Draft:Leon and Malia

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Leon & Malia is a Hawaiian musical duo consisting of Leon Siu (b. 14 May 1948) and Malia Elliott (b. 19 December 1948). Their collaboration began in 1969 and grew to encompass performance, composing, recording, media production, and teaching.

Beginnings

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Leon Kaulahao Siu is the son of James B. Siu and Lucy Ahea Siu (née Aiona). James Bo Siu (Siu Chong Bo), of Guangdong, China, immigrated to Hawai'i in 1911, eventually making his home on the Island of Hawai'i. His wife, Lucy Ahea Siu, was descended from generations of native Hawaiian fishermen and outrigger canoe builders from Miloli'i, Hawai'i Island.

Malia Elliott is the daughter of Donald F. Elliott, Professor of European languages, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, Honolulu, Hawai'i and Elizabeth J. Elliott (née Lilley) a drama teacher, TEFL, language coach in Honolulu and the Middle East. Leon & Malia share three sons – Koa J. Siu (IT Executive and Musician); Britton E. Brooks (Professor of English, Kyushu University, Japan); and Cody E. Brooks (Photojournalist).

Leon grew up in a highly musical environment. He began playing the ukulele in second grade at Waiakeawaena Elementary School[1] in Hilo. At the age of thirteen his grandmother gifted him her vintage Harmony guitar with Hawaiian slack-key tuning. [citation needed] He had private lessons in drawing and watercolor,[2] and later oil painting.[3] Leon graduated from Hilo High School class of 1966 and entered the University of Hawai'i at Hilo that fall to continue his studies in Art with visiting artist John Paul Thomas. Even though Leon's interest in the Visual Arts dominated his education, the continued influence in everyday life of Hawaiian music, and American folk and popular music, had a lasting effect on him, especially so after the recently-founded (1964) Merrie Monarch Festival in his hometown (Hilo). In 1968 he transferred to the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (Honolulu), and was accepted into their advanced painting program.

Malia Elliott began her training for the stage at age 7 with the Phyllis Shield Children's Theatre in Honolulu.[4] In 1965 she was accepted into the Oregon Shakespeare Festival at Ashland, Oregon both as actress and madrigal singer. After graduating from high school in 1966, she studied Theatre Arts at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She also toured the State with a Honolulu Theatre for Youth production of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" where she first met Leon who was performing at a Hilo nightclub. In 1967, she joined the White Oaks Touring Repertory Company, based in Carmel Valley, California. Returning to Hawai'i in 1969, she joined Leon at Chuck's Cellar in Waikīkī,[5] a notable showplace in the coming years of the 1970s (see Hawaiian Renaissance) when they officially became Leon & Malia.

For them, the eventful decade of the 1970s began in California at The Purple Onion in San Francisco and The Ice House in Pasadena, California, both popular career-launching nightclubs.[6][7][8] In Hawai'i they were among the first singers to blend Hawaiian, Folk, and Pop music stylings[9][10] to perform at Waikīkī sites such as J.B.'s Grill, Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Moana Hotel and Territorial Tavern in downtown Honolulu.[11][12] They were the main act at the 1969 Diamond Head Music Festival[13], and in the early 1970s concert promoter Tom Moffatt[14] booked them on concerts with Dionne Warwick[15][16], Jethro Tull, Leon Russell, Stephen Stills, Beck, Bogert & Appice[17], and others.[18] Honolulu Advertiser Music Critic Wayne Harada wrote, "At an HIC performance with Leon Russell … Leon and Malia received a standing ovation."[19] Their debut album, Leon & Malia was recorded in Los Angeles (1970),[20] followed by Blend (1972),[21][22] and Haku Mele (1976), both recorded in Hawai'i. Of the Haku Mele album reviewer Eldon Akamine wrote, “Leon & Malia definitely are a force to be reckoned with in Hawaiian Music.” [23] A musical tour of their travels across America from the West Coast to Kansas City, Nashville, and New York City, led to new songs about America for their album Heartland (1979).

The Voyage of the Hōkūle'a

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The mid-seventies also found Leon & Malia deeply involved in the Hawaiian cultural revival movement, especially the upcoming voyage of the Hōkūle'a (see Polynesian Voyaging Society) - the envisioned double-hulled canoe planned to sail round-trip between Hawai'i and Tahiti, navigating by the stars.[24] In 1976 Leon and Malia were chosen by Dale Bell - Producer for WQED Television in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - to collaborate with William Loose in the creation of the music score and performing as soloists in the music soundtrack for the National Geographic Society 90-minute documentary film, "The Voyage of the Hōkūle'a" for broadcast on National PBS Television (1977).[25]

Forty years later (2017), after many historic voyages, the Hōkūle'a was completing a three-year circumnavigation of the world. Producer Dale Bell was in Hawai'i for the occasion and was interviewed by KHET Hawaii Public Television, Honolulu. During the interview, Dale observed, "…the music that they (Leon & Malia) composed was so in keeping with the flavor and the spirit of what Hōkūle'a could endure to mean…Hōkūle'a's voice is still that of Malia."[26] Leon & Malia were invited to perform their Hōkūle'a-inspired songs at the Hawai'i homecoming celebration for the famous sailing canoe.

Boy with Goldfish

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Based on a ancient Hawaiian mythic hero's journey, the collaborative crossover work Boy with Goldfish encompasses ten songs by Leon & Malia and added traditional Hawaiian lyric material (1970-1973), inspired by a series of seven oil paintings plus graphics by artist John Paul Thomas (1966-1976), and Jerre Tanner's symphonic realization (1974-1976) for soloists, chorus, organ, and orchestra.[27] As part of Hawai'i's State and National Bicentennial observance, the premiere by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (now the Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra) 4 October 1976 was in conjunction with an exhibition of the Thomas artwork at the Contemporary Museum of Art (now incorporated into the Honolulu Museum of Art).[28] From 1975 through 1977 Leon & Malia and the Honolulu Symphony performed excerpts in Community and in-school Youth concerts. Stafford Kiguchi reported in O'ahu Magazine, "The music has been performed over 40 times by the Honolulu Symphony and represents the first work based on Hawaiian myth purposely written for the orchestra." [29]

July 1979 Leon & Malia recorded "Boy with Goldfish" with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Nigel Brooks Chorale, Lee Holdridge conducting, in Watford Town Hall, Watford, England. The music was recorded digitally with the then newly developed Soundstream recording and editing technology.[30] It was released in 1980 by Varèse Sarabande on vinyl disc.[31][32][33][34] On 3 March 1980, in a KFAC-FM Los Angeles radio broadcast interview with Dr. Thomas Stockham, inventor of the Soundstream digital technology, excerpts from "Boy with Goldfish" were the first music broadcast from Soundstream digital-playback to directly over the air. The Compact Disc version of the recording was released by Albany Records in 1993. A review of this recording stated, "'Boy with Goldfish' … has some of the most beautiful music written in the 20th century…".[35]

Children's Music

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With Leon & Malia, writing songs for the children of Hawai'i is also their passion. Since 1979, they have been the dominant presence in children's music in the Islands.[36] Their initial project, "Mokulana", was released as a storybook-album, later as a storybook-CD, and a television special on KHON-TV2.[37] Songs from their "Keiki Calabash" sing-along video (DVD-CD) are sung in elementary schools throughout the State.[38] For several years, Leon & Malia's "Calabash Corner" TV spots were a regular feature every Saturday and Sunday morning on KHET Hawai'i Public Television. They were also producers of an 8-part TV program called "Tutu TV" aired on community access stations throughout Hawai'i, with helpful hints for grandparents who provide daytime caregiving for their grandchildren.[39]

In 2007 Leon & Malia produced and released another children's sing-along video (DVD)(CD) called "Hawai'i Kids Calabash." Like the original "Keiki Calabash", it features hundreds of children in Hawai'i's varied outdoor environments. They have produced numerous other children's recordings including "Ho'olako Hawai'i", "Lullaby Moon", "Kamalani Children's Chorus", "Tutu and Me", "Wee Play and Learn", "Hawai'i Kids Christmas"[40] and "Hawai'i Kids Praise". They also produced Teachers Resource Units for pre-school and elementary level children about the voyages of the Hōkūle'a.

Miss Malia's MusicTime!

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A pre-school music and movement program, Malia has directed the Leon & Malia Early Education Program, titled "MusicTime!", at various Pre-schools in Honolulu, the West Coast and Japan.[41]

Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hawaiian Kingdom

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H.E. Leon Kaulahao Siu, is the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hawaiian Kingdom and serves as a key strategist and spokesperson for the Kingdom.[42] (See Hawaiian sovereignty movement) Since the early 1970s he has been involved in each stage of the movement to reinstate the Hawaiian Kingdom as an independent country. His duties as Foreign Minister are to normalize and resume diplomatic relations with the United Nations at both Geneva, Switzerland and New York City,[43] as well as other countries/states and International bodies, reviving existing treaties and agreements, and raising awareness of the Hawaiian Kingdom through the global community. This includes such public services as the Global Speakers Bureau with subjects including “The Hawaiian Movement”, “The Cultural and Spiritual Renaissance in Hawai'i”, and others.[44]

Discography

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  • Leon & Malia (1970), Quadrum QS-2004
  • Blend (1972), Trim Records TLP 1972
  • Haku Mele (1976), Laka Records LAKA LM 003
  • Heartland (1979), Laka Records LM 004
  • Mokulana (1979), Banyan Records BR 700
  • Boy with Goldfish (1980), vinyl disc (digital master), Varèse Sarabande VCDM 1000.30
  • (1994) compact disc, Albany Records CD-TROY0053
  • (2006) hybrid disc, Albany Records SACD-TROY0053
  • Ho'olako Hawai'i (1987), cassette Children's Media Hawai'i CS-001
  • Tropic Nights (1991), cassette Haku Mele 005
  • Keiki Calabash (1993), Cassette Island Heritage 003
  • (1993), CD Island Heritage 006
  • (1993), VHS Island Heritage 00
  • (2002), CD Island Heritage 008
  • (2004), DVD Island Heritage 009
  • Slack Key Praise (1997), CD Haku Mele Hawai'i 010
  • Lullaby Moon (1999), CD Haku Mele Hawai'i 011
  • Hawaiian Melodies (2002), Haku Mele Hawai'i 012
  • Lullaby Moon (2003), CD Island Heritage 022
  • Hawai'i Kids Praise (2005), CD Haku Mele Hawai'i 014
  • Boat Days-Tropic Nights (2006), CD Island Heritage 023
  • Hawai'i Kids Calabash (2007), VHS
  • (2007), CD Island Heritage 024
  • (2007), DVD Island Heritage 025
  • (2011), CD Leon & Malia Productions 014
  • (2011), DVD Leon & Malia Productions 015
  • Hawai'i Kids' Christmas (2018), CD Haku Mele Productions 019

Bibliography

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  • Lingerman, Hal A. (1995, 2015) The Healing Energies of Music. Wheaton, Illinois. Quest Books Red Wheel/Weiser, pg. 146. ISBN 978-0-8356-0722-3
  • Siu, Leon Kaulahao. (2021) The Basis for the Restoration of the Hawaiian Kingdom: a Report from the Hawaiian Kingdom. Honolulu, Hawai'i.
  • Elliott, Malia (2023) Land of the White Waterfall. Honolulu, Hawai'i. ISBN 9798412 628691
  • Hess, Harvey; Tanner, Jerre (2022) Hawaiian Opera, an Exposition and Development of a Life Vision, Volume 1, ch. 4, pg. 177-214. Honolulu, Hawai'i. Editions Art – Music - Poetry. ISBN 979838 9884212

Other publications/Teacher resource

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  • Elliott, Malia; Siu, Leon (1987, Republished 2011)Mokulana. Honolulu, Hawaii. Leon & Malia Productions
  • Elliott, Malia; Siu, Leon (2003) Wai Ola, Water of Life. Honolulu, Hawaii. Leon & Malia Productions
  • Elliott, Malia; Siu, Leon (2007) Keiki Calabash. Island Heritage
  • Elliott, Malia; Siu, Leon (2007) Hawai'i Kids Calabash. Island Heritage. 2007.
  • Elliott, Malia; Siu, Leon (2017) Hōkūle'a and Me. Honolulu, Hawai'i. Leon & Malia Productions
  • Elliott, Malia; Siu, Leon (2017) Sail On Moana! Celebrating the Hōkūle'a Worldwide Voyage. Honolulu, Hawai'i. Leon & Malia Productions

References

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  1. ^ "Youngsters Pick Up the Art of Playing an Ukulele Fast at Waiakea-Waena". Hilo, Hawaii: Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald. Pg. 6. 18 January 1958. Retreived 5 March 2025
  2. ^ Maxine Hugues (2 June 1958). "Services Slated Tomorrow for Hilo Artist James Hu". Hilo, Hawai'i: Hawaiʻi Tribune-Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  3. ^ "Gertrude Victoria 'G.G' Garrida". Find a Grave. 1990. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  4. ^ Slaughter, Timothy Roy (1992). "Ph. D. Thesis, entry-'Shield, Phyllis'". Honolulu, Hawai'i: University of Hawai'i. p. 234-235. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  5. ^ Morrissey, Penny (22 September 1969). "singing is personal to Leon Siu". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  6. ^ Elwood, Philip (21 October 1970). "Some overlooked talent". San Francisco, California: San Francisco Examiner. p. 35.
  7. ^ Flaherty, Pat (11 April 1971). "Spotlight North". San Jose, California: San Jose Mercury.
  8. ^ "Group from Hawaii opens at Outrigger". Monterey, California: Monterey Peninsula Review. 29 August 1971.
  9. ^ Lueras, Leonard (14 June 1971). ""Homegrown folk duo gets it together"". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser. p. C6.
  10. ^ Williams, Russ (18–24 July 1971). "Lights Dim, Journey Rapport Begins". Hilo, Hawai'i: Hawaii Tribune-Herald, The Orchid Isle. p. 3.
  11. ^ Doyle, Kevin (26 October 1971). "Leon and Malia – Going 'Up'". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Ka Leo, University of Hawai'i. p. Vol. L, No. 1.
  12. ^ Harada, Wayne (22 February 1972). "Leon & Malia at JB's: duo will blend your mind". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser.
  13. ^ Dekneff, Matthew (21 April 2016). "Memories of the Diamond Head Crater Festivals, Hawai'i's own 'Woodstock'". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Hawai'i Magazine. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  14. ^ Berger, John (13 December 2016). "Concert Promoter Tom Moffatt, 85, Dies". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved 25 January 2020
  15. ^ Weller, Don (1 June 1973). "Leon, Malia in Concert (with Dionne Warwick)". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  16. ^ Huff, Harold (15–30 June 1973). "(Concert with Dionne Warwick)". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Sunbums. p. Volume 5, No. 3.
  17. ^ Weller, Don (9 May 1973). "(Review: Concert with Beck, Bogert and Appice)". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  18. ^ Harada, Wayne (2 June 1973). "(Advertiser review-concert at Honolulu Arena)". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser.
  19. ^ Harada, Wayne (20 September 1971). "Leon Russell, Leon and Malia". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser.
  20. ^ Harada, Wayne (3 April 1971). "Leon and Malia on vinyl". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser.
  21. ^ Harada, Wayne (17 June 1972). "Review: Leon & Malia's Latest – Cosmopolitan 'Blend'". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Advertiser.
  22. ^ Weller, Don (29 June 1972). "Leon, Malia Album Is Innovative Blend". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  23. ^ Akamine, Eldon (July 1977). "Haku Mele". Ha’ilono Mele-the Hawaiian Music Foundation Journal, Vol. 3 No. 7. Honolulu, Hawai'i: 3-4. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  24. ^ Allen, Jennifer (2017). "Mālama Honua: Hōkūle'a – a Voyage of Hope". Ventura, California: Patagonia Books. p. 33-34. ISBN 9781938340697.
  25. ^ Dale Bell (1986). "The Voyage of the Hōkūle'a". Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: WQED-PBS National Geographic Society. Retrieved 25 January 2020
  26. ^ "Dale Bell interview". Honolulu, Hawai'i: KHET Hawai'i Public Television. 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2020
  27. ^ Shapiro, David (6 July 1975). "A Cantata of Hawai'i for Two". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Star-Bulletin and Advertiser. p. C7.
  28. ^ Hall, Dale E. (2002). The Honolulu Symphony: a Century of Music. Honolulu, Hawai'i: Goodale Publishing. p. 115-116. ISBN 0-9662945-6-4.
  29. ^ Kiguchi, Stafford (May 1980). "Boy with Goldfish – a Landmark". O'ahu Magazine. Honolulu, Hawai'i.
  30. ^ Hyams, Ben (April 1980). "International Artistic Achievement". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Honolulu magazine, Classical Music. p. 129.
  31. ^ "Boy with Goldfish – London Symphony Orchestra". Gramophone magazine. London, England. June 1980. p. 554.
  32. ^ "Audiophile Recordings". Billboard (magazine). New York, New York. 7 April 1980. "The richly colored scoring and dense brass-reinforced textures of this new folk music infused classical oratorio make it an ideal digital recording demonstration piece."
  33. ^ Hess, Harvey (January 1980). "Hawaiian Music Takes Another Big Step Forward". Ha'ilono Mele, the Hawaiian Music Foundation Journal. Honolulu, Hawai'i: 1-5.
  34. ^ Farmer, David (Spring 1980). "Boy with Goldfish: an Appreciation". Kani Lehua. Hilo, Hawai'i: University of Hawai'i at Hilo: 56-57.
  35. ^ Cook, Paul (December 1993). "Review: "Boy with Goldfish"". Classical Pulse. Sacramento, California: Tower Records. p. 59. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  36. ^ "Hawaii Kids' Music". Olelo Television. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  37. ^ "Mokulana". KHON-TV2. Honolulu, Hawai'i: Leon & Malia Productions Inc. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  38. ^ "Keiki Calabash". Olelo Television. Honolulu, Hawai'i. 26 December 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  39. ^ "Tutu and Me: Traveling Preschool". Honolulu, Hawai'i: the Partners in Development Foundation. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  40. ^ "Hawai'i Kids' Christmas". Honolulu, Hawai'i: Leon & Malia Productions Inc. 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  41. ^ "Ms. Malia MusicTime". Honolulu, Hawai'i: MUSICTIME! Early Education Preschool Program. 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2025
  42. ^ >Gérard Koch (6 November 2017). "'Hawai'i History' recounts Leon Siu". Tales of Hawaii. Basel, Switzerland: Podcast. Retrieved 5 March 2025
  43. ^ Siu, Leon Kaulahao (February 2023). "A Nation in Continuity, The Situation of the Hawaiian Kingdom". Geneva, Switzerland: Diva - International Diplomat, Issue No. 2. p. 20-23.
  44. ^ "Keynote Speaker Leon Kaulahao Siu". Global Speakers Bureau. 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2025
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