A Hawaiian Life [Paperback]

George Kahumoku Jr. (Author), Paul Konwiser (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 27, 2000

George Kahumoku, Jr., the Hawaiian slack key guitar player, is a superb story teller. He has always wanted to write some of these stories down, and finally has. If you've had the opportunity to see George in concert, you may have heard some of them, or parts of them. They are highly personal, and distinctly Hawaiian. George was raised mostly by grandparents, and in some respects he is like a Hawaiian of a generation or two earlier. But he is also a thoroughly modern fellow who's traveled the world, played music for the Queen of England, and gotten a mainland college degree. He has even been known to carry around a notebook computer from time to time. These are tales of poverty and tough times that illustrate the difficulties of growing up Hawaiian in a modern western setting. But more than anything, these stories will make you laugh. This is principally because of George's sense of humor and his ability to overcome life's obstacles with an upbeat attitude and good grace and above all, a very traditional spirit of Aloha.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

George Kahumoku, Jr. was raised in the old ways, with a large family. He worked the land and the sea and grew up with the music of his people. By the time he was 12 years of age, he was playing professionally with the legendary and influential Kui Lee ("I'll Remember you" , "Lahainaluna", etc.). After graduating from the Kamehameha Schools in 1969, he went on to get a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Oakland's California College of Arts and Crafts. Not only has he achieved recognition and accolades for his music (Hoku awards in 1979 and 2000), and his art ( sculpture, etc.), but also for his skills and experience with the land, with several state-wide and national awards for farming. In 1993 he graduated from the Hawai'i State Agricultural Leadership Program. George is a community leader as well, working with children in native language studies, farming, and other programs, and teaches the Special Motivation Program at Lahainaluna High School. Auntie Nona Beamer has dubbed George "Hawai'i's Renaissance Man", because he is one ofthe few who still knows the old ways -- farming, fishing and herbs -- and can survive on the land, and yet gets up every morning and works the internet, fielding international requests for his CDs and performances.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Kealia Press (December 27, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970443404
• ISBN-13: 978-0970443403
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,018,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Hawaiian Life: A Most Captivating Biography, March 26, 2002

By 

Ozzie Kotani (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Hawaiian Life (Paperback)

I have always been an avid reader and credit that as the source of my strength in communicating ideas and concepts when I teach. "A Hawaiian Life" proved to be a most enjoyable reading experience for me - and not because of the inclusion of pidgin english which I am so familiar with - but more so because of the stories told. George Kahumoku Jr. has lived, as is living, an incredibly full life and Paul Konwiser has been able to capture, through first person narrative, some of the exceptional and wonderful experiences of George. The stories are a window into a lifestyle and are sprinkled with insights into the multi-cultural and multi-ethnic diversity that is unique to Hawaii. That alone, though, is not the allure or appeal of this biography. George has had EXTRAORDINARY experiences few, if any, of us will have. Each chapter is subtitled and "Almost Dead at Six Weeks Old" and "A Shark Attacks" may give you an idea of what I mean. Often humurous, at times touching and wonderfully illustrated by George, this book did what I want books to do - entertain and captivate me. Buy it today and ENJOY! I'll be waiting for more stories from Paul and George!!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book For Anyone Who Loves Hawai'i, January 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Hawaiian Life (Paperback)

"A Hawaiian Life" is a collection of stories from the daily experiences of a contemporary Hawaiian man, George Kahumoku Jr., a master slack key guitar player who has entertained all over the world. The stories are funny and unpretentious, such as an ahi (tuna) fishing disaster; teaching his son to be an entertainer; and adjusting (or not) to life in an elegant resort hotel. The book gives a generous view of a Hawai'i most people never get to see. Illustrated by the author, these allegorical tales are layered with meanings, often spiritual, and they resonate for a long time after being read.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More story George, please!, April 25, 2001

By 

Brian Rich (Peabody, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Hawaiian Life (Paperback)

The only bad thing about "A Hawaiian Life" is that it's over so quick. I could have read another 1000 pages of Mr. Hakumoku's story. For any Hawaiian at heart who longs for sitting down with a true Hawaiian and talking story, this is as good as it gets. A picture window into a lifestyle so far from what some of us are living today. Sit back with inu, kick off da kine slippas and escape brah. Feel Hawaiian for a while. Mahalo nui loa George!!