Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 1, 1 January 2017 — Aloha ʻOe, Palani Vaughan [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Aloha ʻOe, Palani Vaughan

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ByTreenaShapiro Outpourings of grief and love flowed from all corners last month as news about Palani Vaughan's passing spread across the islands. Frank Palani Vaughan, Jr., 72, was a legend in Hawaiian music, immediately recognizable for his rich baritone, as well as for thick "mutton ehop" sideburns that recalled King Kalākaua. Also a scholar and historian, Vaughan is credited with renewing interest in Merrie Monarch Kalākaua through the four alhum series Iā 'Oe E Ka Lā. The third alhum in that series captured Nā Hōkū Hanohano's first award for Hawaiian Alhum of the Year in 1978. The fourth earned him a Nā Hōkū award for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1981. Emerging as a musician and eomposer during the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1970s, Vaughan was a pioneer in Hawaiian nationalist music who inspired others to reclaim their culture and identity. "He loved his people, our ali'i and

these islands. He was steadfast and dignified to the last in land disputes, and for our lāhui Hawai'i," the Vaughan 'ohana said in a written statement. "He was a great teacher nurtured by great teachers, and touched so many with his words, his spirit. He was selfless, ha'aha'a, believed in prayer, loved

and cared for our kūpuna. He listened to their voices on the wind, shared their lessons, and ensured they will always be heard and carried on." Born on May 27, 1944, in Honolulu, Vaughan attended Kamehameha Schools, where he formed a duo with classmate SamKapu, Jr. While studying at the University of Hawai'i, Vaughan met Peter Moon. Along with Cyril Pahinui and Albert "Baby" Kalima, they formed The Sunday Manoa. Their

debut alhum, "Meet Palani Vaughan and The Sunday Manoa," was released in 1967. After a break to join the Hawai'i National Guard during the Vietnam War, Vaughan formed the "King's Own" and recorded the series honoring King Kalākaua and the Hawaiian monarchy. Vaughan's musical career spanned four decades. In recent years, he was among the many celebrated island musicians and students featured in powerful music videos: Project KULEANA's "Kaulana Nā Pua," a mele opposing annexation, and Mana Maoli's "Hawai'i Aloha." "Unele Palani Vaughan's inAuenee on not just Hawaiian charter school and Mana Mele youth, but on the history and future of Hawaiian music, culture and politics, was profound and everlasting," read a Facebook post from Mana Mele on Dec. 9. Vaughan was honored with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 and two years later was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. ■

He loved his people, our ali'i and these islands." — Vaughan 'ohana

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Photo: Kai Maikell