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Hawaiian music patriarch 'Bunny' Brown dies in Hilo at age 90


HILO — "Bunny" Brown, patriarch of one of Hawaii's great music families, died at his Hilo home April 30 after a long illness. He was 90.
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Brown, whose proper name was William Christopher Enoch Brown III, was a singer-guitarist and leader of the vocal group The Hilo Hawaiians, which included his cousins, Buddy and Thomas "Kihei" Desha Brown on ukulele, plus Edward "Mona" Kalima on stand-up bass and Arthur Kaua on steel guitar.

Their 1960 album, "Honeymoon in Hawaii," was rated No. 34 on Honolulu Magazine's list of the "50 Greatest Hawaii Albums of All Time." In 1963, Brown's sons, Elson "Bobo" and Boyson Brown joined the band. Later, Bunny Brown and Sons included eldest son Bill, as well.

"He was very wonderful, kind and caring, especially for his family," Bobo Brown said. "We grew up with so much love that they gave all of us — not just my sister, brothers and I, but his nieces, nephews and all that."

"His last words to my family and myself was to 'make sure that the family stays together,' because we were raised that way," added daughter Haunani Yorong, who was Brown's caretaker during his illness.

Brown, who was born in Hilo on March 3, 1919, was also a gifted athlete. A 1937 graduate of Hilo High School, he was a guard on the vaunted Vikings of storied basketball coach Ung Soy "Beans" Afook. Hawaii hoops legend Ah Chew Goo was a teammate.

"We called him 'Loose,' because he always appeared so loose, his movements on court were so natural," said Goo. "He was on the Hilo High football team, too. He was a great punter."

The nickname "Bunny" came from an uncle, according to Yorong, because "he was always hopping around."

"He had so much energy, he couldn't sit still," she said.

In addition to playing local venues such as the old Naniloa Hotel, the Orchid Isle Hotel and the King Kamehameha Hotel in Kona, the original Hilo Hawaiians traveled the world, performing in New York, Chicago, Europe, Japan and Australia — and entertaining thousands at the 1962 World's Fair in Seattle.

Their legacy was cemented with the inclusion on Honolulu Magazine's list in 2004.

"He was very happy and thrilled, because he never expected it to be named one of those top albums," Bobo Brown said. "You listen to the music, it's really the old style of Hawaiian music, the kind that you played in the backyard."

"Honeymoon in Hawaii" was re-issued as a CD in 2007 with additional songs and expanded liner notes.

"It's wonderful when you listen and you hear the harmony with my dad folks, especially the original group — Uncle Kihei, Buddy, Arthur. Their voices just matched together," Bobo Brown noted.

"Territorial Airwaves" radio, TV and Webcast host Harry B. Soria recalls Brown as "an extremely kind man" who "made a difference while he was here with us."

"He shared fascinating stories with us ... and gave us a glimpse of the Hilo of yesteryear — a town he dearly loved," Soria said. "I was fortunate enough to catch them on numerous occasions holding court at the (Naniloa), and making magic."

And boy, did Brown have stories to tell. He sang for President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the Volcano House in 1934, and for visiting Tongan Queen Halaevalu Mata'aho in 1972.

Additional survivors include Brown's son-in-law, Stanley Yorong, daughter-in-law Lynette Brown, 12 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by two wives, Anna "Kanaina" Rose Brown in 1986 and Juliette "Paa" Duvauchelle Brown in 2007. Bill Brown died in 2000.

Friends may call at Haili Congregational Church at 6 p.m. Thursday for a wake service at 7 p.m. An all-night vigil will follow. Funeral service is at 10 a.m. Friday at the church with cremation to follow. Casual attire is requested. Dodo Mortuary is handling arrangements

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