Aloha 'Oe, the Song at Pier 10

By John Tanaka

Aloha 'Oe, The Song at Pier 10 is a tale of love between Hawaiian Queen Lili'uokalani and the Prussian Kappellmeister (Bandmaster) Heinrich Berger, the first Bandmaster of the Royal Hawaiian Band.... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 159700782X
• ISBN13: 9781597007825
• Release Date: May 2009
• Publisher: Island Heritage Publishing
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

To know a history - any history - helps one enjoy the songs

Tanaka is clear in saying this is a "tall tale." OK, even if it is all made up, it is fun to have more stories behind the Hawaiian songs we love. Talk Story was never meant to be all true. This is a fun read -- particularly for someone who enjoys (and plays) Hawaiian music. It's not just about Aloha 'Oe, but many of the tunes from the 1800's. If you don't know Hawaiian music, I should tell you that many of these songs are played regularly today -- mostly by ukulele groups and soloists. The Hawaiian history presented here is enough to tease you into more reading. Consider: The Betrayal of Liliuokalani: Last Queen of Hawaii 1838-1917; Or, Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen by LILIUOKALANI (Author). It is great fun to vacation in Hawaii. We are glad to have the islands available for our enjoyment. On the other hand, the story here is not entirely unlike other native American stories. There is just no blood. There's nothing to say that other nations - namely Japan or even India - would not have provided a similar story for Hawaii ... but that didn't happen. The US occupation did. For better or worse (and it is better for us) it helps to know what these people faced not too long ago. None the less, we return to the music. We play it and enjoy it. We share in the joys and sorrows in the songs. Now that enjoyment is deeper and a little more bitter sweet. We will continue to share what was created. This book is a great help in that. We will carry respect the people who made this nation, now state.