
Tony Conjugacion
Special | 56m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Tony Conjugacion
Enjoy this hour-long Nā Mele from 2008 featuring Tony Conjugacion
Nā Mele is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i

Tony Conjugacion
Special | 56m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
Enjoy this hour-long Nā Mele from 2008 featuring Tony Conjugacion
How to Watch Nā Mele
Nā Mele is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
>> THE FOLLOWING NAMELE SPECIAL IS PRESENTED BY HAWAIIAN AIRLINES.
SERVING THESE ISLANDS FOR OVER 75 YEARS.
ONLY ONE AIRLINE IS HAWAIIAN.
PROUDLY FEATURE HANA HOU MAGAZINE ON ALL FLIGHTS BETWEEN THE ISLANDS AND OUR NINE MAINLAND DESTINATIONS.
>> I VIENTED THESE PEOPLE TO BE A PART OF MY STORY.
IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT ME BECAUSE IT'S ABOUT THEM MOLDING ME AND WHY I AM THE WAY THAT I AM.
WATCHING THOSE GENERATIONS THAT DAY, IT WAS MAGICAL.
SO I WAS HOME ONE DAY AND I HAD MYRA ENGLISH'S ALBUM PLAYING.
I LOVE THAT.
DRINKING CHAMPAGNE AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS THAT I LOVED ABOUT IT, BUT I JUST HAD AN AFFINITY WITH IT AND CONNECTED WITH IT RIGHT AWAY.
AND I THINK I FINISHED MY HOMEWORK THAT DAY AND MY MOM, I WASN'T EXPECTING MY MOM FOR A LITTLE WHILE, SO I WAS SINGING TO THE TOP OF MY LUNGS TO THE RECORD AND I HEARD THE FRONT DOOR CLOSE TO THE APARTMENT AND I WAS LIKE OH, NO.
MY MOM CAME IN AND SAID WAS THAT YOU?
OH, NO.
THAT WAS THE RECORD.
NO.
I HEARD SOMETHING ELSE.
YOU'RE GOING TO TELL ME.
MY MOM WAS VERY STRICT.
AND I SAID, YEAH, IT WAS ME.
AND SHE SAID, HUM.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED SINGING AS A LITTLE BOY, I WAS A HUGE FAN OF MYRA ENGLISH, KNOWN AS THE CHAMPAGNE LADY.
LITTLE DID I KNOW LATER ON IN LIFE, I WOULD BECOME A FRIEND OF HERS AND I REALLY MISS HER A LOT AND WHEN I SANG FIRST WITH MELVEEN AT THE PEACOCK ROOM, THIS WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SONGS THAT I SANG BECAUSE IT'S OFF OF HER FIRST LP CALLED DRINKING CHAMPAGNE.
BUT IT WAS A SONG WRITTEN BY LOT KOE CALLED ALOHA KAS IN OE CLSH ♪ ALOHA KA MANINI (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN).
♪ ALOHA KA MANINI.
(SINGING IN HAWAIIAN).
>> FOR MYRA.
THE LADIES OF KULU MAU, THEY REPRESENT A GENERATION OF PEOPLE THAT I KNEW AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO KNOW AS A YOUNG BOY, YOU KNOW.
AND THAT GENERATION IS DYING OFF.
I REALIZE THAT I WOULDN'T BE THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY HAD -- HAD I NOT BEEN SURROUNDED BY ALL OF THOSE KUPUNA.
>> AUNTY LINA AND UNCLE LAU HAD A UNIQUE WAY OF CORRESPONDING WITH EACH OTHER.
THEY COMMUNICATED WITH A WHISTLE.
(WHISTLING) >> WHEREVER YOU WERE AND YOU HEARD THAT WHISTLE, YOU KNEW EITHER ONE WAS THERE LOOKING FOR EACH OTHER AND WE REMEMBER THAT WHISTLE.
SO WHEN SHE LATER ON IN LIFE, SHE DID A SONG, COME, DON'T HESITATE.
>> CAN WE DO THAT ONE, PLEASE?
HERE WE GO.
♪ MAI LOHILOHI >> THERE'S THAT WHISTLE.
OH, YEAH.
♪ MAI LOHILOHI MAI 'OE (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ MAI LOHILOHI MAI 'OE (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> HEY, THIS IS A FAMILY SHOW.
OH, COME HERE.
♪ ♪ MAI LOHILOHI MAI 'OE ♪ [APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU AUNTIES.
MAHALO.
WE DO COME FROM A MUSICAL FAMILY.
MY BROTHER, I'VE ALWAYS ADMIRED AS A COMPOSER BECAUSE HE'S SO -- SOMETIMES HE'S REALLY TOO DEEP, BUT I GET IT.
I'VE ALWAYS GOT ENIT BECAUSE HE'S MY BROTHER AND STUFF.
BUT I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I WAS CAPABLE OF WRITING SONGS.
I WAS VERY CAPABLE OF THE LANGUAGE AND THAT'S WHY I GUESS I TOOK A DIFFERENT PATH.
MY BROTHER EXPRESSES HIMSELF BEST IN HIS ORIGINAL SONGS.
I EXPRESS MYSELF BEST IN THE FACET OF COMPOSING THROUGH HAWAIIAN BECAUSE IT'S JUST BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE.
OH, GUYS, YOU KNOW WHAT?
I WOULD REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T DO KA BEAUTY AO MANOA BECAUSE IT DID WIN SOING OF THE YEAR IN THF THE YEAR IN THE LAST CENTURY.
IT WAS THE FIRST HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE TO WIN IN A WHILE BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT IT WAS HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS AND SONGS LIKE THAT THAT WON SONG OF THE YEAR.
I TAUGHT IT TO MY FIRST GRADUATING CLASS IN 2004 AND THAT WAS MY GIFT FROM ME AND THE ONLY ONE SO FAR THAT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DANCE IT IN THE HALAU.
SO IF YOU WOULD JOIN US IN KA BEAUTY AO MANOA.
♪ KA BEAUTY A 'O MANOA.
(SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ KA BEAUTY AO MANOA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ ♪ KA BEAUTY AO MANOA >> MAHALO [APPLAUSE ] >> EVOLUTION OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC, THAT'S WHERE THE GENIUS IN HAWAIIAN MUSIC THAT HAS BECOME HAWAIIAN MUSIC BEGAN.
IT WAS IN A COMFORTABLE SETTING AND MORE OF A SHARING KIND OF THING, NOT SO MUCH ON THE STAGE, YOU KNOW, SPOTLIGHTS, THIS AND THAT.
IT WAS JUST EVERYBODY GETTING TOGETHER AND JAMMING AND SHARING THEIR TALENTS, SINGING SONGS THAT THEY WROTE THEMSELVES AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEIR CONTEMPORARIES HEARING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME.
ARE YOU READY BROTHER DUWAYNE?
♪ OUR HEARTS MET HOW FORTUNATE AND ALL OUR STARS ALIGNED ♪ UNFORGETTABLE SMILE ♪ THE TWINKLE IN OUR EYES MADE US REALIZE ♪ EBONY SKIES ♪ DEEPEN ♪ THE HEAVENS ARE AGLOW ♪ LOVERS STROLL ALONG AND SOFT BREEZES FLOW ♪ LAPPING WAVES CARESS OUR EMBRACE ♪ WAIKIKI BY STAR LIGHT ♪ OUR SPECIAL PLACE ♪ THE STARS, HOW THEY SHINE ♪ WITH VENUS ON THE SKY ♪ THAT TWINKLING SPARKLE OF LOVE IN OUR EYES ♪ A GORGEOUS MOON SHINES DOWN ON OUR HEARTS ♪ WAIKIKI BY STARLIGHT ♪ WE'LL NEVER PART ♪ DANCING, LOVING BY CANDLELIGHT ♪ THE HEAVENS SMILE FROM ON HIGH ♪ MY DARLING, WE WILL RETURN ♪ THROUGH MANY LIFETIMES ♪ FOR YOU AND I SHARE ONE HEART, ONE LOVING SIGH ♪ THIS MAGICAL MOMENTS ONLY WE WILL SHARE ♪ WAIKIKI BY STARLIGHT ♪ WE'LL ALWAYS BE THERE ♪ LOVING BY CANDLELIGHT ♪ DEAR, THE HEAVENS SMILE FROM ON HIGH ♪ MY DARLING, WE WILL RETURN THROUGH MANY LIFETIMES ♪ FOR YOU AND I SHARE ONE HEART, ONE LOVING SIGH ♪ THESE MAGICAL MOMENTS ONLY WE WILL SHARE ♪ WAIKIKI BY STARLIGHT ♪ WE'LL ALWAYS BE THERE ♪ WAIKIKI BY STAR LIGHT WE'LL ALWAYS BE THERE [APPLAUSE ] >> THANK YOU >> HEY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S THAT SONG KIPAHULU, I WANT TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, A LOT PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WITH ME AND THINK THAT I WROTE THE SONG.
IT WAS ACTUALLY WRITTEN BY MY DEAR FRIEND CARL HOKU RASMUSSEN BEFORE HIS PASSING IN THE EIGHTIES.
AFTER HE PASSED ON, I WAS REMINDED BY HIS BROTHER JEFF RASMUSSEN WHO WAS MY GUITAR PLAYER FOR MANY YEARS TO DO THE SONG.
I WAS THE FIRST TO RECORD IT.
IT TALKS ABOUT THE CHARLES LIND BERG ESTATE ON THE ISLAND OF MAUI AND JEFF, LIKE I SAID, JUST TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
I DID NOT WRITE THE SONG.
I WAS JUST FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO RECORD IT.
I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOWS THIS TO GET UP AND HULA, KIPAHULU ♪ KIPAHULU (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ ♪ KIPAHULU (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> [APPLAUSE ] >> BEAUTIFUL.
>> WHEN HE WAS LITTLE ANTHONY, I JUST FOUND OUT WHEN THEY MENTIONED, SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT, NOT TOO LONG AGO, I SAID, OH, THANK GOODNESS.
I USED TO SEE HIM PERFORM.
HE WAS GREAT.
I MEAN, REALLY, NOT JUST CUTE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE ONES ARE ALWAYS SO CUTE, BUT HE WAS GREAT AT THAT TIME AND TO FIND OUT THAT HE WAS LITTLE ANTHONY.
YOU ALWAYS FIND OUT THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW EVERYTHING.
I SAW HIM WAS I THINK IT WAS ONE OF MELVEEN'S SHOW AND ON DIFFERENT STAGES THROUGHOUT WAIKIKI.
AND NOT KNOWING WHO HE WAS, BUT JUST ENJOYING THIS LITTLE BOY BY THAT'S DOING A FANTASTIC JOB.
OUT THERE, HE JUST CAPTURED EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION.
♪ BEHAVE HULA GIRL ♪ DON'T YOU PLAY WITH ME ♪ MY NAME IS ALIAS GMT ♪ DON'T YOU WAIT NOW ♪ PLEASE DON'T SWIRL ♪ YOU SEE I JUST MIGHT EXPLODE ♪ SO BEHAVE HULA GIRL ♪ PLEASANT AND PLUMP AND HEAVILY SWEET AND OH, THEM THERE EYES EYES♪ WHEN YOU DANCE AROUND AND AROUND ♪ JUST MAKES MY TEMPERATURE RISE ♪ UNLESS YOU AND I, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE LOVE A WHIRL ♪ UNTIL YOU SEE IT THAT WAY, OH, BEHAVE HULA GIRL >> YOU GOT IT.
♪ >> HOW ABOUT A NICE HAND FOR THEM.
[APPLAUSE ] ♪ BECAUSE YOU'RE PLEASANT AND PLUMP AND HEAVILY SWEET AND OH, THEM THERE EYES ♪ THE WAY THAT YOU DANCE AROUND AND AROUND ♪ MAKES MY TEMPERATURE RISE ♪ UNLESS YOU AND I, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE OUR LOVE A WHIRL ♪ UNTIL YOU SEE IT THAT WAY ♪ OH, BEHAVE, HULA GIRL ♪ JUST BEHAVE HULA GIRL ♪ COME ON NOW BEHAVE MY, MY HULA GIRL [APPLAUSE ] >> I AFFORDED MY FIRST UKULELE BECAUSE MY MOM WOULD DRAG ME TO THESE ADULT PARTIES THAT NO KIDS WERE AT.
BUT BECAUSE I COULD SING HAWAIIAN MUSIC, THEY WOULD PASS AROUND THE HAT AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, THEY WERE DRINKING AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT YOU KNOW, I COLLECTED ENOUGH TO GET MY FIRST UKULELE.
AND THAT'S WHY WITH MIKAILA, WHEN SHE WAS STILL IN THAT GUARDED SPACE OF BEING A LITTLE GIRL AND STUFF, AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAD, I SET IT UP, I TOLD THE AUDIENCE, I SAID, HAWAIIAN STYLE, IT'S LIKE THIS.
IF YOU APPRECIATE, YOU COME UP AND THROW MONEY.
AND IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE AFTER THAT TIME, SHE LOVED DOING IT NOW BECAUSE SHE HAS A LITTLE PAKE IN HER AND SHE HAS FOR A GIRL HER AGE, SHE HAS A PRETTY SIZABLE SAVINGS ACCOUNT.
>> BABY, CAN YOU DO A HULA FOR UNCLE, PLEASE?
OKAY.
THIS IS MY NIECE MIKAILA CARVALHO MEIERS.
HOW'S THAT ON A HAWAIIAN BRACELET?
HERE WE GO, BABE.
♪ WHEN I HEAR THE STRAINS OF THAT SWEET UKULELE ♪ FEELINGS OF THE GUITAR ♪ HEAVENLY SWAYS IN THE MOONLIGHT ♪ I KNOW THE REASON WHY HAWAI'I LOVES YOU SO ♪ THE LOVELY SKY AND THE OCEAN ♪ THE FLASHING LIGHT OF CLOUDS AND OF WHITE FOAMING CREST ♪ THE MANY SHADES OF TREES FROM THE PLAINS TO THE MOUNTAINS ♪ WITH ALL THE BRIGHTEST HUES OF THE RAINBOW ♪ I HEAR THE SWISH OF RAIN AND THE SWEET BERRY ♪ I HEAR THE SOUND OF WIND AS IT SIGHS THROUGH THE TREES ♪ I HEAR THE CRASH OF WAVES ON THE ROCKS AND THE BEACHES ♪ I HEAR THE HISSING SURF AND THE BOOM OF THE SEA ♪ I LOVE TO DANCE AND SING OF THE CHARM OF HAWAI'I ♪ FROM A JOYFUL HEART ♪ SING ALOHA TO YOU ♪ AND EVERY NOTE I'LL TELL OF THE SPELL OF MY ISLAND ♪ THEN I KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE IN LOVE WITH THEM TOO ♪ I LOVE TO DANCE AND SING OF THE CHARM OF HAWAI'I ♪ FROM A JOYFUL HEART SING TO YOU ♪ IN EVERY NOTE I'LL TELL OF THE SPELL OF MY ISLANDS ♪ FOR THEN I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE IN LOVE WITH THEM TOO ♪ FOR THEN I KNOW THAT YOU'LL BE IN LOVE WITH THEM TOO [APPLAUSE ] >> THANKS BABY.
YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ANTICIPATE A CALL AND FINALLY GET THE CALL, I MEAN, WOW, YOU'RE ALL REVVED UP AND THIS IS HOW I FEEL.
THAT THERE'S SOMEBODY ON THE OTHER END THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO, SO I GET VERY EXCITED AND TRYING TO HOLD MY EMOTIONS DOWN.
THEN WHEN YOU SAY ALOHA NO, HALF OF IT IS ALOHA NO, OH, LA.
HOWEVER, ON THE OTHER, TELL ME MORE.
TELL ME MORE.
THANK YOU AUNTY JOANY.
♪ ALOHA NO (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> HERE COMES AUNTY APRIL.
♪ ALOHA NO (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ ALOHA NO (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> COME ON AUNTY, JOIN THEM.
♪ ALOHA NO (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ ALOHA NO (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> BEAUTIFUL.
THANK YOU AUNTIES [APPLAUSE ] >> WITH ME, WHEN I DANCE WITH AUNTY, SHE MAKES YOU, THE FEELING COMES OUT.
I MEAN, YOU LOVE HULA SO MUCH, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS HULA.
IT COMES OUT IN HERE.
COMES OUT AND IT SHOWS.
AND THAT WAS SO EXCITING TO DO THAT ALOHA NO.
>> TO ME, AS MY TEACHERS TAUGHT ME, IF THEY HAVE THE THAT IS HED THE DESIRE, THAT'S ALL THAT'S NECESSARY.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT'S OUT HERE.
BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE THE HEART, ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS PULL THAT OUT AND DESPITE MAYBE SOMEONE'S PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, IT WILL DISAPPEAR.
BUT YOU'VE GOT TO TEACH THEM HOW TO PULL THAT STUFF OUT.
AGAIN, I MEAN, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE LADIES OF K IEWVMENT MU MAU AND AS WELL AS THE SISTERS AND OTHERS THAT MAY STILL BE ALIVE IN THEIR GENERATION, THAT'S WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT FROM THE HULA THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
>> HE IS VERY RESPECTFUL AND HE KNOWS HIS LINE, WHERE HE CAN GO WITH US BECAUSE NORMALLY, WHEN YOU SPEAK WITH YOUNGER TEACHER TODAY, THEY TRY TO BE VERY PERSUASIVE.
IN OTHER WORDS, EITHER YOU GET IT OR NOT.
WITH TONY, IT WAS A QUESTION WITH YOU.
WHEN THERE'S A QUESTION AND A YOUNG MAN, A YOUNG TEACHER, WHY WOULDN'T WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN FOR HIM?
HE DIDN'T PUSH.
HE ASKED, AND HE ASKED IN GENTLENESS.
AND THAT TOUCHED ME.
>> YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A AFFINITY TO THE OLDER HAWAIIAN MUSIC AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS IS THE ONE WRITTEN BY MATTIE LAM AND I ALWAYS ASSOCIATE THE SONG WITH MY HULA SISTERS BECAUSE IN YOUTH, I WOULD ALWAYS SEE THEM DANCE IN SONG.
MAYBE WITH THE MUSIC, IT WILL INSPIRE THEM TO GET UP AND HULA FOR ME.
THIS IS FOR YOU AUNTY POAI AND AUNTY LEILANI.
KEALOHA.
THANK YOU AUNTY PUA.
♪ KE ALOHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> REALLY?
AUNTY LINDA, ARE YOU GOING TO JOIN US?
RIGHT ON.
♪ KE ALOHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ KE ALOHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> FORMATION, ALL YOU GO.
♪ KE ALOHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) [APPLAUSE ] >> AUNTY LEILANI, AUNTY PU A, --AUNTY PUA, MAHALO.
>> WHEN MY SISTER AND I DANCED HULA, IT WAS MY LOVE FOR MY SISTER AND HER LOVE FOR ME.
YET YOU CAN HAVE A LOVE FOR MALE AND FEMALE TOGETHER, BUT IT WAS THE LOVE THAT I HAD FOR MY SISTERS.
NO MATTER WHAT, NO MATTER WHERE IT IS, I WOULD ALWAYS LOVE MY SISTERS >> I'M GRATEFUL TO TONY.
HE HAS MY MOM AND MY AUNT HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROBABLY BY THEIR OWN DOING, THEY'VE BEEN VERY PRIVATE PEOPLE, AND I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO HIM FOR INCLUDING THEM IN HIS PROJECT.
BECAUSE THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO OFFER.
>> MY MOTHER, VICTORIA KEALIHIPOONUA II RODRIGUES WAS BORN INTO A MUSICAL FAMILY.
IT WAS SPECIAL TO MAMA BECAUSE IT WAS ONE OF THE SPECIAL DUETS THAT SHE SANG WITH HER GRANDFATHER.
JAMES I 'I AND I THINK THAT'S WHY HE CHOSE IT.
TO REPRESENT MAMA.
♪ WEHIWEHI 'OE (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ WEHIWEHI 'OE (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ ♪ WEHIWEHI 'OE (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> AND THEN OF COURSE IT WAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO BROADWAY AND I HAVE TO THANK NEVA REGO MOSTLY FOR THAT BECAUSE SHE HAD THE CONFIDENCE AND BELIEF IN MY VOICE.
I HAD ONLY AT THAT TIME BEEN KNOWN AS A FALSETTO SINGER.
THEY WERE DOING A WORLDWIDE CASTING FOR MISS SAIGON.
OF COURSE THEY INCLUDED HAWAI'I.
I WAS SINGING IN THAT I TOLD THEM I HAD PLANS TO MOVE TO NEW YORK BECAUSE I WANTED TO PURSUE A RECORDING CONTRACT.
CASTING DIRECTOR GAVE ME HIS CARD AND GIVE HIM A CALL.
I GOT THERE AND GAVE HIM A CALL AND THE REST IS HISTORY.
♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT ♪ THIS IS THE DAY ♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN I KNOW I'M ON MY WAY ♪ EVERY ENDEAVOR I HAVE MADE EVER ♪ COMING INTO PLAY ♪ IS HERE AND NOW TODAY ♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT ♪ THIS IS THE TIME ♪ WHEN THE MOMENTUM AND THE MOMENTUM ARE IN RHYME ♪ GIVE ME THIS MOMENT ♪ THIS MOMENTOUS MOMENT ♪ I'LL GATHER UP MY PAST AND MAKE SOME SENSE AT LAST ♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT WHEN ALL I'VE DONE ♪ ALL OF THE SCHEMING, DREAMING AND SCREAMING BECOMES ONE ♪ THIS IS THE DAY JUST SEE IT SHINE ♪ WHEN ALL I'VE LIVED FOR BECOMES MINE ♪ THROUGH ALL THESE YEARS, I FACED THE WORLD ALONE ♪ AND NOW THE TIME HAS COME FOR ME TO PROVE TO THEM I MADE IT ON MY OWN ♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT ♪ MY FINAL TEST ♪ DESTINY BECKONS ♪ I NEVER RECKONED SECOND BEST ♪ I WON'T LOOK DOWN ♪ I MUST NOT FALL ♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT ♪ THE SWEETEST MOMENT ♪ OF THEM ALL ♪ THIS IS THE MOMENT ♪ FOREVER WITH A CAUSE ♪ WHEN I LOOK BACK ♪ I WILL RECALL MOMENT FROM MOMENT ♪ THIS WAS THE MOMENT ♪ THE GREATEST MOMENT OF THEM ALL [APPLAUSE ] >> I REMEMBER YEARS AGO, A GENTLEMAN MASTER CHANTER, KAPENA WONG TOLD ME, I'M JUST AMAZED AT YOU THAT ARE ABLE TO HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE PAST AND ONE FOOT IN THE PRESENT.
AND YOU'RE ABLE TO BRIDGE THE TWO TOGETHER.
AND AT THE TIME THAT HE TOLD ME THAT, I DIDN'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HE MEANT.
NOW, LATER, 10, 15 YEARS LATER, NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT.
AFTER 39 YEARS, STILL GOING.
AFTER MEETING INCREDIBLE PEOPLE WHO INSPIRED MY LIFE, WHO CONTINUE TO INSPIRE MY LIFE, THE OPPORTUNITIES WERE GREAT.
I'M FORTUNATE.
AND IT WASN'T WITHOUT ANY SPEED BUMPS THOUGH.
I THINK NEW YORK, HAWAI'I, JAPAN, ALL OVER THE WORLD, I THINK THE THING THAT I LEARNED THE MOST WAS FROM A SONG THAT WAS MADE FAMOUS BY NAT KING COLE CALLED NATURE BOY.
THE SONG WAS WRITTEN BY EDEN ABES AND THE LAST LINE, THE GREATEST THING YOU'LL EVER LEARN IS JUST TO LOVE AND BE LOVED IN RETURN.
(SPEAKING HAWAIIAN) ♪ KA PILI OHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ KA PILI OHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) ♪ ♪ KA PILI OHA (SINGING IN HAWAIIAN) >> (SPEAKING HAWAIIAN) ♪ ♪ ♪
Nā Mele is a local public television program presented by PBS Hawai'i