“Hawaii ‘ 78”——written by Micky Ioane , Abe Keala, David Kawika Crowley

SHOCKING UPDATE!!! January 2, 2006

THE INCREDIBLE SAGA CONTINUES!!!!

Just three years after the writing of this story (2003), I was on a phone call chatting with Cleyton Kua about a number of topics, including the song “Hawaii ‘78”. I was sharing with him my desire to place this story on a website entitled hawaii78.com. Out of nowhere he almost shyly stated, “Dave, I wrote one of the verses.” My jaw dropped. I nearly dropped the phone. I was speechless. I clumsily blurted out, “Cleyton... how come you never tell me all these years, man?” But I knew why...and he didn’t have to answer. Again, back then, it was all “Brahda Brahda”.

Evidently, Micky had called Cleyton one evening and asked Cleyton if he could come by his house to listen to a few songs he had written. Cleyton did so, and in the process helped Micky write one of the first few verses. Then Cleyton called me... and the rest is history. But is it not so strange how, for what ever reason, history has taken so long to unveil the real story behind the writing of this song “Hawaii 78”. The fact that Cleyton Kua, after all we have done together over the decades, kept this to himself, especially pertaining to one of the most powerful songs of the last century, is nothing but a testament to his humility in character. So now, January of 2006, 30 long years later, the true true story behind the song is finally revealed.