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WHEREAS, Alfred Aholo Apaka was born on March 19, 1919, in Honolulu on the island of Oahu in the Territory of Hawaii and was a renowned Hawaii vocalist and engaging performer whose music has been a lasting presence delighting listeners and nurturing an appreciation for hapa haole music, a Hawaii-born and -inspired music genre featuring songs about Hawaii or some aspect of Hawaiian culture with English lyrics; and

WHEREAS, the son of Alfred A. Apaka, Sr., who was himself an accomplished musician, and the grandnephew of Lydia Ka‘onohiponiponiokalani Aholo, who was the hānai daughter of Queen Liliuokalani, Alfred Apaka's musical influences began early in life; and

WHEREAS, Alfred Apaka's early musical training and performances included playing the ukulele and string bass and singing in the Roosevelt High School chorus and the Mormon Church choir; and

WHEREAS, with his romantic baritone vocals and appealing performances, Alfred Apaka is known as "The Golden Voice of Hawaii"; and

WHEREAS, Alfred Apaka performed his first professional engagement as a singer for Don McDiarmid, Sr. at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki in 1938; two years later he performed as part of Ray Kinney's band at the Hotel Lexington in New York City and made "Hawaii's Charm," his first recording under his own name; and

WHEREAS, Alfred Apaka's music extended beyond Hawaii's shores where it garnered interest and appreciation from people nationally and worldwide; and

WHEREAS, in 1952, Alfred Apaka performed on Bob Hope's national television show and Bing Crosby's radio show, recorded with the Andrews Sisters and Danny Steward and His Islanders for Decca Records, and was featured in appearances on Ed Sullivan's Talk of The Town and The Dinah Shore Show; and

WHEREAS, in 1954, after making other recordings and performing in numerous locations on the mainland United States, Alfred Apaka returned to Hawaii to work at Henry Kaiser's Hawaiian Village Hotel in Waikiki, where he entertained Hawaii residents and visitors; and

WHEREAS, one of the greatest Hawaiian vocalists of the Twentieth Century, Alfred Apaka's remarkable career was cut short by death from a heart attack in 1960 at the young age of 40, but to this day, he remains a cultural icon with fans around the world; and

WHEREAS, Alfred Apaka's music and talents have endured with such memorable recordings as "Aloha Oe," "Sleepy Lagoon," "I Will Remember You," "Hawaiian Wedding Song," "Far Across the Sea," "Forever," and "Hapa Haole Hula Girl"; and

WHEREAS, in 1999, an album of Alfred Apaka's lost recordings was released as "Lost Recordings of Hawaii's Golden Voice," which was subsequently awarded the prestigious Na Hoku Hanohano Award; and

WHEREAS, Alfred Apaka's legacy continues to promote Hawaii worldwide and unify people through shared appreciation and bonds of his lasting music; and

WHEREAS, the United States Postal Service recognizes the lives and accomplishments of outstanding Americans with commemorative postage stamps; and

WHEREAS, March 19, 1919, marks the centennial of Alfred Aholo Apaka's birth, and his musical contributions to Hawaii, the nation, and the world are worthy of recognition and honor through a United States Postal Service commemorative postage stamp; and

WHEREAS, a stamp commemorating Alfred Apaka's birth centennial would be only the second commemorative stamp issued to honor a Native Hawaiian and Polynesian-American; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that the United States Postal Service is requested to issue a commemorative postage stamp recognizing Alfred Aholo Apaka; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States Postal Service is requested to first release the commemorative stamp in Waikiki, the place where Alfred Apaka established himself as a performer, and then to the rest of the nation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the people of Hawaii are urged to support this effort to recognize Alfred Apaka for his accomplishments and talents that bring pride to our State and Nation and continue to forge goodwill through the love and enjoyment of music; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Postmaster General of the United States; Chair of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee; Postmaster General of Hawaii; members of Hawaii's Congressional Delegation; the Governor; and Mayors of the City and County of Honolulu, and Counties of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui.

Report Title:

Alfred Apaka; United States Postal Service Commemorative Stamp

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	136
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII