18
CoOK ISLANDS SuN
ISLAND LIFE
Rudy and Kanoe on the beach at their accommodation property, Tropical Sands
Rudy Aquino – master musician
Rudy Aquino, a Hawaiian musician
with an eye for the good life in the Cooks When Hawaiian-born, Rarotongabased, master musician Rudy Aquino was 15-years old he recalls facing the high school principal in his office on careers day. The principal looked him straight in the eye and asked: ‘what do you want to be?’ Rudy returned the look, and replied: ‘I want to be a musician.’ The principal’s unsmiling response: ‘You are a dreamer Rudy’.
dreamer I am, and “A I have fulfilled my dreams!” said Rudy. Born 75 years ago on the ‘big island’ of Hawaii in 1941, Rudy spent his early years with his grandparents whilst his parents lived in wartime Oahu. “I come from a family of eight brothers and sisters. My father, who came to Hawaii from the Philippines in 1922, was a stevedore. My Hawaiian-born mother was a nurse after the war.
Today Rudy plays various instruments that are useful in a Hawaiian-style band such as piano, xylophone, conga drums, and, of course, the ukulele. “My first job was at Kaiser Hawaiian Village in the garden bar with Bernie Hellman. I was 18 years old. I was working in the same hotel they filmed the TV detective series Hawaiian Eye in the late 50s early 60s.
After school in Oahu Rudy tried stevedoring for a year but gave up because he had the impulse to follow his dream be a professional musician.
With the Vietnam War and conscription on the horizon, Rudy and some of his musician friends chose to join the US Air Force Band.
“My family enjoyed singing and dancing at home, my brothers all played musical instruments. I never had any real music training, though I took some piano lessons at age of ten. I joined the school band then starting playing other instruments like the saxophone. At 15 picked up the vibraphone”.
“We joined the Air Force Band, which is the old Glenn Miller Band. We travelled a lot with the band and we performed publically and privately for the State Department, including at the White House for JFK, Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, and many other big names of the time.”
When Rudy and his friends left the army he returned to Hawaii and formed a group called the Hawaiian Allis. Allis means chief, same as Ariki in Rarotongan Maori.
in Rudy and Kanoe moving to the Cooks.
Soon they joined Don Ho, one of Hawaii’s most popular entertainers, as Don Ho and the Allis, performing in Hawaii, on the US mainland, and also making television appearances. They were with Don Ho from 1964-69. “We started with Don at Hoplouie. We were called the Aliis, sometimes the fabulous Aliis. One time in California we were named as the swinging Allis and some people thought we were a circus act!” When the Allis left Don Ho they continues ‘on the circuit’ which included Reno, Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas. We’d make our rounds and come back to Hawaii. We did this from 197079.
“Our life here is peaceful and happy because we have found the place we’d like to live on earth.”
Tropical Sands
“In 1980 I became a school music teacher for a few years in Kailua. It was a big adjustment. I had no experience teaching so I took a crash course in teaching from the University of Hawaii.” Rudy enjoyed teaching children, but it wasn’t enough for him so he returned to performing. “I went back with Don Ho in the Hawaiian Village Hotel Kaiser Dome.”
Younger Rudy pledging friendship bonds with the legends of Waikiki, Duke Kahanamoku and Don Ho
“I met Kanoe in 1990. Her birth name is Heidi. Her Hawaiian name is Kanoe Lani given to her by her Hawaiian Aunty - it means heavenly mist.
“Kanoe was a dancer with my band. She was the lead ‘hula’ dancer. We were in Maui for about 15 years. It was during this time we decided to move to the Cook Islands. “I met Jim Bruce, who introduced us to the Cook Islands. We moved in 2008 after visiting him many times, for long and short stays. Jim had bought the Aroa Beachside Inn.
In 1988, Rudy moved to Maui: “I worked with my own band at the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel”.
“We sold everything in Hawaii and moved to Rarotonga, and moved straight into Tropical Sands, which was an established accommodation business.”
Two new friendships in Maui would change Rudy’s life: he met his future wife, Kanoe, and he met his ‘best buddy’ Jim Bruce, who was instrumental
Tropical Sands, located in Matevera on the east coast of Rarotonga, has four, selfcatering beach houses on the oceanfront.
Happily settled in Rarotonga, living on site at Tropical Sands, Rudy also keeps busy performing his style of music around the island. But he hasn’t forgotten his roots. “Kanoe and I have children and grandchildren from previous marriages. It’s the second time around for both of us. We go back for annual visits for a month. “My mother is still around. She is 97!” But Rarotonga is home! “Our life here is peaceful and happy because we have found the place we’d like to live on earth. The people are wonderful and there was not too much transition for us as far as the personality of people, they are about the same as Hawaiians. We found the Polynesians of Hawaii and the Cook Islands are closely related”. But in all the time Rudy and Kanoe have lived on Rarotonga they haven’t travelled as much as they would like: “We haven’t even been to New Zealand! “But first, we want to travel to the outer islands. Those places really intrigue me! In his spare time, Rudy likes to play golf and said the Rarotonga Golf Club is special. “The best golf course in the world only $150 a year! I play twice a week – early morning hours so nobody sees me! Just Jim Bruce and me; we go out there and hack around!” Rudy said he is here to stay: “It is a blessing each day that I walk in the sand of Rarotonga.”