What does John do now? He plays in “The Royal Hawaiian Ukulele Band” as many times a week as possible. They play in clubs and parties throughout the Bay area. He takes Hawaiian music lessons from various people here on the mainland. He takes Hawaiian language classes to learn the language. He goes to Hawaii three to four times a year to play, learn and jam with his friends. He does not drink anymore. Is no longer depressed and lives a full life.

John Smith is a Howley (Not Hawaiian) male in his 60’s that had a relationship with my brother for thirty years. John’s whole world revolved around my brother. What he did, how he did it, and why he did it, was with my brother. After my brother’s passing John didn’t know what to do. He tried relationships that didn’t work out. So he consumed alcohol, a lot of alcohol. He’d have a drink before he went to work, during lunch and after work. He drank quite heavily. John told me that he averaged about one thousand dollars a month on alcohol that he purchased from the liquor store; this did not include what he spent at the local taverns. One day a friend of his came over to visit and invited him to a Hawaiian “Bar” called the Temple Bar in Berkeley. John thought it was a tavern owned by a local Hawaiian, but it turned out it was a place that played Hawaiian music and served Hawaiian food, no alcohol. John’s friend (Kana Loa) was concerned for him and wanted to get him to the Temple bar hoping John would like the music and atmosphere and maybe join in a local Hawaiian Band. John liked Hawaiian music; he didn’t understand the words but liked the sound of the Ukulele and how the guitarist would play “Slack Key” style. That night changed his life forever. He searched his soul and found that through Hawaiian music and the influence of his Hawaiian friends he had found a purpose in life through Hawaiian music.

Known

Some topics in this essay:
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