Folklore: Kanaka (Hawaiian) chanteymen

Subject: RE: Folklore: Kanaka (Hawaiian) chanteymen
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 06 May 09 - 04:25 PM

I only enter this note because I recall that Bob Shane who, along his Kingston Trio partner, Dave Guard, grew up in Hawaii and was educated at Punahou. Bob is still living in Phoenix, with some health issues, but still musically involved. I wonder if he has seen any of this...

Subject: RE: Folklore: Kanaka (Hawaiian) chanteymen
From: GUEST,David
Date: 07 May 09 - 01:24 AM

For the sake of historical accuracy...where Sutter got his seeds was unknown, but it is clear from this 1846 first-hand report that he wasn't known for his "kind":
""I saw near the fort a small patch of hemp, which had been sown as an experiment, in the spring, and had not been irrigated. I never saw a ranker growth of hemp in Kentucky""
http://boitano.net/column/?cat=3
There is historical record of the Spanish picking up hemp grown by slaves at the Missions in Southern California in the early 1800's.

Lest I further fray this thread....
Kanaka gold miners were the first to find nuggets at Kanaka Creek in 1850 in the Alleghany mining district of California starting a huge rush to that area. A Kanaka made the nugget discovery that started the rush to the Downieville area. The story goes that a nugget fell out of a trout caught by the Kanaka as he prepared or cooked it for the Downie party. Two of the Kings sons came to mine gold in California, Prince Lot and Prince Alexander.
A female commentator from the mid 1800's describes the sound of the voices of all the nationalities heard during a day at a mining camp.'The liquid sweetness of the Kanaka'is how she described the music of the Kanaka language.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Kanaka (Hawaiian) chanteymen
From: GUEST,David
Date: 09 May 09 - 02:37 AM

Here is a description of a Maidu Hula Group keeping their traditions going :
"The astounding Hui O Ke Ao Malamalama Dancers from Shingle Springs Rancheria dazzled the audience in the late afternoon. Formed in 1997 by Rick "Kupapalani" Adams, the dance group members consist of descendants from Sacramento Valley Natives and Hawaiians who come over in the 1800's. There are now 27 family members and associates, most between the ages of 4 and 18, dancing with the group. Shingle Springs Rancheria is a Nisenan Maidu community with deep Hawaiian roots, and located as it is in the middle of a luxury housing development, is a social, cultural and geographic marvel. Hui O Ke Ao Malamalama proved that you don't have to come from Hawaii to do the hula and have the aloha spirit, it's in the genes!' http://www.turtletrack.org/Issues03/Co09062003/CO_09062003_Maidu_Hawaii.htm

Subject: RE: Folklore: Kanaka (Hawaiian) chanteymen
From: Art Thieme
Date: 09 May 09 - 11:10 PM

...and I was just today listening to a great concert by Pete Seeger that I have on tape---February 1979 at the P.A.C. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He did the chanty "John Kanaka-naka John" with an unnamed female singer. It was a fine rendition. (I would even say that it was an extraordinary rendition, but that means something completely different now!)

What an extraordinary thread you folks have made here. Thanks so much.

Art Thieme