Koko Kanealiʻi
I was born on Oʻahu in the sleepy village of Kalihi to Roger Moʻikeha and Rena Liliha Kanealiʻi. Musical diversity was all around us in the neighborhood.
My interest in show business started with a Christmas play in Kindergarten at the Salvation Army School in Damon Tract. On show night a few members of the cast were sick and couldn’t make it. The teacher asked if anyone knew any of the parts and I said I did. For some strange reason I had memorized the whole show and knew all the parts.
One of my biggest musical influences was the St. John’s Drum and Bugle Corps – Knight’s of Kalihi. This is where my interest in drums started at age 13. The Corps was a military style of discipline of drills and ceremonies, and rudimental drumming. The Corps performed in many parades and at the old Honolulu Stadium (the Termite Palace). My first instructors were Sgt. John Dela Cruz, Hawaiʻi National Guard, and Hank Kukono, Sr., a champion rudimental drummer of Kanaka Maoli descent. The drumming style was ensemble; snare, tenor, bass and cymbals. The Corps taught us discipline, precision, team work and the skills needed to play in an ensemble. The discipline and training laid the foundation for my versatility as a drummer.
In 1962 my family moved to Kaneohe and I participated in band at J.B. Castle High School for a year, where I had my first taste of a full five piece drum set. The following year I played in a power trio called Danny and the Dukes at the military bases on Oʻahu. We played rock, blues and country.
At 15 I was the drummer in a band called The 5 Psychos with Frank Estrella on saxophone, woodwinds and vocals, Victor Sagpang on brass and vocals, Danny Boynton on guitar, bass lead vocals ~ he could play any instrument, and Merle McKillip on bass and guitar. We played at various military bases – Guam, Johnson Island, Taiwan, Philippines and Japan, at the first young adult cabaret in Hawaiʻi, The Hoot!, and gigs in Waikīkī at Fat City, The Mist, Betty Reilly’s A Go Go, The Morgue, and Don the Beachcomber. We were also fortunate to play with Kui Lee at Kanaka Pete’s in Lahaina.
I graduated from Castle High School in 1965 and in 1966 I was drafted into the Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Back on Oʻahu in 1969 I started doing studio work at Sounds of Hawaiʻi, and I joined a band called The Tradewinds with Donald Oda – guitar, Greg (Pugs) Ho - bass and vocals, and Milton Koja – lead vocals, B3 organ. We played a regular gig at Rudy’s in Ewa Beach. One night Zulu’s (Kono, Hawaiʻi 5-0) manager came in and offered the band a job as his opening act at Queen’s Surf. This was a huge opportunity. On occasion I would fill in when Zulu’s drummer wasn’t there. I also played upstairs at the Barefoot Bar with Sterling Mossman.
In 1970 Iva Kinimaka asked me to join his band at Duke’s, we played after Don Ho’s 2nd show was done. Louis Williams was on bass, Lee Mueller on lead guitar, and Iva on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. He is one of the best all-around entertainers I’ve ever worked with.
Don Ho made me an offer I couldn’t refuse in 1971, but I respectfully turned him down 2 times until I was ready for the big time. The thought of going from a power quartet to a 32 piece orchestra was a bit intimidating. He put the business in show and ran a tight ship; I learned so much from him. I was with him for 2 amazing years. From Augusto Colon, Johnny Todd and Danny Barcelona I learned how to be a musician, not just a drummer.
In 1973 I was part of the house band at the Garden Bar in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a gig that lasted for 6 years until I moved to Kauaʻi in 1979.
Between 1973 and 1979 I also had the privilege of playing with some of the great showroom and lounge acts in Waikīkī – Loyal and Kimo Garner in the Prow Lounge at the Sheraton Waikiki, Nephi Hannemann, Jimmy Borges, Betty Lou Taylor, Melveen Leed, Jeff Apaka, Jan Brenner, Rene Paulo, Rod Young, and the Compton Brothers, Tony, Norman and Gary, to name a few.
In 1979 I took a one month leave of absence from the Garden Bar to play a gig with Al Morales and Phillip Akau at the Poʻipū Beach Hotel. I decided to stay on Kauaʻi after meeting up with my ‘ohana.
On the island I played with Larry Rivera, Titus Kinimaka, and Kalani Flores, a very talented musician I knew on Oʻahu. I was a DJ at KIVM that would eventually become KONG. This training taught me how to become an MC. I’ve worked at Smith’s Tropical Paradise, in a band on the cruise ship The Independence, was a member of Kauaʻi Community Players, played in the orchestra for the production of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and MC’d Koloa Plantation Days for many years. I currently MC May Day by the Bay.
1992 was the year of Hurricane 'Iniki and that’s when Kanakattack started with Darryl Gonzales and Norman Kaʻawa Solomon, and myself. Our first regular gig was at Side Out in Kapaʻa. I lost my drum set in the hurricane so that’s when I switched to playing the bass and congas.
1992 was also the year the Honeymoon in Vegas was filmed on Kauaʻi. I was fortunate to have a small part in it.
In 1995 I was part of a quartet called Momentum that played jazz/funk at Stevenson’s Library at the Grand Hyatt with Mike Latif, Helen Turner and Jeff Iglesia.
Over the ensuing years KanakAttack played together at various gigs, but not on a regular basis. From 2007 to 2016 Darryl and I played a steady gig 2 nights a week at Tahiti Nui as Kanakattack. There is no other live entertainment venue like it that exists today in Hawaiʻi. While we were there in 2009 the movie The Descendants came to film in Hanalei and we were fortunate to be featured in the scene from Tahiti Nui.
From 2015 to 2017 I was also playing in a trio with Paul Kaiminaʻauao and Chad Pa at Kalypso in Hanalei, and then at Hanalei Bay Resort's Happy Talk Lounge.
Live venues for Hawaiian/Island Music are far and few between these days outside of Waikīkī. It's difficult to make a living as a full-time musician. With this website I hope to create an avenue for the music, arts and entertainment on Kauaʻi.
I was born on Oʻahu in the sleepy village of Kalihi to Roger Moʻikeha and Rena Liliha Kanealiʻi. Musical diversity was all around us in the neighborhood.
My interest in show business started with a Christmas play in Kindergarten at the Salvation Army School in Damon Tract. On show night a few members of the cast were sick and couldn’t make it. The teacher asked if anyone knew any of the parts and I said I did. For some strange reason I had memorized the whole show and knew all the parts.
One of my biggest musical influences was the St. John’s Drum and Bugle Corps – Knight’s of Kalihi. This is where my interest in drums started at age 13. The Corps was a military style of discipline of drills and ceremonies, and rudimental drumming. The Corps performed in many parades and at the old Honolulu Stadium (the Termite Palace). My first instructors were Sgt. John Dela Cruz, Hawaiʻi National Guard, and Hank Kukono, Sr., a champion rudimental drummer of Kanaka Maoli descent. The drumming style was ensemble; snare, tenor, bass and cymbals. The Corps taught us discipline, precision, team work and the skills needed to play in an ensemble. The discipline and training laid the foundation for my versatility as a drummer.
In 1962 my family moved to Kaneohe and I participated in band at J.B. Castle High School for a year, where I had my first taste of a full five piece drum set. The following year I played in a power trio called Danny and the Dukes at the military bases on Oʻahu. We played rock, blues and country.
At 15 I was the drummer in a band called The 5 Psychos with Frank Estrella on saxophone, woodwinds and vocals, Victor Sagpang on brass and vocals, Danny Boynton on guitar, bass lead vocals ~ he could play any instrument, and Merle McKillip on bass and guitar. We played at various military bases – Guam, Johnson Island, Taiwan, Philippines and Japan, at the first young adult cabaret in Hawaiʻi, The Hoot!, and gigs in Waikīkī at Fat City, The Mist, Betty Reilly’s A Go Go, The Morgue, and Don the Beachcomber. We were also fortunate to play with Kui Lee at Kanaka Pete’s in Lahaina.
I graduated from Castle High School in 1965 and in 1966 I was drafted into the Army and served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Back on Oʻahu in 1969 I started doing studio work at Sounds of Hawaiʻi, and I joined a band called The Tradewinds with Donald Oda – guitar, Greg (Pugs) Ho - bass and vocals, and Milton Koja – lead vocals, B3 organ. We played a regular gig at Rudy’s in Ewa Beach. One night Zulu’s (Kono, Hawaiʻi 5-0) manager came in and offered the band a job as his opening act at Queen’s Surf. This was a huge opportunity. On occasion I would fill in when Zulu’s drummer wasn’t there. I also played upstairs at the Barefoot Bar with Sterling Mossman.
In 1970 Iva Kinimaka asked me to join his band at Duke’s, we played after Don Ho’s 2nd show was done. Louis Williams was on bass, Lee Mueller on lead guitar, and Iva on rhythm guitar and lead vocals. He is one of the best all-around entertainers I’ve ever worked with.
Don Ho made me an offer I couldn’t refuse in 1971, but I respectfully turned him down 2 times until I was ready for the big time. The thought of going from a power quartet to a 32 piece orchestra was a bit intimidating. He put the business in show and ran a tight ship; I learned so much from him. I was with him for 2 amazing years. From Augusto Colon, Johnny Todd and Danny Barcelona I learned how to be a musician, not just a drummer.
In 1973 I was part of the house band at the Garden Bar in the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a gig that lasted for 6 years until I moved to Kauaʻi in 1979.
Between 1973 and 1979 I also had the privilege of playing with some of the great showroom and lounge acts in Waikīkī – Loyal and Kimo Garner in the Prow Lounge at the Sheraton Waikiki, Nephi Hannemann, Jimmy Borges, Betty Lou Taylor, Melveen Leed, Jeff Apaka, Jan Brenner, Rene Paulo, Rod Young, and the Compton Brothers, Tony, Norman and Gary, to name a few.
In 1979 I took a one month leave of absence from the Garden Bar to play a gig with Al Morales and Phillip Akau at the Poʻipū Beach Hotel. I decided to stay on Kauaʻi after meeting up with my ‘ohana.
On the island I played with Larry Rivera, Titus Kinimaka, and Kalani Flores, a very talented musician I knew on Oʻahu. I was a DJ at KIVM that would eventually become KONG. This training taught me how to become an MC. I’ve worked at Smith’s Tropical Paradise, in a band on the cruise ship The Independence, was a member of Kauaʻi Community Players, played in the orchestra for the production of Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, and MC’d Koloa Plantation Days for many years. I currently MC May Day by the Bay.
1992 was the year of Hurricane 'Iniki and that’s when Kanakattack started with Darryl Gonzales and Norman Kaʻawa Solomon, and myself. Our first regular gig was at Side Out in Kapaʻa. I lost my drum set in the hurricane so that’s when I switched to playing the bass and congas.
1992 was also the year the Honeymoon in Vegas was filmed on Kauaʻi. I was fortunate to have a small part in it.
In 1995 I was part of a quartet called Momentum that played jazz/funk at Stevenson’s Library at the Grand Hyatt with Mike Latif, Helen Turner and Jeff Iglesia.
Over the ensuing years KanakAttack played together at various gigs, but not on a regular basis. From 2007 to 2016 Darryl and I played a steady gig 2 nights a week at Tahiti Nui as Kanakattack. There is no other live entertainment venue like it that exists today in Hawaiʻi. While we were there in 2009 the movie The Descendants came to film in Hanalei and we were fortunate to be featured in the scene from Tahiti Nui.
From 2015 to 2017 I was also playing in a trio with Paul Kaiminaʻauao and Chad Pa at Kalypso in Hanalei, and then at Hanalei Bay Resort's Happy Talk Lounge.
Live venues for Hawaiian/Island Music are far and few between these days outside of Waikīkī. It's difficult to make a living as a full-time musician. With this website I hope to create an avenue for the music, arts and entertainment on Kauaʻi.