Don Ho#Family

{{Short description|American singer and musician (1930–2007)}}

{{for-multi|the Vietnamese singer|Don Hồ|the programmer|Notepad++}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Don Ho

| image = Don Ho.jpg

| birth_name = Donald Tai Loy Ho

| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1930|8|13}}

| birth_place = Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii

| death_date = {{death date and age|mf=yes|2007|4|14|1930|8|13}}

| death_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals

| genre = Traditional pop
Hawaiian Music

| occupation = Singer, musician

| years_active = 1959–2007

| label = Reprise Records

| associated_acts = The Ali'is

}}

Donald Tai Loy Ho{{Cite book |last=Lowe |first=Chuan-hua |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CMyZ7Ledjk8C&q=donald+tai+loy+ho |title=The Chinese in Hawaii: A Bibliographic Survey |date=1972 |publisher=China Print |language=en}} ({{zh|t=何大來|s=何大来|p=Hé Dàlái}}; August 13, 1930 – April 14, 2007) was a Hawaiian traditional pop musician, singer, and entertainer. He is best known for the song "Tiny Bubbles" from the 1966 album of the same name.

Early life, family and education

Ho was a singer of Native Hawaiian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent. He was born in the small Honolulu neighborhood of Kaka{{okina}}ako to Emily (Honey) Leimaile Silva and James Ah You Puao Ho, but he grew up in Kāne{{okina}}ohe on the windward side of the island of O{{okina}}ahu.

He was a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools in 1949 and he attended Springfield College on a football scholarship in 1950, but he returned home to earn a Bachelor's degree in sociology at University of Hawaiʻi in 1953.

Career

In 1954, Ho entered the U.S. Air Force, doing his primary training at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi and spent time flying C-97s with the Military Air Transport Service. Transferred to Travis Air Force Base, California, he went to the local city of Concord and bought an electronic keyboard from a music store, and recalls, "That's when it all started."

While in the military, Ho traveled from state to state with his young family until he was called home to help his mother with the family bar business, Honey's. Ho left the Air Force in 1959 due to his mother's developing illness and began singing at her club in Kaneohe. Honey's became a hotspot for the local entertainment and the growing customers from the Kaneohe Marine Base servicemen. Ho always honored the military remembering his own years of military service. In 1963, he moved the Kāne{{okina}}ohe Honey's to Waikīkī. After much success, and little room to grow, promoter Kimo Wilder McVay sought Don to play at a night club called Duke's owned by Duke Kahanamoku, where he caught the attention of record company officials.

Ho was originally signed to Reprise Records.McLellan, Dennis (April 15, 2007).[http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-ho15apr15,0,2498420.story?coll=la-home-headlines Don Ho, 76; singer was best known for 66 hit 'Tiny Bubbles'.] Los Angeles Times He released his debut album, The Don Ho Show!, in 1965 and began to play high-profile locations in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and New York City. In 1966 he released his second album, a live compilation called Don Ho – Again!, which charted in the early part of that year. In the fall of 1966, Ho released his most famous song, "Tiny Bubbles", which charted on both the pop (#57 Billboard) and easy listening charts and caused his subsequent album, also called Tiny Bubbles, to remain in the album Top 200 for almost a year.{{cite news|last=Wilson|first=John S.|title=Don Ho Abandons Little Grass Shack; Hawaiian Is Voice of Islands' New Sound Brings Kui Lee Songs to the Royal Box|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/25/archives/don-ho-abandons-little-grass-shack-hawaiian-is-voice-of-islands-new.html|access-date=January 15, 2018|work=The New York Times|date=November 25, 1966}} Another song associated with Don was "Pearly Shells". From 1964 to 1969, Don's backing group was The Aliis: Al Akana, Rudy Aquino, Benny Chong, Manny Lagodlagod and Joe Mundo.

In his stage show, Ho would make jokes about being sent in the mid-1950s to Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi and being Hawaiian. Don Ho enjoyed asking for a show of hands of veterans of World War II. He would ask for all the Pearl Harbor survivors to stand. He would tell the men from the European theater, "you got your glory in the movies" that they could watch. The veterans of the Pacific theater were invited on stage to join the hula dancers.

Ho's music used typical 1960s pop arrangements, which meant light instrumentation and Hammond organs. He was well-positioned to capitalize on the newly admitted state's growing popularity as a tourist destination during the decade due to cheap air travel and the popularity of Tiki bars. His shows would be attended by celebrities in addition to ordinary tourists.

During the second half of the decade, a growing movement emerged in Hawaii to produce more traditional forms of music that subtly accused Ho of being too commercialized and marketed to tourists. His popularity never seriously suffered however, and his shows remained popular with vacationers.

Guest appearances on television series such as I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, Sanford and Son, Batman, Charlie's Angels, McCloud and Fantasy Island soon followed. Although his album sales peaked in the late 1960s, he was able to land a television series on ABC from October 1976 to March 1977 with The Don Ho Show variety program which aired on weekday mornings.The Motley Fool (March 31, 2006). [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5317132 Interview: Don Ho.] NPRAdvertiser Staff (April 15, 2007). [http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070415/NEWS01/70414007 HAWAI'I'S ICON DON HO, 1930 – 2007: Don Ho dies.] The Honolulu Advertiser

His daughter Hoku performed with him in his Waikīkī show and in 2000 went on to become a nationally known recording artist in her own right. In 2005, he sang a song that was used as the opening theme to the direct-to-video and DVD movie Aloha, Scooby-Doo!.

Work with other artists

A protege of Don Ho was Robin Wilson.Record World, March 1, 1969 - [https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/69/Record-World-1969-03-01.pdf Page 14 record world ALBUM REVIEWS, ROBIN WILSON]

Personal life

=Family=

Ho married twice and had ten children by three women.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/arts/16ho.html|title=Don Ho, 76, Entertainer Who Defined the Hawaiian Image, Is Dead|last=Chinen|first=Nate|date=April 16, 2007|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date= February 4, 2019|language=en-US|issn= 0362-4331}}{{cite news|last1=Nakaso|first1=Dan|last2=Harada|first2=Wayne|date=May 12, 2007|title=Ho family loses daughter, 52|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/12/ln/FP705120335.html|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=June 7, 2017 }} He first married his high school sweetheart, Melva May Kolokea Wong, on November 22, 1951; they had six children together. They were married for 48 years, until Melva's death on June 8, 1999.

After Melva's death, Ho had four more children from two subsequent relationships; he lived at his Diamond Head residence with his children and their mothers. His children often worked with him, either onstage, backstage, or with his business. He loved to work with his children, teaching them the entertainment business.{{cite news| last= Nii| first= Esme Infante| date= April 14, 2007| url= http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Apr/14/br/br7036194825.html| title= Don Ho's life: from Kane'ohe to stardom| newspaper= The Honolulu Advertiser }}

In September 2006, Ho married Haumea Hebenstreit, who was a production assistant for his show at the Waikīkī Beachcomber.{{cite news |last=Chinen |first=Nate |title=Don Ho, Hawaiian Musician, Dies at 76|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/arts/music/15ho.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The New York Times |date=April 15, 2007 |language=en}}

The following is a list of Ho's relationships and children:

  • Melva May Kolokea Wong{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/don-hos-daughter-died-meth-overdose-1c9421620|title=Don Ho's daughter died of meth overdose|date=June 19, 2007|website= TODAY.com|language=en|access-date= August 23, 2023}} (August 17, 1932 – June 8, 1999) m. November 22, 1951
  • Donald "Donnie" Ho, Jr. (May 28, 1952 — March 20, 2010){{cite news |title=Obituary for Donnie Ho (Aged 57) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83415230/obituary-for-donnie-ho-aged-57/ |access-date=14 August 2021 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=26 March 2010 |pages=18}}
  • Donalei Ho (born 1953-1954){{cite news |last=Harada |first=Wayne |title=It's a Ho-Down at Airport As Local Boy Returns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-its-a-ho-down-a/130494711/ |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=April 9, 1966 |pages=18 |quote="Hellow wahines," Ho said as he kissed his daughters Dana, 11, Dondi, 9 and Dori, 8. "Hi, Dwight," he said, lifting his 5-year-old son. "Smile for daddy." (Donald, 13, and Donalei, 12, were still lunching and didn't greet daddy at planeside.}}{{cite news |last=Harada |first=Wayne |title=Don Was Just Dad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-don-was-just-dad/130494300/ |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=May 5, 2007 |pages=57 |quote=Six kids, set up as a triangle: Top: Donnie Ho; middle two: Dori and Dondi Ho; bottom three: Dayna, Dwight and Donalei Ho.}}{{cite news |last=Harada |first=Wayne |title=The Father He Knew |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-honolulu-advertiser-the-father-he-kn/130494426/ |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=May 5, 2007 |pages=54 |quote=From right, Don Ho with daughter Donalei, first wife Melvamay Ho, and son Dwight at Kamehameha Schools, where Donalei was Lei Day queen.}}
  • Dayna "Danna" Kolokea Ho-Henry (February 21, 1955 – May 11, 2007)
  • Dondi Kaleinani Ho-Costa (born 1956-1957){{Cite web|url=http://www.midweekkauai.com/kauai-coverstory/an-invitation-to-beauty/|title=An Invitation to Beauty|date=August 4, 2010|website=MidWeek Kaua'i|language=en-US|access-date=February 4, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Don-Hos-daughter-sues-over-property/64441202184537/|title=Don Ho's daughter sues over property|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=February 4, 2019}}
  • Dorianne "Dori" Ho (born 1957-1958){{Cite web|date=July 7, 2008 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Jul/07/ln/hawaii807070346.html|title=Distribution of Ho estate disputed|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=February 4, 2019 }}
  • Dwight Ho, m. Lydia Ho (born 1960-1961){{Cite web|last1=Nakaso|first1=Dan|last2=Harada|first2=Wayne|date=May 12, 2007 |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/12/ln/FP705120335.html|title=Ho family loses daughter, 52|newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser|access-date=February 4, 2019 }}
  • Elizabeth Guevara
  • Kea Ho{{Cite web|url=https://www.staradvertiser.com/2010/07/22/tgif/don-hos-daughter-latest-issue-of-playboy/|title=Don Ho's daughter in latest issue of Playboy|date=July 22, 2010|website=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|language=en-US|access-date=February 4, 2019}}
  • Kealii Ho{{Cite web|last=Kealamakia|first=Spencer|date=August 22, 2017|title=A statue of Don Ho is now on view at the International Market Place in Waikiki|url=https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/content/statue-don-ho-now-view-international-market-place-waikiki|access-date=July 22, 2020|website=Hawaii Magazine|language=en}}
  • Patricia Swallie
  • Hoku Christian Ho Clements
  • Kaimana Grace Ho
  • Haumea Hebenstreit m. September 2006{{cite news |title=Don Ho Marries his show's producer Haumea Hebenstreit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83415372/don-ho-marries-his-shows-producer/ |access-date=14 August 2021 |newspaper=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=18 November 2006 |page=4 }}

=Illness and death=

In 1995, at age 65, Ho suffered a mild stroke, after which his health began a steady decline. By 2002, he had developed cardiomegaly, an enlarged heart, unrelated to coronary artery disease, leaving him with only 30% of normal cardiac capacity. Despite his failing health, Ho was always hopeful and resilient to find a solution to his health issues. He also continued his nightly performances making a few concessions, such as trading in his glass of Scotch, which he kept on top of his piano at shows, for pineapple juice.

Ho was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2005 and had a pacemaker implanted.Ryan, Tim (December 23, 2005). [http://starbulletin.com/2005/12/23/news/story04.html Ho comes to terms with getting older.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228215644/http://starbulletin.com/2005/12/23/news/story04.html |date=February 28, 2008 }} Honolulu Star Bulletin Ho still experienced a number of problems afterwards, including an episode when his pacemaker malfunctioned during a concert. On another occasion, he was making repairs to the roof of his house when his heart suddenly started racing. He contacted a biotechnology company specializing in treating heart conditions with adult stem cells working in conjunction with Dr. Shoa, cardiac surgeon and pioneer of the use of adult stem cells for heart disease. On December 6, 2005, Ho had his own blood-derived stem cells injected into his heart by Amit Patel and his fellow surgeons in Thailand. The treatment went without incident and it was reported that his heart would be boosted back to 75% capacity. Later in the month, Ho said, "I'm feeling much better and I'm so happy I came up here to do it."{{cite news| agency = Associated Press | date= December 9, 2005| url= https://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-12-09-don-ho-update_x.htm | title= Singer Don Ho says he's feeling better| work = USA Today | publisher =| accessdate = }} In regard to his health problems, he remarked "I'd been going around for years acting like I was 40. And then when all this happened, someone told me 'You're 75.' Everyone gets old. Why did I think I was exempt?"

{{wikinews|Hawaii entertainer Don Ho dies at 76}}

Ho had a new pacemaker installed on September 16, 2006.{{Cite web |date=2006-09-22 |title=Don Ho to be released from hospital soon |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/don-ho-be-released-hospital-soon-1c9431195 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=TODAY.com |language=en}} On April 14, 2007, he died in his Waikīkī apartment{{citation needed|date=January 2025}} from heart failure. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at sea.{{cite news |last=Nakaso |first=Dan |date=May 5, 2007 |title=Tiny bubbles fitting end for Ho farewell |url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/May/05/br/br8930526714.html |newspaper=Honolulu Advertiser |access-date=April 28, 2015}}

Since Ho's death, his estate has been in limbo because of numerous management conflicts{{cite news |last=Wu |first=Nina |title=Don Ho's Island Grill loses its famous name |url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2008/04/22/business/story02.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |date=April 22, 2008 |work= Honolulu Star-Bulletin}} and legal changes that transpired while he was struggling with his mental and physical health.{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Mike |title=Don Ho's family fights sale of Lanikai home|url=http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2008/Feb/28/ln/hawaii802280357.html |access-date=August 23, 2023 |work=The Honolulu Advertiser |date=February 28, 2008}}

References

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