Post #620292 by Swanky on Mon, Jan 9, 2012 9:13 AM

On 2008-08-21 11:00, nibblegribitz wrote:
Hi,
That's my father, George Hines, on the album.
He had the band at the Hotel Lexington for a while in the mid-fifties.
He also had the band at the original Roney Plaza in Miami Beach when they had a Polynesian show and dinner outside in the gardens.
They even built a stage with a large volcano that covered it.
They would open the show with one of the knife dancers blowing a conch shell at the top of the volcano. By the way, Kui Lee (I'll Remember You) was one of the knife dancers.
He later had the show at the Yankee Clipper in Ft. Lauderdale for several years (when it was still MAI KAI) and recorded an album.(my two brothers and I sang harmonies on several of the tracks)
He and I(I got a small portion of his talent) were the first haoles to play there.
We did the show and also played in the Molokai bar.

That album cover looks like it's in excellent condition!!!
How's the vinyl???

To follow up on Kui Lee...

He was at the Mai-Kai early on. He built a little hut on the property and made the reed hats and stuff that he gave to guests for tips. He was a very personable man and multi-talented as we now know. Fireknife dancer, carver, singer and song writer. In his wikipedia bio it says he was at the Hawaiian Room, and maybe that was a standing gig or with Nibble's dad. Regardless, he left the Mai-Kai gig and went on to great fame in Hawaii writing songs for Don Ho.

Mai-Kai Memories Series Custom ceramic mugs!

[ Edited by: swanky 2012-01-11 16:17 ]