THE ROYAL HAWAIIANS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1145, 5 June 1911, Page 6

THE ROYAL HAWAIIANS.

» UNIQUE ENTERTAINMENT. The Royal Hawaiians, who attracted a packed audience to the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall on Saturday evening, presented a musical entertainment that is at onco unique, and fascinating. • The company consists of a doubio male quartet-' and three ladies—all Hawaiians of varying shades of complexion, possessing tile happy soft-featured faces of the peoplo of the tar-famed islands of tho Sea of Kiwa. It .may bo that centuries of peace and comparative freedom from molestation, have produced these kindly features, as they arc not so pronounced in any of the more strife-loving peoples of tho South Sea Islands. ' It may be advanced as a theory that the same influences have made these charming people, in. their contentment, turn to song as the natural expression of feelings in such charmed surroundings. Be this as it may, their singing is really admirable, .and their natural gift of "harmony is quite enchanting. As with the Maoris and Cook Islanders, rhythm is instinctive to tho Hawaiians, and the effect of adapting this extremely perfect sense of time to modern musical ideas, lends a swaying, swinging force lo their choral singing which is simply irresistible. Attired in white, with maroon sashes, and gracefully festooned with thick, golden coils of tho national flower (i'inia), they presented a ipicturesque appearance, and, when they strung their guitars, and swung into the opening chorus, "Aloha! Aloha!" it was felt that these people and song were old 'comrades. Like a well-played organ, the fnll-chordcd sound swelled and diminished by easy gradations, the voices blending wilh. a fine equality which eliminated any suspicion of individual dominance. The second chorus of the opening bracket was a lively number, entitled "Pili Mahamaha," to which merry tune the Hawaiians vamped their way rhythmically into the favour of tho audience. The company is strong in soloists. The first to sing was Mr. R. Kaawa, rather a robust .tenor than a baritone, who sang a tuneful number with the tuneful name "Uiua Loko." The audience liked Mr. Kaawa for his quality, warmth, and geniality, and ho had to respond to an encore, giving the catchy song ,aud chorus "One, Two, and Three." Mr. 1. Kamakani is a heavy baritone, a trifle rough in texture, but of musical quality, llis song "Kokobi" (with chorus) was ■ strongly reminiscent of some of tho choruses of the Fisk'Jubilee Singers. Miss Keala,.a pleasing mezzo-soprano, sang the .pretty little waltz song "Daisies," and responded with a quaint' Hawaiian song and chorus (which would form a splendid accompaniment to a Maori, poi dance). This number completely captivated the audience which insisted enthusiastically on another encore, the response to which was "In Dear Old Honolulu';—a kind of modern Hawaiian coon song. Mr. T. J. Carter, a slim, handsome youth, with a nice sympathetic tenor voice—troubled with overmuch vibrato, however—found immediate favour in a charming song entitled "Pnnalau" (written by Kaai, leader of the compaii}'). As encores he sang a musical setting of a clever little trick poem, and a verse of "The Last. Rose of Summer," admirably harmonised. Where all aro so good it is hardly fair to discriminate, but the work of Mr. Ernest. Kaai calls for special recognition. He possesses the half-voice —between baritone and tenor, which is peculiar to these people—of tender sympathetic tone and good, even quality. He was heard to excellent advantage in bis own euphoniously-written song "Onaona." An imperative encore elicited another pretty song entitled "Until We Meet Again." Mr. Kaai is also a master of the mandolin and to hear him twang an accompaniment' to his own air and vice versa is to hear art. His story, too, illustrated on the guitar, about the Hawaiian band which could only play one tunc— "There's a Hot Time in the Old Town To-ni&'ht"—and made it fit every occasion from grave to gay, was well told. Miss Anehila, a Hawaiian soubrctte, with a decided turn for bright comedy, has a telling contralto voice and an infectious laugh. With Miss Koala' she sang the love song "Sweet Lei Lehua." Tho doubio encore was as much the result of her amorous by-play as anything else. Mr. H. Kailimai provides the comic element, and is real good fun. His songs were: "Brudder Sylvest." "Bill, You Done Me Wrong," and "At Lyall Bay" (with the guitar and choral accompaniment). The great voice of the company is (he bass possessed by Mr. J. Kamakani. Real basses are as rare as good tenors nowadays, but. here is one with a broad, deep, full tone, and musical quality of the first order. This singer is a tower of strength in the choral work, and his solo (and chorus) "Wili Wili Wai," was sung and harmonised in excellent taste and, of course, encored. The double-male quartet and quartet sang several numbers, including "Annie Laurie," "The Rosary," and some cleverly-arranged medleys delightfully, and guitar selections were included in the nrogramme. The entertainment concluded with the hula, danced by Madames Anehila and Eteln. lo a vocal and guitar aceomnaniment. It i-i a sort of walercd-down hula, which has been robbed of nearly all the characteristics which gave the ancient dance a somewhat notorious interest in days of old. It is now merely an inconsequential nraneo around in native costume—indeed, the dress and the accompaniment alone, separate if from being a ordinary '"iisic-lnll dance. As a final" tho melodiou= Nitional Anthem of Hawaii was splendidly snug. Tho Hawaiians can hardlv fail to attract largo audiences during the week.

Messrs. William Ross and Son, rope and cordage manufacturers. Foxton, invite inspection of their exhibit at the Industrial Exhibition. The firm manufactures all kinds of rope and every description of shop twine.

Mn«rs. Gilmnur and Clarke, Now Plymouth, have fur salo I.iOO acres of freehold and '.'OO acres of le.n«?hold land. Further particulars may be obtained on application to the firm.