Henry Kaleialoha Allen, respected Hawaiian music artist and educator, passed away on December 24, 2022. His son, Aaron, has started his GoFundMe page to read through and perfect his father’s Hawaiian music study book Ukulele and Hawaiian Steel his guitar.
LAHAINA — When Henry Kaleialoha Allen passed away on December 24, 2022, the Hawaiian music community lost the legendary guitarist and educator.
Allen died at Maui Memorial Medical Center. He was 89 years old. He is survived by his wife Sheron and his children Shannon, Lanikai, Queenie and Aaron.
In recent years, Henry has performed on cruise ships, worked with Hawaiian Entertainment in Maryland, and performed at casinos and corporate luau events.
Aaron launches a Henry Kaley Aloha Allen tribute campaign on GoFundMe to raise $10,000. “…to commemorate Henry’s legacy to encourage young people and future generations of Hawaiian children to learn and love the music of their heritage and to perpetuate the art of the Hawaiian steel guitar.”
“Launched a GoFundMe page to continue and complete his Hawaiian music learning books on the ukulele and Hawaiian steel guitar. , was passionate about inspiring people to be proud.” Aaron explained.
Former West Maui County Councilman Jo Ann Johnson-Weiner has hosted arts education group summer music camps for children, his Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel, and Whalers. I worked with Henry on several music shows at the Village.
She helped out as the camp leader and collaborated with Sheron on some of the planning for the event.
“Henry always believed that the future of Hawaiian music, and the survival of the steel guitar in particular, depended on young musicians learning to love as much as he did. and wrote the music for the Hawaiian Steel Guitar, which is often given away free to schools and students.With Sheron’s help, he funded many of the materials used in these events and classes. I have applied for a grant for Johnson Weiner explained.
“Not only was he a talented performer, but he was also a patient teacher. I read sheet music, played steel guitar, and helped him understand the history and importance of keeping these musical traditions alive.The amount of time he spent transcribing and compiling material shows why he You can understand why he had so little time for performance.He sacrificed much of his career with Sherron to teach, write music, perpetuate Hawaiian music, and keep Hawaiian music alive after him. I let it continue.”
Aaron said music education was important to fathers because he saw many of this generation lose interest in Hawaiian music and learn to play and read music properly.
“He could write and read music, which helped him in all genres of music. It gave him a lot of opportunities that other Hawaiian musicians didn’t have.” he added.
Among many other accolades, Henry received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawaii Recording Arts Academy in 2015. She has also been awarded the title of Master Teacher by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Artists and the Foundation for the Arts and Culture.
Henry was born on June 1, 1933 in Hilo, Hawaii to Martha and Henry Allen. He grew up in the Manoa Valley.
He was inspired to study music by his great-grandfather William Merceberg, who was appointed by King Kamehameha III to serve as bandleader of the King’s Royal Band (now known as the Royal Hawaiian Band).
He entered the professional music world at the age of 13. After graduating from McKinley High School in 1952, at age 15 Henry moved to Honolulu where he played guitar in the Policeman’s Glee Club and the Gonzales Brothers Troop. This quickly got him playing with Sterling Mothman, Bernie Isaacs and Alfred Aholoapaka at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.
He went to Los Angeles to study music theory and harmony, as well as reading and writing music, but Alfred Apaca persuaded Henry to join the Alec Keck Quartet, the Richard Kawhi Quartet, the Benny Sachs Quartet, Martin – Returned to Waikiki’s thriving music scene with Denny’s Band.
He later landed in West Maui and played three years at Lahaina Wharf.
In the 1970s Henry produced dinner and dance music in three Maui showrooms. After that, he founded the Hawaiian Music Institute and the School of Music, founded Rainbow Records, wrote songs and recorded albums, published an important book on Hawaiian music and songs used in the education of students, and kept busy. We continued to perform on a regular schedule. .
From 2012 to 2015, he worked on entertainment productions for several cruise lines around the Hawaiian Islands, before producing cultural programs in Hawaii and French Polynesia on board Holland America Cruise Lines ships.
In a 2015 interview, Henry said, “Golden age” Hawaii and legendary artists.
“[The music scene in Hawaii]is going in a very different direction. Is it music you can listen to? No more finesse. He said.
“I am grateful that I was a big part of Hawaii’s ‘golden age’. Back then, every true music legend had its own showroom. The hotels on each island had wonderful Hawaiian performers and concerts, and the hotels hired and paid for them. They do well because of their talent.
Aaron remembers his father as follows. “Soft-spoken, but a perfectionist when it comes to music and playing. Kind and generous.”
Johnson Weiner will remember Henry as his best friend.
“He is one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever met and together he and Sheron made the perfect couple. bottom.” she pointed out.
“I have almost all of Henry’s CDs and some of his material and music and cherish them. played Jim’s favorite music at his funeral at the Makawao Veterans Cemetery.Henry was not only the one I worked with, but a true friend who will forever remain in my heart and thoughts.
