Myrtle K. Hilo Explained

Myrtle K. Hilo
Native Name Lang:Hawaiian
Birth Name:Myrtle Keahiʻaihonua Kahea
Birth Date:May 17, 1929
Birth Place:Hauʻula, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii
Death Place:Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Occupation:Live performer
Taxicab driver
Instrument:Ukulele
Years Active:1967 - 2009
Label:Makaha
Lehua
Tropical
49th State Hawaii
Spouse:George Hilo Sr.,

Myrtle Keahiʻaihonua Kalanikahea Hilo[1] (May 17, 1929 - October 3, 2009) was a native Hawaiian taxicab driver, radio personality, ʻukulele player and singer. Her signature album The Singing Cab Driver was released in 1967 on Makaha Records. She was born in Hauʻula, Hawaii on the island of O'ahu. In 1998 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts.

Background and early career

Myrtle Keahiʻaihonua Kahea Hilo was born in Hauʻula on the island of O'ahu, in the Territory of Hawaii. She attended McKinley High school, graduating in 1948. She married George Hilo, a heavy equipment operator for the Board of Water Supply. Together they had six children.[2] Hilo worked as a cashier, and a taxicab driver before achieving success in the entertainment business.[3]

According to the online Territorial Airwaves, Hilo briefly sang with the Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club. She came under the mentorship of Kumu Hula George Naʻope in the early 1950s when he performed at the Niumalu Hotel (where the Hilton Hawaiian Village now stands). Together with Naʻope, she recorded with John Kameaaloha Almeida on their Tropical Records label, and on the 49th State Hawaii label.[4]

Commercial success

In the late 1960s, she began to make a name for herself in Waikīkī. She accompanied herself on ʻukulele and recorded her first album The Singing Cab Driver on the Makaha Label. Hilo was featured at Sunday entertainment galas in Waikīkī promoted by Kimo Wilder McVay.[5] She had her own bi-weekly live broadcast on KHVH radio, from the Outrigger Reef Hotel, and a Sunday evening live broadcast from the Moana Hotel.[6] [7]

Between 1967 and 1973, Hilo recorded three albums. Her break-out hit "Will You Love Me (When My Carburetor Is Busted)" eventually became a classic, and is believed to be a George Naʻope adaptation of the Benjamin (Bell) Zamberg '"Carburetor the Automobile Song'" from Yiddish theatre.[8] By the 1970s she was filling in for Kahala Hilton headliner Danny Kaleikini.[9]

Hilo continued driving her taxicab on a full-time basis, sometimes picking up fares after she closed her show at night. Although she took regular fares, she also sometimes accommodated private tours. Travel companies began an arrangement with her for use of her name for United States mainland tours, while booking her as the on-board entertainment.[10]

Later years

After three successive family deaths in 1976, her husband and both her parents, she took a sabbatical from performing and moved to Tacoma, Washington.[11]

She returned to performing in Hawaii in 1987.[12] In 1998, the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.[13]

Myrtle K. Hilo died in 2009. Besides her husband, her daughter Healani also preceded her in death. She was survived by four of her children.[14]

Discography

Singles

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hula Preservation Society . 2022 . Oral History FInding Aid Myrtle K. Hilo . May 13, 2023 . Hula Preservation Society.
  2. News: Wheaton . Nadine . January 11, 1968 . Female Drivers of Taxis Discover Work Exciting . May 13, 2024 . Honolulu Star Bulletin . 27.
  3. News: Marriage applications . June 11, 2018 . Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com . December 18, 1948 . 32, col. 2.
    News: What do you think? . June 11, 2018 . The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com . June 15, 1952 . 11, 1.
  4. Web site: Myrtle K. .Hilo. www.territorialairwaves.com. June 11, 2018.
  5. News: Myrtle Likes To Sing -- And Drive Her Cab, Too. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. April 16, 1967. 20.
    News: Gibson Musical Showcase Presents. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. June 27, 1967. 45. ; News: Kimo Wilder McVey Presents Duke's Sunday Suck 'Em Up! Luau. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. October 6, 1967. 17.
  6. News: KHVH's Singing Cabbie. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. March 31, 1968. 91.
    News: Radio listings. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. April 21, 1968. p. 117, col. 2.
  7. News: Wheaton . Nadine . January 11, 1968 . Female Drivers of Taxis Discover Work Exciting . Honolulu Star Bulletin . 27.
  8. Web site: Carburetor Song . www.huapala.org . June 11, 2018.
    News: Harada. Wayne. Myrtle, Vicki Albums Charm. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. February 20, 1968. 25.
  9. News: Harada. Wayne. another Hilo hukilau-ing. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. January 22, 1972. 21.
  10. News: Wharton. Nadine. Female drivers of taxis discover work exciting. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. January 11, 1968. 27, col. 4.
    News: Richard. Robyn. Myrtle Hilo: she's a good old wagon. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. February 22, 1971. 33. ; News: Myrtle K. Hilo's West Coast Summer Fun Jamboree. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. May 27, 1972.
  11. News: Obituaries - Harry Kahea . June 11, 2018 . Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com . May 25, 1976 . 32.
    News: George Hilo Sr. obit. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. July 20, 1976. 22. ; News: obituaries - Annie Kehea . June 11, 2018 . The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com . December 28, 1976 . 40. ; News: Harada. Wayne. Chit-chat. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. November 21, 1979. 13.
  12. News: Donnelley. Dave. 19 Jun 1987, 20 -. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. June 19, 1987. 20, col. 4.
  13. News: Harada. Wayne. Hoku awards to pay tribute to three musical notables. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. May 15, 1998. 48.
    News: Berger. John. Hokus one to remember. June 11, 2018. Honolulu Star-Bulletin . Newspapers.com. May 18, 1998. 15.
  14. News: Obits - Healani Georgiana Hilo Pepee. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. June 8, 1994. 34.
    News: Cataluna. Lee. Celebrity mom sang happy for everyone. June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. October 18, 2009. 24. ; News: Hilo (continued from A25). June 11, 2018. The Honolulu Advertiser . Newspapers.com. October 18, 2009. A27.
  15. Web site: Myrtle K. Hilo - The Singing Cab Driver. Discogs. June 11, 2018.
  16. Web site: Myrtle K. Hilo - Will You Love Me (When My Carburetor Is Busted). Discogs. June 11, 2018.
  17. Web site: Myrtle K. Hilo - Mahalo Plenty. Discogs. June 11, 2018.
  18. Web site: Myrtle K. Hilo With John K. Almeida* And Joe Keawe's Harmony Hawaiians / Joe Keawe With John K. Almeida And His Hawaiians* - Mauna Loa / Kauai Medley. Discogs. June 11, 2018.
  19. Web site: Andrew Bright With Al Kealoha Perry And His Singing Serenaders* / Myrtle K. Hilo With John K. Almeida* And Joe Keawe's Harmony Hawaiians - Hawaiian Cowboy / Kila Kila O Haleakala. Discogs. June 11, 2018.
  20. Web site: Myrtle K. Hilo with Joe Keawe's Harmony Hawaiians / John K. Almeida* with Pua Almeida And His Polynesians - Moana Loa / A Oia. Discogs. June 11, 2018.

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