Highlights of Manny K. Fernandez

Beach Boy Manny K. Fernandez, surfer, singer, Hawaiian, Entertainer Lives the KAMA`AINA LIFESTYLE..............

Manny K. Fernandez
Biography of a Beach Boy Manny K. Fernandez, surfer, singer, Hawaiian, is a Renaissance Man who sings the songs of Old Hawaii to ensure that Hawaiian Islanders, especially those who no longer live in Hawaii, never forget the heritage from which they came. Conversely, Manny K Fernandez is a warrior who doesn’t want Hawaii to forget those of us who have moved away. Manny has battled long and hard for recognition of Hawaiian artists who no longer live in Hawaii!
KAMA`AINA LIFESTYLE..............A PROFILE...............
He was, is and will always be a man of the sea.......a man who was a Waikiki "Beach Boy" when that title was revered and reserved for an elite group of Hawaiians who surfed the breaks off Kuhio Beach and the Natatorium on their "longboards".....back in those long ago days of the 1940’s and ‘50’s and 60’s when hotels on the beach of Waikiki were few and far between and tourism was in it’s infancy! He spent most of those days riding the waves with Hawaiian surfing legends like "the Duke" and Sampson and Jamma and Rabbit Kekai ....he spent the hours following a day of surfing learning to play his ukulele and singing along with Hawaiian musical icons like Chick Daniels and Squeeze Kamana and Harry Robello and Ox Keaulana! Besides surfing and singing, our Profile guest enjoyed outrigger canoeing where he felt honored and privileged to have had "the Duke" (Kahanamoku) as his mentor. He became such a proficient Wa’a canoeist that he was elected captain of the Healani Canoe Club, at that time one of the strongest/most competitive outrigger canoe clubs in Hawaii!

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(Left) MANNY IS IN THE OUTRIGGER ON THIS SHEET MUSIC: TITLE THE HOUSE OF SINGING BAMBOO. Published by Robbins Music Corp, New York, 1950. Written and composed by Arthur Freed and Harry Warren. Featured in the MGM film "Pagan Love Song" starring Esther Williams, Howard Keel, Rita Moreno, Minna Gombell and Charles Mauu. This song was sung on screen by Howard Keel.

(Right) Uncle Manny is actually just to the right of Esther Williams, at very bottom of the poster. The Lead Synchronized Swimmer. He is almost off the page out swimming her, he was the lead synchronized swimmer for the movie.
The Year was 1949, and it was filmed on Kauai.

There is a little more grey in his hair now but he is still a tall, handsome, statuesque Hawaiian gentleman who surfs whenever he can and whose musical talents have earned him numerous awards! Meet MANNY KAIALELEPA FERNANDEZ, a man who has, through his music, established a link connecting all Hawaiians today to the richness and beauty of our past!
Born of the Sea (appropriately, his middle name Kaialelepa translates to leaping over Sea coral), Manny can be seen at 6 a.m. paddling his surfboard off Waikiki every time he returns to Hawaii! But while paddling is his love, music is his passion and it has been through his soft, gentle, soothing voice that Manny K Fernandez has spread Aloha throughout the world.
Manny grew up in the Kaimuki section of Honolulu, within walking distance to Waikiki Beach (which explains his love of the sea) and in a family environment filled with Hawaiian music. His Hanai Mom, Ella Kahale Mikasobe Fernandez was a talented musician, singer, dancer and Kumu Hula who was Manny’s first music teacher. He’s not real sure which came first for him (a surfboard or a ukulele) but both were to impact significantly on his life! While he’s not sure where his first ukulele came from, he thinks his first surfboard was his Mom Ella’s ironing board. Actually, when Mom Ella realized his love for surfing, she presented Manny with a 14 foot long, hollow fir/redwood board. In those days, that was akin to giving your teenager a Cadillac for his birthday. After graduating from St Louis High School in Honolulu, Manny started working for the Hawaii National Guard, remaining there until his retirement after twenty-five years of service. While in the National Guard, Manny began playing music on the "Sing Along With Miki" TV show with Samson Bright and Miki Bowers. Shortly thereafter, Manny was the bass player for the Kihei Brown Trio (with Kihei Brown on the uke and Charlie Nee on guitar). After retiring from the National Guard, Manny began working for Hawaiian Airlines where, with his mentor (the much admired and respected musician/song writer Andy Cummings), Manny became a traveling Ambassador of Aloha for Hawaiian Airlines, enchanting and enticing audiences throughout the world to visit Hawaii!
Manny K. Fernandez is a Renaissance Man who sings the songs of Old Hawaii to ensure that Hawaiian Islanders, especially those who no longer live in Hawaii, never forget the heritage from which they came. Conversely, Manny K Fernandez is a warrior who doesn’t want Hawaii to forget those of us who have moved away. Manny has battled long and hard for recognition of Hawaiian artists who no longer live in Hawaii!
One result of efforts by Manny and other Hawaiian musicians who reside on the mainland is that they are now eligible for award of the Hawaiian Music Association’s album of the year (which Manny has won three times for his C.D.s "In This Enchanted Place " (2004), "My Island Paradise" (2005) and "Hawaiian Memories" (2006))!
Manny and his beautiful (and very talented) wife Bettyjean moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1984 . What better place to reside for a man known by many as an Ambassador of Aloha? There is no doubt that Manny K Fernandez is thoroughly a kanaka maoli (native Hawaiian) in his heart but he has adopted Oregon as his home away from home and has so impressed the Oregonians that he was knighted by the Royal Rosarians (official greeters for the city of Portland) for his many contributions to the community. Manny and Bettyjean own and operate "Hawaiian Gatherings" a multi-faceted business which specializes in Hawaiian antiques and collectibles as well as providing music and food catering services. Manny is also a Kahu (ordained Minister) who can and does conduct weddings and house blessings (Hawaiian style). Manny is still very much an Ambassador of Aloha, enchanting and enticing audiences with his mellow music and talents.
Mahalo Manny K Fernandez for all you do and have done for our people and our culture! Manny................you da Man!!!!!
Until next time, be kind to each other........me ke Aloha pumehana..........Danny (NW TIMES NEWSPAPER)

March 2007 HAWAII MUSIC AWARDS--BEST TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN CD 2006--PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS........HONOLULU, HAWAII

You may know Manny K. Fernandez as a veteran musician and Ambassador of Hawaii, who, while under the employ of Hawaiian Airlines, traveled the globe performing with other notable entertainers like Andy Cummings. He returns with appealing old time favorites of little heard traditional Hawaiian tunes. You'll learn much more about this keiki o ka aina (child of the land), who grew up in Kaimuki, close to the ocean waves he loved. Becoming a waterman, a beachboy, friend of the late Duke Kahanamoku and other famous surfers of the day - all practitioners of the "Sport of Kings."

Manny shares the memories that are attached to each of the songs on his CDs. Old timers will nod in remembrance and newcomers will be afforded a glimpse into another time in our Hawaii nei. Here is a wonderful collection of oldtime Hawaiian and Hapa-Haole songs that are sure to charm... sung by a real charmer, Manny K. Fernandez!

Come, listen, the velvety voice will bring back those Hawaiian Memories of years past.

The Grammy Awards

Manny is a member of not only the H.A.R.A. (Hawaii Academy of Recording Artists) The Hawaii Music Hall of Fame, and also The N.A.R.A.S. (National Academy Recording Artists Society, aka THE GRAMMY'S! As far as we're aware, Manny could be the only one in Oregon who is a member. There are several in Seattle, and 16,000 worldwide, but for sure, Manny is the "only Hawaiian who is a member living in the Pactific Northwest! His Membership Card is surely a card to be Proud of!

As part of the 50th anniversary celebration of The Recording Academy and the GRAMMY Awards, CBS and The Academy will present "My Night at the GRAMMYs," a new entertainment special set to air on Friday, November 30, 8 – 10 p.m. ET/PT.

This two-hour telecast will highlight GRAMMY Awards show history as artists tell their personal stories of what it means to perform on the show that has become Music's Biggest Night http://www.grammy.com/

Mr. Manny K. Fernandez adds a touch of class to today's traditional Hawaiian Music. Not only in his singing but in his everyday life. Along with his lovely wife they live and perpetuate the true meaning of Aloha. This aloha is embedded in his music and their love of life. This remarkable man continues to surf the waves as he has done his lifetime through and will surf into your heart when you listen to his magical ukulele and soft vocal arrangements. Don't miss these award winning CDs as they are sure to become part of Traditional Hawaiian Music History. He'll help you fall in love with Hawaii all over again.
Always Aloha~ Lea
http://www.hawaiiangatherings.com