Hawaii House Honors ‘Father of Jawaiian Music’, Teachers of the Year

By /

The Hawaii House of Representatives honored Brother Noland on Monday with a Lifetime Achievement Award as the unofficial “Father of Jawaiian music.”

The musician from Kalihi-Palama rocked the House Monday afternoon singing “Pua Lane” with an accompanying band. 

“He captures the spirit of Hawaii in his songs,” said House spokeswoman Carolyn Tanaka in a press release. 

Brother Noland’s song, “Coconut Girl,” was featured in the 2008 stoner action comedy “Pineapple Express” that starred James Franco and Seth Rogan. 

“Before his first smash hit, ‘Coconut Girl,’ the term Jawaiian music didn’t really exist,” boasts Brother Noland’s Facebook page. 

House lawmakers also recognized the winners of the 2014 Hawaii State Teacher of the Year award. The winners include: 

  • Matthew Lawrence, 2014 Teacher of the Year, Waikiki Elementary School
  • Teresa Cramer, 2014 Central District Teacher of the Year, Hale Kula Elementary School
  • Dayna Hironaka, 2014 Windward District Teacher of the Year, Kahaluu Elementary School
  • Elizabeth Timbal, 2014 Hawaii District Teacher of the Year, Keaau High School
  • Anthony Williams, 2014 Maui District Teacher of the Year, Paia Elementary School

Photo: Screen shot of Brother Noland singing Coconut Girl via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Po9xbq99yrw

— Anita Hofschneider

What it means to support Civil Beat.

Supporting Civil Beat means you’re investing in a newsroom that can devote months to investigate corruption. It means we can cover vulnerable, overlooked communities because those stories matter. And, it means we serve you. And only you.

Donate today and help sustain the kind of journalism Hawaiʻi cannot afford to lose.

Donate

About the Author