HAWAII: Bill Akamuhou / Little Brown Gal / Bell LKS 140 / c1946

“William Akamuhou Dias, Sr. was born on March 16, 1917 in Nawiliwili, Kauai, and we lost him at the age of 68, on March 31, 1985 in Honolulu. Young Bill was just 8 years old when his Mother died, and only 13 when his Dad passed away. Bill turned to music for comfort, and excelled with the Lihue Hawaiian Church Choir. After working as a mechanic’s helper by day and as a member of the Rapoza Brothers musical group by night, Bill was discovered by Al Kealoha Perry, and recruited to join the famed Hawaii Calls radio show in Waikiki. Bill’s deep & rich bass voice was featured on numerous recordings with Al Kealoha Perry’s Singing Surfriders. Eventually he formed Bill Akamuhou’s Nautical Hawaiians and enjoyed more performance & recording success during WWII and on into the 1950s.”
[from “territorialairwaves”]

Little Brown Gal (McDiarmid, Noble & Wood)

It's not the islands fair that are calling to me
It's not the balmy air nor the tropical sea
It's a little brown gal in a little grass skirt
In a little grass shack in Hawaiʻi

It isn't Waikīkī or Kamehameha's pali
Not the beach boys free with their hoʻomalimali
It's a little brown gal in a little grass skirt
In a little grass shack in Hawaiʻi

I'll be leaving soon but the thrill I enjoy
Is not the island moon nor the fish and the poi
It's just a little brown gal in a little grass skirt
In a little grass shack in Hawaiʻi

[Hawaiian lyrics at www.kalena.com/huapala]
[Little Brown Gal, Bill Akamuhou, Bell LKS 140, recorded c1946, matrix RL-6532/A-4640]
The flip side of this disk is The Hula Oni Oni E:    • HAWAII: Bill Akamuhou / The Hula Oni ...  
Hawaiian Playlist:    • Hawaiian