Remembering Robbie Kaholokula

Hundreds gathered at Kauai Veterans Center recently to celebrate the life of Robert “Robbie” Lemmon Kaholokula, an extraordinarily talented but humble man with a heart of gold.

It was also a chance for fellow musicians, friends and fans to honor and pay their respects to Kauai’s renowned Kaholokula family for their contributions over the decades to Hawaii’s music and culture.

Multi-talented James Kalei “Jimmy” Kaholokula was a noted composer, musician and woodworker. He founded the group, Na Kaholokula, with his sons Robbie and Kimo and brother-in- law Harold Kama.

Jimmy composed the hauntingly lovely “Pua Olena,” which many consider the group’s signature song. It has since been recorded by numerous other Hawaii performers.

“It was a different time,” Kimo says.

The second Hawaiian renaissance of music and culture was in full swing and many notable groups had sprung up, among them the Sunday Manoa, Brothers Cazimero, Hui Ohana, Makaha Sons of Niihau and Gabby Pahinui.

“We were on stage with well-known artists like Gabby, the Cazimeros, Hui Ohana, the Makaha Sons,” Kimo said.

One thing their father taught them was to be confident about their abilities and not worry about who was in the audience. But he also insisted they be humble or he’d “slap their head.”

“My dad was a perfectionist,” Kimo says, sharing the following story to illustrate.

When Rob was still 11, he told his father he’d like to cut an album.

“Are you sure?” their dad asked, and both sons said, yes, they were sure. “That was a mistake that turned out well,” Kimo laughs.

“For seven months we rehearsed, seven straight months,” he remembers. “There were times when Robbie went upstairs crying. Dad and I would finish work, come home and we would rehearse for three, four, five hours.”

It paid off, though. They did finish the album, one of four the group did with their father.

When Jimmy retired and handed the group to his sons, they released a fifth album. Many of Jimmy’s original compositions are featured in their albums.

Over the years, the group grew, members came and went. In addition to Jimmy, Kimo, Robbie and Harold Kama on bass, Nathan Pikini, Edward Kaiwi, Raymond Duarte and Jonah Cummings also were longtime members.

Robbie became the leader of the group when his dad stepped down.

“I didn’t want the job,” Kimo said.

“Robbie was very much a perfectionist himself. When we stepped on the stage, we had everything set from what we said to what we played. It might have looked like it came off the top but everything was carefully rehearsed,” Kimo said.

As important as Na Kaholokula was to Robbie, the love of his life has always been his family: his wife Puamohala and their children, Baron and Lei Ui.

Pua got involved with Na Kaholokula as a dancer through her teacher’s halau. The group played for their halau and her position with the halau was such that she took care of coordinating rehearsals.

Jimmy, however, had a strict rule that girlfriends could not perform with the band or coordinate rehearsals. Pua was not allowed to perform with them.

Jimmy held fast to his rule but eventually relented when Robbie wanted to put together a Christmas program for Sheraton Coconut Beach Hotel. Surprised when he granted permission, Pua started rehearsing with them and enhanced the Na Kaholokula’s shows with her elegant, graceful dancing style from then on.

“What Robbie wanted for the music was to showcase the talents of each person. When he saw something he wanted to implement it, whether something in the dance itself, or everything that goes on in the music, even the things you cannot hear,” Pua said.

She, too, agrees fondly that he was a perfectionist.

“We had a great time performing as a group,” she said. “Robbie was proud of what we accomplished. His standard of music was excellence. While he was very proud of every member who has come into the band, he demanded excellence from everyone.”

Robbie also started Pua Olena Recording, and eventually composed the music he heard in his head, using computer technology. “He had a true ear for music,” his wife says proudly.

He was always willing to help other and recorded several projects for well-known entertainers in his studio.

“When people asked for advice, he would share what he had to try to guide them. He never would discourage them, just encourage them, telling them though, ‘If you’re going to do that, you must make a commitment to your culture and to your music.’”

Robbie also worked with the Office of Economic Development as a tourism specialist and was director of the Kauai Museum.

Pua also started her own halau. “Halau Mohala O Ka Pua Hau Hele, or the bud of the crawling hau, was the name given to my halau by my father-in-law,” Pua says.

Robbie’s children are continuing the family’s commitment to music while pursuing their own dreams.

Lei Ui Choy is an accomplished dancer and a “heckuva drummer,” according to her Uncle Kimo. Her father taught her how to play the drums.

She works for Channel 4 KITV, something she has always dreamed of doing. Her mom says she is a natural in front of the camera.

Lei Ui and her husband, Kaha’i Choy, just welcomed their first child, Caleb, Robbie’s first grandchild.

Baron is a history major with a minor in political science.

“He is much like dad,” his mom says, and hears the music in his head. Some say his voice is much like his dad’s as well. He is working with his cousin’s Malu Productions, helping them manage shows.

Pua says that Robbie was very proud to see Baron grow so much musically. Baron and Lei Ui have worked on several joint projects.

“Robbie and I were best friends,” Pua says. “We did everything together from the time we started as a duo. We were fortunate to have his mom living with us after his dad passed on because it allowed us to have that time together.”

It was she who encouraged him to teach ukulele to hula students. “You need to leave behind your style of ukulele,” she told him. He had a a style unique to him.

Robbie said once in an interview about Valentine’s Day that he tries to do something for Pua every day, not just on Valentine’s Day.

“We were very close,” Pua says. “But I think I was the one who was blessed.”

Robert “Robbie” Lemmon Kaholokula is also survived by brothers Jimmy Fujita and Jordan Kahananui.

“My husband was very proud of being a Kauai boy,” his wife said.

Robbie Kaholokula will forever be missed by the island he loved and its people.

Aloha, Robbie.

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Rita De Silva is a former editor of The Garden Island and a Kapaa resident.