Family, friends remember the late ‘Piggy’ Kaleohano

Richard Kuakini “Piggy” Kaleohano, a musician and audio engineer who helped provide sound for the Merrie Monarch Festival, died Friday of kidney failure at Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center in Honolulu.

He was 56.

Kaleohano, who was born in Hilo, played ukulele and sang in the legendary Hawaiian band Da Blahlas of Keaukaha. They recorded three albums in the late 1970s and became popular statewide.

The son of the late Aunty Sally Kaleohano, “Uncle Piggy” became synonymous with Keaukaha.

His RK Audio Sound Co. provided sound for countless local events and Kaleohano continued to perform locally, including the Kamehameha Day celebration and Hilo Brewfest earlier this month.

“He had opportunities in Honolulu and on the mainland but he would never have left this place. That was not an option for him,” Missy Kaleohano, his wife of almost 35 years, said Tuesday.

She said her husband’s interest in audio engineering was sparked when Da Blahlas started to record.

“He was fascinated by the engineering side of it,” she said.

“Fortunately, he was able to parlay that, and the performing, into an occupation that kept him close to his family.”

Clayton Kua, a bandmate in Da Blahlas, described Kaleohano as a selfless person who gave so much to the community.

“When the school needed something, boom, Piggy was there. Family needed something, boom, Piggy was there,” he said. “I think it’s a tremendous loss, not just because of the assets that he had but because of the person that he was.”

Kua also praised Kaleohano’s ability to “move people with his voice.”

“His falsetto was incredible and he was so humble about it. But for him, it was just like another day in the park,” he said.

Jacqueline “Skylark” Rossetti of KAPA-FM called Kaleohano “an extraordinary ukulele player” and described Da Blahlas’ sound as “a reflection of the Keaukaha community.”

“Piggy loved the community and contributed so much to it,” she said. “I think the song Moon Kauakahi wrote about him was so fitting, and I get chicken skin just thinking about it.”

The song, “Kaleohano,” became a staple for Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole and the Makaha Sons.

Audio engineer Glenn Yafuso called Kaleohano “my Hawaiian brother.” Kaleohano did sound for the festival’s “grog shop” at the old Seven Seas Luau House — later renamed Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in honor of Kaleohano’s mother — while Yafuso supplied audio for the festival’s main hula stage.

Kaleohano joined Yafuso inside Edith Kanaka‘ole Tennis Stadium after the festival shut down the grog shop a number of years ago.

“He and I go back together about 40 years,” Yafuso said. “We never fought. We’d work together, drink together, party together. … He had a mind that could remember everybody and everything. It would just blow my mind.”

Kaleohano also shared his knowledge and experience with aspiring musicians.

“Young musicians, they were gonna go to Brown Bags or whatever, never sang in front of a microphone, you know, he would set it up in the garage so they could practice on mikes,” Missy Kaleohano said. “He didn’t have to do that. He would just do it. He was humble and very generous.”

“There are so many musicians that he’s mentored who have deep aloha for him,” Rossetti added.

“I think of guys like Lito Arkangel. He wouldn’t be who he is today — prospering in his music, his first CD just out, on the right path caring for his family — without the help of guys like Piggy.”

Kua said Kaleohano was a role model as well as a mentor.

“You look at the guy, you say, ‘I’d like my kid to grow up like Piggy,’” he said.

“Humble, quiet, does his work. He had that inner strength, even to the very end.”

Visitation is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, July 6, at Kawananakoa Hall gym in Keaukaha, with funeral service at 11 a.m.

In addition to his wife, Kaleohano is survived by his daughter, Kasie Kaleohano; son, Richard Kuakini “Kini Boy” Kaleohano Jr.; brother, Smith “Gig” Kaleohano; sisters, Jackie Baltero and Michelle “Fulu” Morishita; and two grandchildren.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.