Lifetime Achievement Award For Keith And Carmen

[George Keoki Lake]

I have just learned that my good friends, Keith & Carmen Haugen will be honored by the Music Foundation of Hawai`i among the first recipients of the foundation's First Annual Legacy Awards in honor of their "lifetime achievement" as a musical group in Hawai`i. The foundation indicated that the honor will be presented at the 9th Annual Music of Hawai`i awards ceremony next month.

Keith's involvement in Hawaiian music began in 1960 in Japan when he put aside his brass valve instruments in favor of singing and playing `ukulele with a Hawaiian combo called "The Islanders."

Carmen's involvement began in 1970, when Keith often called her up to sing and dance at his shows. In 1972, when she was studying hula under Kumu Hula Hu`i Park (at Aunty Genoa Keawe's Hula Studio), Carmen joined Keith in performances at the old Kuhio Hotel, then the "in spot" for Hawaiian music in the Islands. Over the next 32 years, K&C performed as a duo, trio, quartet, in Waikiki, and during that time performed in many countries, Mainland cities, many neighbor island venues, luxury liners and cruise ships, radio, and television in half a dozen countries. Their 17 years at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel is a record -- the longest run of any act in that famous hotel's history. Only Don Ho and the Society of Seven have performed continually in Waikiki for more years than K&C.

Carmen is one of the few living Hawaiians to have performed for Royalty. In 1977, she was chosen to dance for HRH Queen Sirikit of Thailand, in the Bangkok Palace, on the occasion of the Queen's 45th birthday.

During the past 35 years, this husband and wife duo has helped many young groups just starting out -- including such well known acts as the Makaha Sons of Ni`ihau, Waimanalo Keikis, Holomua, `Aina, and more. They have performed with groups such as the Sons of Hawai`i, Na Kaholokula, and promoted many other artists, including Na Kaholokula, The Lim Family, and most recently Brittni Paiva. Whenever possible, Keith will use a steel guitarist with their act. I have enjoyed that privilage for many years. (Keith actually received steel guitar lessons from Jerry Byrd back in the mid seventies!)

Keith and Carmen have devoted most of their adult lives to research, writing, composing, translating, teaching Hawaiian language, music and hula, and producing and hosting radio and television shows devoted to the traditional music of Hawai`i. Now "semi-retired," they continue to host the award-winning "Music of Hawai`i" program on KIPO, promoting the many artists who record authentic Hawaiian music, and writing a Hawaiian music column, "Ke Mele Hawai`i," for Oceanic-Time Warner.

Carmen is now a member of Ka Pa Hula Hawai`i, under Kumu Hula Kaha`i Topolinski, and Keith still teaches Hawaiian language part-time, while writing a book on the history of Hawaiian music.

"Ke Aolama," the first-ever Hawaiian language radio newscast, and "The Hawaiian Word of the Day," were both started in 1994 by Keith on Hawai`i Public Radio. Both award-winning radio featurs are still heard Monday through Fridays on Hawaiian Public Radio. Keith hosted such shows as "60 Seconds of Hawaiiana" on KITV News, the "Hawaiian Renaissance" on KHVH Radio; "The History of Hawaiian Music," which aired on about a dozen local stations in the 1970s; and other Hawaiian music programs that were aired by NPR and PRI on hundreds of stations all over the country.

Some of their original compositions have been recorded by such notable artists as Led Ka`apana, Ohta-san, Pierre Grill, John Rowles, The Lim Family, Rhonda, The Patriots, Diana Aki, Japan's Agnes Kimura, and many more. Two of Keith's compositions have been performed as theme songs in Aloha Bowl half-time shows.

Among their many awards is the prestigeous Aloha Spirit Award from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai`i for his patriot songs, and first place in the 1993 Ho`okuku Mele, songwriting contest, sponsored by the Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Band.

They have produced dozens of recordings, one of which, the CD "UKULELE LADY" I had the privilage of playing steel. The duo have won both Music of Hawai`i and Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

The award will be presented on March 18, 2006. Congratulations Keith and Carmen !!!

[Don Kona Woods]

Keoki,

You have done a masterful job presenting two wonderful people from Hawaii that I only had the privilege of meeting last May, 2005.

Bo and Betty Bahret took Joan and I to where Keith and Carmen were performing and we were able to meet them as well as talk story.

Yes, and they were helping Gordon Freitas who already is a talented singer and guitarist get started on the Hawaiian steel guitar.

They later came personally to support me and several other HSGA steel guitarists when we were playing at the Ward Warehouse during the afternoon Sunday performance.

They are so special. Thanks again for posting this.

Aloha,
Don

[George Keoki Lake]

Keith has my un-ending admiration for his amazing talents....as a writer of over 100 Hawaiian songs, reporter, musician, author and a master of the Hawaiian language. The latter is what truly amazes me. He is haole, raised in MN, (just below the Canadian border), was in the US Military at which time he was posted to Hawai'l before duty in Japan. His love for everything Hawaiian is evident in the fact he studied the Hawaiian language, is able to converse fluently with Hawaiians in THEIR language and also teaches Hawaiians THEIR language...not bad for a haole boy!
Carmen is an exceptional hula dancer, both ancient and modern. She is well known in the islands for her unique "sitting" hula which has to be seen to be appreciated.
Keith has encouraged not only myself, but many other steel players, not the least of which is Gordon Freitas who possesses an amazing natural talent on the steel guitar.
It pleases me no end that he is in line for the award.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by George Keoki Lake on 12 February 2006 at 12:01 AM.]</p></FONT>

[George Keoki Lake]

Here is the complete, alphabetical list of the Hawaii Music Awards, to be awarded next month. Keith and Carmen are honored to be among those being recognized along with Manny Fernandez (Ray "Skip" Montee on steel)... and talk about being in good company...WOW!
Among the winners being feted by the Music Foundation of Hawai`i this year are Don Ho, the late Jerry Byrd, Led Ka`apana, Jimmy Borges, Betty Loo Taylor, Keali`i Reichel, Jake Shimabukuro, Sonja Mendez, Jack & Cha Thompson, Al Harrington, and new artists including the multi-talented Brittni Paiva, talent show winner Jasmine Trias, and many others.

Adult Contemporary / Back to Hawaii by Stuart Nakai

Anthology / Kamahiwa: Keali'i Reichel Collection One by Keali'i Reichel

Blues / Live at the Stopwatch by Chance and the BluesDaddies

Children's Music / Surf, Sand & Song by Keiki O Waimanalo

Classical / Recognition Honoree: Fantasies by Grace Nikae

Compilation / Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest Winners Volume 6

Contemporary Hawaiian / My Island Paradise by Manny Fernandez

Country / My 9th Island Paniolo Ranch by Danny Estocado

DVD / They Call Her Lady Fingers Betty Loo Taylor by Sam Polson & Patricia Gillespie

Film Score / Recognition Honoree: Ho'okipa by Ho'okipa

Folk / All The Things I Said by Ray Bumatai

Hip Hop / The Greatest HI by Krystiles featuring Floers

Inspirational/Gospel / Hymns of Hawaii, Volume 2 by George Kahumoku, Jr. & Daniel Ho

Instrumental / Recognition Honoree: Aloha From Hawaii by Greg and Junko MacDonald

International Hawaiian / The Island of Angels by Anella

Island Contemporary / UnCut by INoA'ole

Jazz / Bass Etude by Nathan Aweau

New Age / Recognition Honoree: Rainforest Piano and Harp by Keith Scott & Amy Heindl

Polynesian / Mama by Mt Vaea Band

Pop / Jasmine Trias by Jasmine Trias

Punk/Ska / Recognition Honoree: Scary Beast by WMF

R & B / Tha3LOGY by Aziel

Rap / My Life by J-Bird

Reggae / Ekolu Music by Ekolu

Rock / Dragon by Jake Shimabukuro

Seasonal /An Old Fashion Christmas by Opihi Pickers & Friends

Single / Luau Cha Cha Cha by Sonya Mendez

Slack Key Guitar / Kiho 'Alu by Ledward Ka'apana

Steel Guitar / Jerry Byrd: Master of the Steel Guitar by Jerry Byrd

Traditional Hawaiian / He 'Olu by Holunape

Ukulele / Hear . . . by Brittni Paiva

World Music / Mutambo! by Mabanzi Marimba


Governor Linda LIngle's Fine Arts Award -- to be announced

Mayor Mufi Hannemann's Performing Arts Award -- Don Ho

Legacy Awards for

Lifetime Achievement -- Betty Loo Taylor
Entertainer -- Al Harrington
Best Show -- Cha & Jack Thompson
Male Vocalist -- Jimmy Borges
Female Vocalist -- Sonya Mendez
Musical Group -- Keith & Carmen Haugen
Studio Musician -- Jimmy Funai
Songwriter -- Eddie Suzuki
Producer -- Gordon Broad
Engineer -- Charlie Lukela
Music Tech -- Randy Bauske
Music Educator -- Punahou High School Music Department.

[Don Kona Woods]

<SMALL>Carmen is an exceptional hula dancer, both ancient and modern. She is well known in the islands for her unique "sitting" hula which has to be seen to be appreciated.</SMALL>

Most people do not realize that the "sitting" hula is originally how the hula was done in Hawaii. The hula was intended to tell a story through the hands.

Aloha,
Don

[Ray Montee (RIP)]

THANK YOU "Keoki"......... You invested a lot of time with this post. We all very much appreciate it. THANK YOU.