Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 29, Number 8, 1 August 2012 — Bassist 'set the standard for isle musicians' [ARTICLE]

Bassist 'set the standard for isle musicians'

The infectious smile of an amazing musician lives now only in our collective memory. At the young age of 51, after three-plus decades of making music, John Kapualani Koko, bassist of the Mākaha Sons passed away on June 25. Koko's career in music began, at age 12, playing stand up bass with a band called Nā Leo O Nānākuli, performing at the Sheraton Mākaha hotel. From those first years to his last gig, his attitude remained the same. He said he believed that "singing to one person or thousands, the music and the energy needed to be the same, full-on." In 1982 he joined his brother, Jerome Koko, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole in the hnal version of the Mākaha Sons of Ni'ihau. Many Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards followed. After "Bruddah Iz" went solo in 1993, the trio heeame the Mākaha Sons, continuing to win Nā Hōkū awards and, in 2010, the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award. A fan on the continent, Penny Jacobs, emailed: "I heard the Mākaha Sons first on an American Hawai'i Cruises Hawaiian Heritage cruise. Then I got SamChoy's Lū'au eookhook with the Mākaha Son's CD in the back. I put it on, and it takes me to Hawai'i. I eook a liūle and cry a liūle." Making music for a packed house at Carnegie Hall in New York City, performing for President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, or entertaining a few thousand fans at the annual Slack Key Guitar Festival in Kapi'olani Park, Koko's enthusiasm and smile was contagious. After the last "hana hou" at any performance he would walk off stage and circle around to shake some hands, give some hugs and kiss a eheek or two. Most often the folks he greeted were strangers who caught his smile from the stage. John Berger, a music critic who is updating the 1979 hookHawaiian Music and Musicians, described Koko as the "beloved bassist who set the standard for isle musicians." Despite a long history of heart problems, Koko shared his time and talent with many young musicians, inspiring them to keep making music. His big heart and love for life continues through his music and his wife, four sons and two grandchildren. There will be two puhlie viewings, on Friday, Aug. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Aug. 1 1, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mililani MortuaryWaipi'o, mauka ehapel. Services will be held on Saturday, after the viewing. — Lynn Cook

J HE HO'OMANA'O V " IN MEM0RIAM "

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