| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Steven Espaniola
Lokahi
225 Posts |
 Posted - 05/02/2008 : 06:04:09 AM
|
| I've only met Don on a few occasions, once on the Slack Tracks sessions and years later this past February for a phone interview on 50th State Radio. Even though the meetings were brief, his generous nature and kind spirit could still be felt and left a lasting impression on me. He will truly be missed! |
Steven |
 |
|
|
cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 06:23:28 AM
|
| I'm honored to have been able to spend quite a bit of time with Don as part of the Southern California Slack Key Society and I definitely have a lot of fond memories of our monthly meetings at his offices and time spent chatting about slack key. We lost track of each other when he moved to Nevada but I'll definitely miss him. My prayers are certainly with his wife and family. |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
|
|
|
Mika ele
Ha`aha`a
USA
1493 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 06:31:07 AM
|
Don,
Your legacy will live on here in San Diego. Terry will have plenty of help carrying your torch. We love you man. We will miss you.
It was so sweet to hear you play just a few weeks ago and sweeter still to hear you talk story. You listened carefully to each of us and found that concern and strength to encourage each of us. We could tell you were in pain and very tired but you wore it well and smiled and hugged us all. It was so important for you to share at least one more "good time" with us. So important for us to share time with you. Mahalo Nui Loa! Say hi to Auntie Nona and Uncle Ray for us.
Love,
Mike |
E nana, e ho'olohe. E pa'a ka waha, e hana ka lima. |
|
|
|
chunky monkey
Ha`aha`a
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 07:15:34 AM
|
I will talk to Linda today about a service. I think the SO Cal Slack Key gang will be making a donation in Don's name to the hospice that took care of him. I don't remember the name, but I will post when I get details. For those who want to send cards:
Linda Narup
2345 Black River Falls
Henderson, NV 89044
Thanks to everyone for you kind words. Don thought highly of this entire audience. |
|
|
|
Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 07:40:12 AM
|
I am also sorry Don is gone. I only met him once, in Sunnyvale, when he came out to record interviews of Dennis Kamakahi and others at a slack key concert.
He seemed to be an nice person and an energetic supporter of Hawaiian music.
|
Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
|
|
|
slkho
`Olu`olu
740 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 08:37:48 AM
|
In rememberance of Don, I am deeply saddened again of a passing to someone who has profoundly influenced me in Slack Key music and touched my life. Don, as Terry mentioned, formed our Southern Californian Slack Key Society back in 2002. In those early years we would all meet in a circle of chairs in his office building to play, exhchange, and learn slack key. Don was very strong influence in getting me to learn & play Slack Key...without him I honestly don't think I would have ever even played, he was so encouraging to me. Don had a wonderful musicical ear, and could play so sweet. Concert promoter, innovator, close friend, Don was everything.
What a trooper to come to San Diego and see us one last time, a little over a month ago, to jam with us and share laughs. We all sensed then, his health was progressively getting worse, that his time would soon come. But on that day, Don was alive, rejuevinated, and happy as hell, you could see the energy in him being with us all again, to play, chat, and be with. that day, we all soaked up every spoken word from Don, listened intently to each of his songs, and relished every word & laugh...it was truly special that day.
When Don came back briefly from the hospice, I called him at home, and told him I loved him, that I wanted him to know that, wanted him to hear it. He said he loved me too, but didn't say goodbye..just I'll see you again soon enough. I am so sad once again, once again I've lost another dear friend.
My prayers & thoughts go out to Linda, God Bless you, I will miss Don terribly. His legacy, will be with us always, in his music, in our music, and in our hearts.
~r |
|
|
|
kihoalukid
Lokahi
USA
289 Posts |
Posted - 05/02/2008 : 2:58:01 PM
|
I never met Don, but always enjoyed his playing on the Taropatch CD's, and his posts here. He obviously touched many hearts, sorry to hear about this,
Lee
|
Lee |
|
|
|
Mark
Ha`aha`a
USA
1628 Posts |
Posted - 05/03/2008 : 08:43:53 AM
|
I am so glad to have known Don. Sweet man, and dedicated to the music.
We met years ago when he was first getting into slack key; he'd "hire" me to come to give him guitar lessons when I was in the area. These consisted of him playing his original compositions and asking me if they sounded like slack key; and, if not, what he could do to make them pass muster.
I'd always tease him and say, "why worry if your compositions sound like slack key?.. They are beautiful just as they are." Then we'd eat a big lunch and talk about concert promotion, music, and life.
Ya know, Don's music came straight from his heart. He had a beautiful sense of melody and wrote such sweet tunes. It was always a mystery to him where they came from, but I think I know. The man had soul.
Aloha, Don
|
|
|
|
naukilo
Lokahi
USA
103 Posts |
Posted - 05/04/2008 : 05:58:32 AM
|
On Thusday May 1st, I got a call from Patrick Landeza informing me of Don's passing within a half hour of it happening. I was on my way to Las Vegas and had talked to Don via telephone from his hospice bed some days before my departure.
On the phone, I told him that he was the best of all my music composition students and the works he produced were just amazing. He once told me that he never thought he'd ever be a composer yet when I had him in my music writing class I knew there was a hidden talent hiding somewhere in his serene and gentlemanly nature. He was a very likeable person when you first met him. He was deligent in trying to finish his assignements. He was a slack key artist and musician, but most of all he was my friend.
I know that somewhere in the land of eternal light he is there among the music that is heavenly sent. Now when I think of Don, it shall bring forth the greatest of my memories here in my existence on this earthly plain and the music he created.
To my dear friend and student I say, You've graduated to the highest class of heavenly heights. Kanikapila !!!!
Aloha,
Rev. Dennis Kamakahi |
Edited by - naukilo on 05/04/2008 06:00:32 AM |
|
|
|
kihoalukid
Lokahi
USA
289 Posts |
|
|
napuasweet
Lokahi
USA
184 Posts |
Posted - 05/17/2008 : 2:25:37 PM
|
Aloha Bill and Gloria Nahalea-Seattle, We met Don about a Year ago in Las Vegas
And the time we talked about bringing Gary Haleamanu to Seattle for a Concert
Don, Got busy we got busy and the Concert never happen.
We really didn't know Don until we connected with him in Las Vegas. We did feel
his heart It was Real For Sure.
REST WELL DON,
Mahalo,
Bill and Gloria Nahalea
Seattle |
|
|
|
alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 05/25/2008 : 3:59:41 PM
|
(sings) Aloha 'oe, aloha 'oe,
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo.
One fond embrace, a ho'i a'e au,
Until we meet again. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
