IZ and I pt 14.....Aloha, my friend
Posted on March 7, 2010 with 4 comments
I remember rehearsing with Israel and the band for what turned out to be Israel’s last Waikiki Shell performance in March of ‘97. We were getting ready to begin the rehearsal, setting up our gear and catching up with each other. Israel was sitting in his chair facing us. An older lady walked up to Israel and introduced her husband. I don’t know who the couple was, but I remember the husband’s name. It was Howard. I’m terrible with names, but I remember Howard. The lady said, “IZ, this is my husband Howard”, and Israel replied, without missing a beat, “Howard be thy name”. That is classic Israel.
Well, he loved his people, and gave it all to them on that last performance. This show was difficult for Israel. It took a lot out of him. Not long after returning home to the Owens Valley, I had learned that Israel was back in the Hospital. This time he would not be coming out.
What I will tell you now is strange, but it’s true. I don’t remember telling Gaylord about this, but Mel knows and so does Del.
On June 26th in the early morning hours I was awakened from a deep sleep by a tremendous crashing sound. It was loud and sudden and sharp. I bolted straight up in bed, listening intently to see what the sound was. My wife was sleeping next to me and the house was still. I could hear my heart beat, but nothing else. Not a sound.
I settled back down to try to sleep. The next sound I heard was the phone ringing. A sense of dread came over me. The answering machine was on. I heard Gaylord’s voice on the other end. He was calling from the hospital. I sat in bed and listened as he left me the sad news. I could not bring myself to pick up the phone. Israel was gone.
After some time later in the morning I called Mel Amina. There was no answer. I knew that it would be difficult to speak…. “Leave a message after the tone”. I started to say something, but could not hold back the emotion. I just managed to say I got Gaylord’s call, told them I loved them (Mel and his wife, Leialoha) and hung up.
Marlene, Israel’s wife, sent me a ticket for the funeral service. My father-in-law drove me to the State Capitol Rotunda were Israel lay in state. Flags flew at half staff. There were thousands of mourners and the feeling was that of the passing of an Ali’i, a great Hawaiian chief of old.
I remember seeing my friend Del Beazley in the huge crowd first. He led me towards Israel and his family.
Marlene sat with dignity next to Israel as he lay in a Koa wood casket surrounded by family and huge wreaths of flowers and Kahili’s, which is a feathered standard, symbolic of royalty. I was later told that the wood for the casket was brought from each of the Hawaiian Islands.
Israel’s family asked that I stay with them. I think they could see that I felt like I should not be with the family for more than a few minutes. This was his family, and I felt that it was important to give them some sense of privacy, as odd as that may seem at such a public ceremony. I did stay for a time and gave my Aloha to Israel and his family.
Afterward I went to look for Gaylord, who was busy seeing to so many details. There were musicians from all over the Islands playing music for Israel. Gaylord was handling all of that. I noticed Henry Kapono singing. It was a strange mix of very personal and public grief. It’s estimated that 10,000 people came to pay their respects. The Governor had issued a proclamation. Israel is one of only three public figures to be honored by a funeral service at the Hawaii State Capitol.
Gaylord, Mel, Analu and I played for Israel and his family later on in the evening. A family friend loaned me the use of a drum. At first it felt wrong to play, but memories of our playing those songs together filled my mind. It was good to play in remembrance of Israel. I remember how good it was that Mel and Ana (Analu) could hold it together for our friend on this sad day. They had to sing Israel’s songs. Imagine trying to do that, on this of all days. When we were finished, Ana, a big Hawaiian man who is so filled with the Aloha spirit, hung his head and wept.
That was almost 13 years ago. After Israel died I did not listen to his music for some time. I think it was three years or so, but when my family and I moved into a new place, my wife put on some Hawaiian music. It was ‘Facing Future’. I heard La ‘Elima. Memories filled the room. Ipo and I listened. Israel had a voice like no other. We listened and again, tears came. For me these were tears of another kind. Sorrow yes, but mingled with gratitude and a feeling of something more beautiful waiting ahead.
I am very grateful for those days with Israel and my friends; for so many wonderful memories. I will tell you though, that I do have regrets. I wish that I would have lived those days differently in so many respects. I wish I would have been a better friend, husband, father, brother, and son. So much time wasted, so many things not understood. I am still sorting through what those years really meant, but it seems to me that the older I get, the more I realize that I’m probably going to get it wrong.
There is this though: Israel was my friend, and for that, I am grateful.
Well, he loved his people, and gave it all to them on that last performance. This show was difficult for Israel. It took a lot out of him. Not long after returning home to the Owens Valley, I had learned that Israel was back in the Hospital. This time he would not be coming out.
What I will tell you now is strange, but it’s true. I don’t remember telling Gaylord about this, but Mel knows and so does Del.
On June 26th in the early morning hours I was awakened from a deep sleep by a tremendous crashing sound. It was loud and sudden and sharp. I bolted straight up in bed, listening intently to see what the sound was. My wife was sleeping next to me and the house was still. I could hear my heart beat, but nothing else. Not a sound.
I settled back down to try to sleep. The next sound I heard was the phone ringing. A sense of dread came over me. The answering machine was on. I heard Gaylord’s voice on the other end. He was calling from the hospital. I sat in bed and listened as he left me the sad news. I could not bring myself to pick up the phone. Israel was gone.
After some time later in the morning I called Mel Amina. There was no answer. I knew that it would be difficult to speak…. “Leave a message after the tone”. I started to say something, but could not hold back the emotion. I just managed to say I got Gaylord’s call, told them I loved them (Mel and his wife, Leialoha) and hung up.
Marlene, Israel’s wife, sent me a ticket for the funeral service. My father-in-law drove me to the State Capitol Rotunda were Israel lay in state. Flags flew at half staff. There were thousands of mourners and the feeling was that of the passing of an Ali’i, a great Hawaiian chief of old.
I remember seeing my friend Del Beazley in the huge crowd first. He led me towards Israel and his family.
Marlene sat with dignity next to Israel as he lay in a Koa wood casket surrounded by family and huge wreaths of flowers and Kahili’s, which is a feathered standard, symbolic of royalty. I was later told that the wood for the casket was brought from each of the Hawaiian Islands.
Israel’s family asked that I stay with them. I think they could see that I felt like I should not be with the family for more than a few minutes. This was his family, and I felt that it was important to give them some sense of privacy, as odd as that may seem at such a public ceremony. I did stay for a time and gave my Aloha to Israel and his family.
Afterward I went to look for Gaylord, who was busy seeing to so many details. There were musicians from all over the Islands playing music for Israel. Gaylord was handling all of that. I noticed Henry Kapono singing. It was a strange mix of very personal and public grief. It’s estimated that 10,000 people came to pay their respects. The Governor had issued a proclamation. Israel is one of only three public figures to be honored by a funeral service at the Hawaii State Capitol.
Gaylord, Mel, Analu and I played for Israel and his family later on in the evening. A family friend loaned me the use of a drum. At first it felt wrong to play, but memories of our playing those songs together filled my mind. It was good to play in remembrance of Israel. I remember how good it was that Mel and Ana (Analu) could hold it together for our friend on this sad day. They had to sing Israel’s songs. Imagine trying to do that, on this of all days. When we were finished, Ana, a big Hawaiian man who is so filled with the Aloha spirit, hung his head and wept.
That was almost 13 years ago. After Israel died I did not listen to his music for some time. I think it was three years or so, but when my family and I moved into a new place, my wife put on some Hawaiian music. It was ‘Facing Future’. I heard La ‘Elima. Memories filled the room. Ipo and I listened. Israel had a voice like no other. We listened and again, tears came. For me these were tears of another kind. Sorrow yes, but mingled with gratitude and a feeling of something more beautiful waiting ahead.
I am very grateful for those days with Israel and my friends; for so many wonderful memories. I will tell you though, that I do have regrets. I wish that I would have lived those days differently in so many respects. I wish I would have been a better friend, husband, father, brother, and son. So much time wasted, so many things not understood. I am still sorting through what those years really meant, but it seems to me that the older I get, the more I realize that I’m probably going to get it wrong.
There is this though: Israel was my friend, and for that, I am grateful.