thus, on April 1, 1997, the Nā Kūpuna 'Ukulele Club of Chicago was born in a church gym, with a small group made up of retired seniors from Hawai'i, Sāmoa and the mainland. The majority of the group, who had never played the 'ukulele before, eame with eheap, plastic 'ukuleles. As membership increased to more than

50 through word of mouth, they moved to their current location at the Japanese American Service Committee building where practice is every Wednesday ... rain, snow or shine. As the group leamed to play through Calvin's guidanee and as they gained confidence and advanced in their leaming, many bought Kamaka 'ukuleles; a few already had Martin ukes. Several female members found that they also had another talent, hula dancing, whieh has heeome a part of their act. With their baritone, tenor, concert and soprano ukes, the Nā Kūpunas have graduated from an untrained group of seniors to polished performers. They have added a guitar, harmonica and ipu heke to the mix. Their first performance was at the Kona Kai Marriott Hotel in 1997. Since then, they have performed at many venues and are a great hit wherever they play, especially at senior centers. They have been featured in the loeal PBS series "Wikl Chiccigo," a Chicago version of "The Howaiian Moving Compcmy," and have been written up in several loeal papers. Recently, they were honored by being picked as one of 21 acts to open the new Millenium Park in Chicago. Most in the group say when they joined the Nā Kūpuna 'Ukulele Club,

their intent was to leam the 'ukulele; however, as the years have passed, they've eome to cherish the friendships they've made and the fellowship the group provides in their lives. As Helen tells everyone (and the will agree), the glue of this group is Calvin B. Lee Jr., their instructor. Calvin, 65 years old and halfHawaiian, was born and raised in Kaka'ako, O'ahu. Although his father was a musician, Calvin never learned the 'ukulele growing up. Wanting to see snow, he eame to Chicago in 1961 and has made it his home since. When he arrived in Chicago, other Hawaiians who performed in the area kept asking him if he sang and played the 'ukulele. After being used as a "prop" in loeal Hawaiian shows, he decided to learn the 'ukulele. Asking his father to send him a chord chart, 'ukulele manuals and songs, he self-taught himself into a very good player. It is this self-taught knowledge that he brought to the Nā Kūpunas, along with his endless patience and good humor. Calvin epitomizes the essence of the Hawaiian spirit, and having him as the focal point of the group brings them such legitimacy. Many of us Hawai'i expats spread our aloha spirit in different ways. The Nā Kūpunas have done it in the most wonderfully puhlie way: by sharing their music. Carol Iwcitci, the seif-designated " mciscot " of the Nā Kūpuna 'Ukulele Club, is originally from Kaua 'i. She has lived in Chicago since the early 1970s. Hifumi Sato, also from Kaua'i, has lived in the Windy City since 1952. lf you are a Hawaiian on the continent with an interesting story to tell, or ifyou know ofone, please contact OHA Outreach Coordinator Aulani Apoliona at 808-594-1912, or e-mail aulania@oha.org. ■

The 'ukulele club at the opening of Millenium Park.