Willie K

William Awihilima Kahaialiʻi (October 17, 1960 – May 18, 2020), known as Willie K,[1] was a Hawaiian musician who performed in a variety of styles, including blues, rock, opera and Hawaiian music.[2][1]

Willie K
Willie K performing on Maui
Born
William Awihilima Kahaiali'i

(1960-10-17)October 17, 1960
Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, US
Died (aged 59)
Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii, US
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • musician
  • entertainer
Years active1970–2018
AwardsNa Hoku Hanohano Award
Musical career
Genres
  • Hawaiian music
  • blues
  • rock
  • opera
  • cachi cachi
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • ukulele
Websitewilliek.com

Early life

Born and raised in a family of musicians in Lahaina, Hawaii, Willie began performing at the age of 8 alongside his father, Hawaiian jazz guitarist Manu Kahaialiʻi.[3][4]

Career

In 1993, Willie began a collaboration with Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom that would last for nine years. The pair recorded, performed, and toured together, and also shared a personal relationship.[5] Their recordings won seven Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, part of Willie's total of 19 Hokus as a musician and producer.[6][7]

In 2005, Willie's reunion album with Gilliom, Amy & Willie Live, was nominated for a Grammy in the first year of the Best Hawaiian Music Album award.[8]

In 2007, Willie K became one of very few artists to win a Hoku as part of three different acts – his collaboration with Eric Gilliom won Best Contemporary Hawaiian Album, in addition to wins already achieved with Amy and as a solo artist.[9]

Genres

Willie K played many different genres of music including Hawaiian music, blues, rock, opera, and kachi-kachi.[10][11]

Cancer and death

In February 2018, Willie K was diagnosed with lung cancer and promptly cancelled upcoming performances in Honolulu.[12] In April 2019, Willie announced via his Facebook page that he was undergoing immunotherapy.[6]

In January 2020, in a video posted to Facebook, Willie announced that his cancer was at the terminal stage. He made the video after a concert at Blue Note Hawaii in Waikiki. He stated that his "spirits remained high during the concert," which was supposed to be only a 90-minute set, but lasted for two hours. "The crowd deserved it," he said.[13]

Willie K died at age 59 on May 18, 2020.[14][15][16]

References
  1. Paul Liberatore (2015-12-03). "Willie K, from Hawaiian Hendrix to Polynesian Pavarotti". Marin Independent Journal. Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  2. Brandle, Lars (20 May 2020). "Willie K, Grammy-Nominated Hawaiian Artist, Dies at 59". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  3. Campos, Samantha (25 May 2006). "Who Is Willie K?". MauiTime. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  4. "Hawaii mourns the loss of amazingly talented musician William Awihilima Kahaiali'i". lahainanews.com. May 28, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
  5. Olena Heu and Melissa Chang (2014-10-26). "Amy Hanaialiʻi and Willie K are reunited". Frolichawaii.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-18. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  6. "Awards". Willie K Hawaiian Music Maui Live Music Maui Entertainment. Archived from the original on 2019-06-24. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  7. Schweizer, Laura (2 April 2019). "Willie K. shares his healing process, citing the 'power of prayer'". KITV. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  8. Wilma Consul (2005-02-11). "Hawaiian Music Makes Its Grammy Debut". Archives.starbulletin.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  9. John Berger (2007-06-21). "Na Hoku honors Gilliom, Kaukahi". Npr.org. Archived from the original on 2005-02-14. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  10. "Mayor Proclaims "Willie K Month" in June". May 31, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  11. "McKenna Maduli presents 'A Talk Story Kalikimaka' featuring Amy Hanaiali 'i sharing her memories of the Island Music Island Hearts 1998 Christmas Special with Willie K". hawaiinewsnow. December 15, 2020. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  12. "Willie K diagnosed with lung cancer, cancels performances". Hawaii News Now. February 5, 2018. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  13. Ancheta, Dillon (January 30, 2020). "Musician Willie K. announces his cancer is terminal, but says he'll keep 'rocking on'". HawaiiNewsNow.com. Archived from the original on May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020. What I said earlier about stages of my cancer, yes I'm at terminal now and I'm still going to be rocking on. I'm not going to stop. This cancer is not going to take me down — especially with all your blessings, from you, each and everyone of you, Praise God, praise Jesus, he will always take care of you.
  14. Ancheta, Dillon (May 19, 2020). "Hawaiian music legend Willie K dies after lengthy battle lung cancer battle". HawaiiNewsNow.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020. According to his wife, he died peacefully late Monday night after enduring a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was 59 years old.
  15. "Hawaiian music icon Willie K has passed away". Kitv.com. Archived from the original on 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  16. Lars Brandle (2020-05-20). "Willie K, Grammy-Nominated Hawaiian Artist, Dies at 59". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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