Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 10, 1 October 2017 — Remembering a beloved brother and musician [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Remembering a beloved brother and musician

j HE HO'OMANA'O ^ > IN MEM0RIAM f

By Kanoe "Tootsie" Cazimero

Roland Cazimero

1950-2016

Roland Cazimero. - Photos: Courtesy

So many have expressed their thoughts about my brother, eloquently and in pidgin - or paid regards through music,

including Roland's own - that I have difficulty knowing where to begin, except at the beginning. Roland and I were born September 6, 1950. Everyone

except Mama thought she was having one big baby. But she knew there were two of us, and so did Tutu, who in a dream named us Kanoemaileokalani and Kanoeokalani - Maile,

feminine for me. Since birth we were nearly inseparable and always unique. We were typical kids in many ways, always kolohe.

fighting, laughing, teasing and playing around. But we did it together: sticking up for one another, crying, hiding when one or both of us did something wrong, and even taking the blame for eaeh other. Roland was street smart and

intuitively smart but didn't put a lot of stock in book smarts. We helped eaeh other through all of it. He was a natural musieian. Like our dad, my brother played guitar, bass, ukulele and tried his hand at Daddy's steel guitar, banjo and piano, whieh led to a bit of keyboard. It's funny, though, that his first formal instrument in band was the tuba. When it eame to singing, Roland was a bass. Yet he had an incredible vocal range. People said Robert had the golden voice that lilts with

natural and trained ease. But on everyone's favorites, such as "Kaena," it was Roland who hit those higher harmonies. Roland was the kindest person I ever knew. He went out of his way to do what he felt was right. Many people, and you know who you are, were beneficiaries of his kindness. If Roland were a plant, he would be bamboo - strong, able to endure even the harshest of winds because his resilience SEE R0LAND ON PAGE 17

Roland Cazimero and Cyril Pahinui in 201 4 at the Gabby Pahinui Waimōnalo Kanikapila. - Photo: Plaine Fergerstrom

Service A celebration of life forthe late Roland Cazimero will be held 0ct. 8 in the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Monarch Room, where he and his brother Robert headlined as the Brothers Cazimero from 1982 to 1994. Visitation is from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by music until 7 p.m. Robert Cazimero will be among the performers offering songs and reflections.

Na Mamo Makamae o Ka Po'e Hawai'i: Living Treasures of the Hawaiian People

R0LAND Continued from page 10 would stand him upright again and again. We were inseparable until Roland went to the mainland to enlist. Out of high school and on to careers, new interests and relationships, we became separated physically but never in spirit or intent of doing

what felt right and good. Life would bring us together in so many incredible ways. And incredibly, the one gift with whieh I was given at birth would be a lasting gift. Life fashioned us as twins. Thus I am you, you are me and forever we will be. ■ Kanoe "Tootsie" Cazimero wrote this tribute to her twin brother Roland Cazimero, who passed away on July 16 at the age of66.

Kanoe and Roland Cazimero.