User:Zanimum/Ben Hokea

In Honolulu, Hokea "had charge of the Y. M. C. A. orchestra under Paul Super."

In 1917, Hokea was a member of the Royal Hawaiians. Between appearances, Hokea was known to do solo performances.

Hokea's public performances in Toronto go back to at least 1918, when he performed ukulele in a Massey Hall variety show, "Fantasy of the Seasons". The next year, one of his recordings was available in the Victrola Department of Simpson's department store in Toronto, through His Master's Voice records. The 10-inch Double sided record included Hokea and Al Nani playing "Beautiful Ohio" and "Golden Gate", on "Hawaiian Guitars". He is credited as Ben Hokea and Bros. for a 1920 appearance. In 1923, he led a group of 25 Hawaiian ukulele and mandolin players at the Canadian National Exhibition on Music Day, in 1924, directed the De la Salle Stringed Orchestra, and in 1925, co-instructed the University of Toronto Stringed Instrument Club. He spent the summer playing at a resort in Winchester, Ontario. As of 1925, he had a six-man orchestra, and performed in Newmarket.

His radio broadcasts include CFCF (Montreal, 1931) called "Hawaiian Melodies", and CKAC (Montreal, 1931).

Releases

 * "Beautiful Ohio" and "Golden Gate" (HMV 216071), with Al Nani, 31 December 1919; in February, the record was given expanded promotion as "a sensational hit!"
 * An uncredited writer for The Ottawa Journal wrote: "So realistic are these that one immediately visualises the temperamental player."


 * "Imi au is oe", Ben Hokea, and "Kuu Loke", with Al Nani (HMV 216089), 1 March 1920


 * "My Isle of Golden Dreams" and "Missouri Waltz", both with Luther Kekoa (HMV 216100), His Master's Voice records, released 1 April 1920


 * "Hawaiian Nights" and "Sweet Hawaiian Moonlight", both with Al Nani (HMV 216096), 1 May 1920


 * "Kilima Waltz" and "Hokea Hula", both with Luther Kokea (HMV 216111), 1 June 1920


 * "Hilo March" and "Maid of Honolulu" as Ben Hokea Players (HMV 216116), 1 September 1920


 * "Hawaiian Medley Waltz" and "Ellis March", as Ben Hokea (HMV 216076), ca. February 1921


 * "Honolulu Nights" and "Dorothy", the introduction to "Dreamy Melody", as Ben Hokea (HMV 216445), 29 December 1923

Reception
Hokea's performance "brought down the house" at an event for the Canadian Machine Gun Corps in 1920.

"Mr. Hokea is a finished artist and under his clever handling the tonal beauty of a ukulele is properly brought out."

Personal life
Hokea's father was a Methodist minister.

In 1920, Hokea married Dorothy Shelton (b. 1902, daughter of Frank Shelton and Minnie Johnson), also of Toronto.

Taught by American and British teachers, Hokea spoke English and Hawaiian fluently, by the time he arrived in the United States.