The inventor of the steel guitar, Laie-born Joseph Kekuku, was honored at the Polynesian Cultural Center as a life-sized bronze statue in his likeness was unveiled on April 27. Members of the Hawaii Steel Guitar Association and the International Steel Guitar Association were present for the unveiling, along with relatives of Joseph Kekuku.BYU-Hawaii alum Leroy Transfield was the sculptor of this statue and one of Hamana Kalili, who is credited as the originator of the shaka sign. It also stands on PCC’s grounds. Transfield, a graduate in sculpting from New Zealand, worked in the carving hut at PCC as a student. Transfield moved to Utah and said there was a time when life got extra hard for him and his family. He felt dejected, thinking he had done all the sculptures he was meant to do. However, “A thought came to me—you still haven’t done all the sculptures you need to do.” That gave him the courage he needed. “Six months later PCC contacted me to do these two sculptures,” said Transfield. He was asked to do it on a “short timeline, but everything came together very easily.” His son helped him because of the short timeline.Kaiwa Meyers, grand-daughter of Kekuku’s sister Violet, spoke at the unveiling. “Today we honor a boy born and raised in Laie with the unveiling of his statue. He is worthy and deserving of this. Uncle, you are truly a gift from heaven and a keiki of the ‘aina,”she said.She told the story of the discovery of the steel guitar. “He loved to play the guitar, and one day his metal comb fell out of his pocket and onto his string. He thought, ‘Wow, the sound is so beautiful!’ It took him seven years to perfect the guitar.” Myers said he then attended Kamehameha schools and taught his classmates at age 15. By 1904, Hawaiian steel guitar music became so popular it was played on 750 radio stations on the mainland, Meyers explained. Joseph and his band, The Bird of Paradise, moved to the mainland in 1904 and toured until 1919, touring Europe for eight years, and “playing for kings and queens,” said Meyers. She said Joseph opened a school of music in Chicago, and then moved to New Jersey, where he got sick and passed away in 1932.Alfred Grace, president of PCC, said he became aware of the significance of Hawaiian steel guitar when he heard the signature music in a hotel in Helsinki, Finland. The Finns were wearing aloha shirts amid reindeer and cold. “I’m glad to have this little acknowledgment and memory so all those visitors who walk by this very place can learn about this magnificent man, this son of Laie,” said Grace. Local steel guitarist Ron Johnson performed the songs “Koke‘e” and “Hi‘ilawe” at the unveiling ceremony. The audience joined in the singing and local kumu hula Kekela Miller rose from her seat to dance a hula. “I am humbled to be here,” Johnson said. He said he taught steel guitar to 4th graders at Laie Elementary. “It was really meaningful to be able to teach the keiki on of Joseph’s original tunings.”John Muaina, vice president of Human Resources for PCC, said Kekuku is an individual who contributed something great to the world. “He influenced western, big band, jazz and country music. We are appreciative of the Kekuku family for allowing us to honor him. He created not just a new instrument, but also a new language of imagery and communication.” Kekuku was born in Laie, but never returned to the islands once he left. Muaina said, “I believe Hawaii traveled with him wherever he went.” Uploaded May 21, 2015
Writer: Samone Isom
