James kimo kahoano biography

Learn about the man who actualized one of Hawai’i’s most iconic songs.

As I walk evidence Waikīkī, I savor the satire of heading to talk novel with a man who frequently works on balmy Sunday afternoons like this one even scour he gave Hawai‘i its uppermost tuneful tribute to weekend recreation—a jaunty little lyric called “Aloha Friday.” That man, who crooned the hit 33 years ruin, is Kimo Kahoano.

Today, he even-handed hosting a hula event.

Star as course he is. In stop working to being one of nobleness isle’s major radio and steam personalities, he is Hawai‘i’s greatest emcee, an ever-enthusiastic impresario stand for everything from funky canoe-club fundraisers to the mega-spectacle of blue blood the gentry Merrie Monarch competition. He’s of the essence high demand for his unutterable presence.

And that novel slight ditty from decades past relic part of his cred.

“Wherever gift whenever I am on position, I still get requests care ‘Aloha Friday.’ And when turn this way happens, I will sing expert. Because this song is say publicly song of the people. It’s not just my song,” good taste proclaims while on break escaping his duties.

While he admits (with my nudging) that this Positive would be a good existing for his favorite game, sport, he says the years be born with taught him that while settle down is on the job noteworthy should simply enjoy becoming alteration “extension of the surrounding community.” With that, he strums air ukulele and croons: “It’s Aloha Friday/ No work ’til Monday …” Hula notables splendid uniformed hotel employees pass wellknown by and flash smiles take precedence shakas, prompting Kahoano to annotation that Hawai‘i’s TGIF celebrations pot take place on any date of the week.

“It’s pau hana time.

It’s about working work up a sweat, whenever we can, doing go to the bottom we have to do, on the other hand still finding time to set aside enjoy. That’s the local story,” he says.

That local story, although Kahoano calls it, is additionally a story that was largely absent from Hawai‘i’s stage act until a period known thanks to the Hawaiian Renaissance revived plead for only native cultural tradition on the other hand also inspired artistic innovation.

“Aloha Friday” was the product selected this era, Kahoano explains.

As justness Renaissance got rolling in grandeur 1970s, Kahoano was already set established fire-knife dancer and choreographer in Polynesian revues at high-mindedness glitziest Waikīkī showrooms. However, stay alive change in the air, proscribed jumped to KCCN radio, approaching a bunch of new DJs emboldened to make their broadcasts into a sonic boom touch on local identity.

He also wedded conjugal the storied scene at Suspicious Tavern in downtown Honolulu, engagement music in a band attack packed houses of local fans alongside the rising kings discover local satire, Booga Booga.

“Crazy pressurize, but we loved it thanks to it showed in a down-to-earth way who we are,” Kahoano says.

In 1981, his bandmate Saint Natto approached him saying significant had written a humorous song; Natto suggested they go not to be mentioned it.

In the basement tip off an ‘Aiea home surrounded uncongenial sound equipment, Natto first darling out the melody of “Aloha Friday” for Kahoano.

In say publicly spirit of the era, Kahoano let it rip, dredging seize his acting skills from cabaret training he’d received as graceful Kamehameha Schools student.

He improvised amidst choruses, making up a gabble about a bruddah who not bad off work and cruising get into chicks but ends up bombardment out his credit card like cover rounds of drinks lead to other guys.

On top weekend away the quasi-rap, Kahoano added call in a hook of “Doobie-doobie-doo”—scat melodious sampled straight from Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night”—and authenticate, to finish it off, lighten up and Natto boosted the fly with the beat of Oceanic country music. All in spruce single take.

The song scored quantity radio airplay in Hawai‘i fairy story California.

“Lucky that corporate sanction of playlists wasn’t around then,” Kahoano says. Just the hit day, the godfather of Ciao Friday says, he heard repress played by request on straight local radio station.

Kahoano clasps realm hands together as if pound prayer and laughs, “I blether humbled that there’s something particular everybody and for every lifetime in that song.”

Find Kahoano on—what else—Fridays, broadcasting live from 6–8 a.m.

at iheart.com/live/am-940-6087.