Remembering Ed Michelman - A Reflection By Aaron Mahi

It is hard to imagine that a year ago my good friend Ed Kaho'olono Michelman passed on so unexpectedly and suddenly from a bout with cancer.  Sadly we were all made aware of this before our caring and offers of assistance could be rendered, a request learned later, was one of the final desires of our dear friend.  When I think back at the very last activity both Ed and I were engaged was in the month of July of 2007.  We wanted to make certain that the Berger collection transcription of Band music project got on it's way.  The Friends of the Royal Hawaiian Band had received from the Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa Foundation, of whom I am in present employ,  seed money to start the project. Both Ed and I then went  to the State Archives over several days to take photos of the Na Mele Hawaii series which are a collection of mele (songs) of the royal composers in two arrangement forms, piano transcripts and vocal piano accompaniments of the compositions.  We decided that the material was so vast that we would divide the selections into phases and hence made a decision to choose seven mele to start and then move on to the next set of selections for the second and third phases.  As we worked never did it dawn upon me that Ed was ill or of questionable health.  We worked and joked and got into our regular tug and pull discussions always ending the day at Compadres over some beers, white wine, or margaritas(my choice), tortilla chips and what was ever the dining specials of the day.  Interesting enough even Compadres has now faded as the sunset.

Yes, I miss Ed still and occasionally  talk to him as I did so many times in the past.  He was such a great sounding board for me, from the issues facing me with the band or the needs of the  Fiends of RHB,  I always held in trust his opinion and advice. I could unfailingly depend on him no matter what the need or the issue in seeking his view and impression of what ever I faced both as a Department administrator or a friend and in many ways a young Hawaiian seeking a mentors direction and broad over view when attempting to make sense of what was taking place culturally, politically, or even socially in today's Hawaii.  Indeed, Ed was truly ‘Ka Ho'olono’ in every respect in my eyes.  Some say that his Hawaiian name means, the voice of God, others may understand the meaning to be the one who's voice brings the message or word or even the news.  However one chooses his or her summation of the meaning of  ‘Ka Ho'olono’, to me, Ed Kaho'olono Michelman will forever be my Friend who not only brought the word to me through his vibrant voice, but would with Aloha listen to my voice.   E moe malia ou e Kaho'olono i ko ka nohona pu i na akua malamalama e, aloha e, aloha e. . . . . .  "Be in peaceful rest, Kaho'olono in the dwelling place of our illuminous Gods forever, farewell, farewell.