Moe Keale

Wilfred Nalani "Moe" Keale (December 3, 1939 – April 15, 2002) was an American musician of Hawaiian music, a ʻukulele virtuoso, and an actor. He was the uncle and major musical influence of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole.

He died from a heart attack on 15 April 2002, aged 62.

Early life He was one of the few persons born in the 20th century to have full Hawaiian ancestry. His father was a kahuna. Moe Keale was born on the island of Niʻihau, but raised on Oʻahu. He was shaped by the ancestral customs and values of his birthplace, learning to play the ʻukulele at the age of four. Conversations in his Niʻihau family home were in Hawaiian, and songs were passed from generation to generation. He would later fondly recall his summers on Niʻihau, where stress was not part of the lifestyle. "I figured that heaven must be something like Niʻihau," he said.

Career A native of Hawaiʻi, he primarily had roles in movies and TV series that took place in the islands, including many appearances on Hawaii Five-O, where he had a recurring part as Truck Kealoha in the show's final season. He also appeared as Officer O'Shaughnessy on the Hawaiian-based NBC sitcom, The Brian Keith Show.

He was a beachboy, musician and singer, part-time electrician, and radio deejay, as well as an actor. His first paid musical gig with his group the Four K's was at the Waikīkī Tavern circa 1958, followed by the Tropical Club in Kailua-Kona. In 1964, he worked with the Puka Puka Otea Tahitian Show at Queen's Surf. He was recruited for a New York city gig when he was seen at a beach doing high dives off a simulated waterfall. and he remained with the group until 1977. He then went on to make three solo albums South Sea Island Magic, Aloha Is A Part of Me, A Part of You, and Imagine. He was a DJ on KCCN in the 1980s. The Lomi Shop promoted the art of healing through lomilomi massage.

Moe had a near-fatal heart attack in April 2001 and received a pacemaker implant. He used his extension on life to raise $260,000 for the American Heart Association, in order to have portable defibrillators strategically positioned throughout the state of Hawaii.

Discography

Hawaii's Treasure: Uncle Moe Keale Live in Waikiki CD 0888 (Booklines) South Sea Island Magic (2000) CD 2059 (Mountain Apple) Imagine (1996) CD 1005 (Ord) Aloha Is a Part of Me (1995) CD 6426 (Surfside)

Filmography

Picture Bride (1994)

Film and Television work

The Brian Keith Show (1972, TV Series) - Officer O'Shaugnessy Sanford and Son (1976, TV Series) - Davis' Thug Danger in Paradise (1977, TV Movie) - Garfield Big Hawaii (1977, TV Series) - Garfield Kalahani Stickin' Together (1978) - Big Ben Kalkini The Islander (1978, TV Movie) - Henchman Pearl (1978, TV Mini-Series) - Sergeant The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove (1979, TV Series) - Big Ben Kalikini The Paradise Connection (1979) - Driver Hawaii Five-O (1971–1980, TV Series) - Joe Moala, Det. Truck Kealoha M Station: Hawaii (1980) - Truck Kealoha Charlie's Angels (1980, TV Series) - Chin Hawaiian Heat (1984, TV Movie) - Jinbo Gidget's Summer Reunion (1985, TV Movie) - Bob the Driver Blood and Orchids (1986, TV Movie) - Roy Manakula Magnum, P.I. (1981–1987, TV Series) - Mortie the car rental dealer / Granville / Kaholo Picture Bride (1994) - Hawaiian fisherman Hawaii Five-O (1997, TV Movie) - Truck (final film role)