Print a "Who Am I?" SIGN. Add a "clue" in the textbox, print, and post on your bulletin board. Post a different clue every day or so and see who can guess the identity of the mystery person of the month. Then plan a "Who Am I?" discussion and reminiscence activity. (See below for additional activity suggestions.)

Do you know who I am? Here are some clues:

1. I was born of Chinese, Hawaiian, Portuguese, Dutch, and German descent.
2. I got my start as a singer at Honey's, my family's restaurant/lounge.
3. The men's magazine Maxim listed me as one of the "50 Coolest Guys Ever."
4. You could see me on my variety television show on weekday mornings during the 1976 - 1977 season.
5. My audience members were often hugged and kissed when I brought them onstage.
6. People sang along with me when I performed. I encouraged this audience participation.
7. Locals, tourists, and Hollywood stars came to see me sing with a 5-piece band named the Allis.
8. Duke Kahanamoku, former surfer and Olympic swimming champion, was my great friend.
9. I was from a family of eight and had 10 children of my own.
10. Some regular spots to see me perform were the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, and the Sands in Las Vegas.
11. I made guest appearances on television shows like I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, Charlie's Angels, and Fantasy Island.
12. In 1998, I opened up an "Island Grill" restaurant/lounge, which was named after myself.
13. My daughter, Hoku, is a famous pop singer in her own right.
14. A beach party served as my memorial in 2007.
15. I entertained people with stories while playing the organ and ukulele.
16. My music is popular at luaus.
17. Tourists flocked to see me at my regular venue, the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
18. I was a goodwill ambassador for the state of Hawaii.
19. My 1966 hit "Tiny Bubbles" made me a national figure.
20. I am a Hawaiian legend. My name is synonymous with the state.

Have you guessed who I am? I am Hawaii's own Don Ho!

Print a copy of the PICTURES for a closer look at this and other pictures of Don Ho. Share and discuss the information in this article with your group.

The "Breezy Islander"

The second of eight children, Donald Tai Loy Ho was born in Honolulu on August 13, 1930, to Emily "Honey" Leimaile Silva Ho and James "Jimmy" Ah You Ho. He grew up in Kaneohe on the island of O'ahu, and became a high school football star. Don attended college in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1950, but came home to marry his high school sweetheart, Melvamay Kolokea Wong, the following year. He studied sociology at the University of Hawaii where he earned a bachelor's degree, then entered the U.S. Air Force where he received his certification as a fighter pilot. Don and his wife had six children, and relocated several times for military assignments until his mother needed help running Honey's, the family restaurant/cocktail lounge. Don and his young family moved back to Hawaii and he managed the business.

Honey's got Don Ho started in the entertainment industry. The struggling lounge soon thrived when Ho took the stage. Servicemen stationed at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe filled the lounge, and in 1963, Ho moved the bar to Waikiki, a larger neighborhood of Honolulu. Ho caught the attention of former surfer and Olympic swimming champion Duke Kahanamoku and was asked to perform at his nightclub, Duke's.

Ho's popularity soared at Duke's, making the 700-seat nightclub Hawaii's most popular spot. He entertained the crowd with stories while playing his Hammond chord organ and ukulele. He also taught tourists about Hawaiian culture and language. Don incorporated talent from the audience, fellow singers or hula dancers, and created a local community scene. He often performed barefoot and his warm, laid-back style enticed other audience members to come onstage where they were met with quick humor and hugs and kisses. Don performed with the talented 5-piece band, the Allis, for three shows a night, seven nights a week. Locals, tourists, and Hollywood stars including Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Hugh Hefner, and Petula Clark packed Duke's club when word of the spirited shows quickly spread. Record executives took note of Ho's popularity and saw a golden opportunity to make Don Ho a Hawaiian sensation. That is what he would soon become.

Life is One Large Luau

Don was signed to Reprise Records in 1965 and released his debut album, Don Ho Show, that year. After selling out shows at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles, Harrah's in Lake Tahoe, and the Sands in Las Vegas, Don went back to the recording studio and released his most famous song, "Tiny Bubbles," the following year. The song placed #8 on the Billboard pop charts and his Tiny Bubbles record was on the Top 20 list for nearly a year, making him a national figure.

The name "Don Ho" and his "breezy islander" image became synonymous with the recently inducted state of Hawaii. As well as selling out concerts, Don made guest appearances on various television shows, such as I Dream of Jeannie, The Brady Bunch, Sanford and Son, Charlie's Angels, and Fantasy Island, furthering the romanticism of Hawaii and his iconic image. The charismatic entertainer also had his own variety show, The Don Ho Show, which aired on weekday mornings during the 1976 - 77 season. Patti Swallie, who became Don's second wife in 1980 (and mother to four more children), appeared with him on the show. Don continued to please audiences in Hawaii after his mainland attention waned. The Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel became Don Ho's regular venue and many tourists couldn't imagine a trip to Hawaii without his show on their itinerary.

In 2005, Don developed heart problems and a pacemaker was implanted, but he continued to entertain. The pacemaker was replaced in 2006, also the year that he married his third wife, Haumea Hebenstreit, who had been his executive producer for many years. Don remained in good spirits throughout health problems. He was an eternal optimist with his signature smile.

In 2007, at the age of 76, Don Ho died of heart failure. He was survived by 19 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. An estimated 10,000 people gathered on Waikiki Beach for a memorial service to pay their respects to the Hawaiian legend. Fans, friends, and family were encouraged to wear all white. His ashes were scattered into the Pacific Ocean, but Don Ho's place in Hawaiian history will remain.

More to Know About Don Ho

• Don Ho performed "Tiny Bubbles," his signature song, at the beginning and end of each show.
• He was a goodwill ambassador for the state of Hawaii.
• Don's seventh child, Hoku (born in 1981), started performing with him when she was very young. She had two Top 40 singles in 2000, "Another Dumb Blonde" and "How Do I Feel." Her name means "star" in the Hawaiian language.
• Don Ho opened up Don Ho's Island Grill in 1998 near Waikiki in Honolulu. The restaurant/club features a large collection of Don Ho memorabilia and local Hawaiian talent.
• The men's magazine Maxim listed Don Ho as one of the "50 Coolest Guys Ever."

What Don Had to Say

"I had no intention of being an entertainer. I just played songs I liked from the radio and pretty soon that place was jammed. Every weekend there would be lines down the street."

"I've had too much fun all these years. I feel real guilty about it."

"Singing is what keeps me young."

"Waikiki to me is like a magnet for the world. [It is] a beacon. It's like a shining light."

"A lot of people out there come every year to get their 'Tiny Bubbles' fix. So as long as they keep coming, I might as well keep doing it."

More Activity Ideas

1. See our Music Matters page to download the music for "Tiny Bubbles," and learn more about Hawaiian music and the ukulele.
2. See our Theme of the Month page for other Hawaii-related activities.
3. See if you can find an episode guest-starring Don Ho in one of the TV shows mentioned above. Watch the episode(s) with your group.

Sites to See

Don Ho's children's memorial to their father (scroll down the page)
Don Ho stories, tributes, interviews, and much more