Felix Cavaliere, a member of The Rascals and co-writer of the group’s popular “My Hawaii” hit from the past, has re-recorded the tune with Dolly Parton.
The song, co-composed by the group’s lead singer Eddie Brigati, was a staple in the bands for years, and apparently was written and recorded by The Rascals, formerly The Young Rascals, following concerts in the islands.
The revival soon will be available for downloading and streaming as a benefit the Maui United Way’s Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund in light. I have heard the 2024 version sung and it is a splendid fundraiser for the 2023 wildfire tragedy that erased the Lahaina waterfront businesses and leaving hundreds homeless and killing more than 100 victims.
Cavaliere solicited the kokua of Parton on vocals, to join the effort to provide financial assistance to the Maui community members whose businesses and residences, including the thriving Lahaina waterfront, were devastated in the wildfire.
Both Cavaliere and The Rascals, and country singer and iconic entertainer Dolly Parton, have had ties with the islands, and singing “My Hawaii,” with lyrics that mention Maui, was a natural means of creating a meaningful homage to the Valley Island.
“The song ‘My Hawaii’ is a token of love and gratitude to the people of Hawaii, especially Maui,” said Cavaliere.
The Rascals visited Hawaii for the first time in August of 1966 to perform at “The First Teen Fair”, a five-day event held from Aug. 24 to 28 at the Hawaii International Center (HIC) Exhibition Hall, where admission was $1. Because of terrific fan response, promoter Tom Moffatt rebooked The Rascals for five more sell-out gigs at the HIC Arena (now the Neal Blaisdell Center) between 1967 and 1969.
In August of 1967, following an arena show, Moffatt staged a Neighbor Island tour, enchanting fans on Maui, Kauai and The Big Island.
Legend has it that Cavaliere and Brigati penned “My Hawaii” after a performance on Aug.10, 1967, at the Maui War Memorial Auditorium.
“My Hawaii,” introduced on The Rascals’ 1968 album, “Once Upon a Dream,” never was a single release, but it found an audience, particularly in the islands.
A Hawaii group, The Krush, adopted “My Hawaii” for its island shows, including the Main Showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel.
In recent years, Cavalier, minus The Rascals, performed at the Blue Note Hawaii club, which previously was the Main Showroom, at the Outrigger Waikiki resort.
It’s uncertain how Cavaliere was able to access the services of Parton to make “My Hawaii” a two-voice special.
Parton had both musical and business ties to Hawaii. She concertized at Conroy Bowl at Schofield Barracks in May 1976 for a military audience, and headlined a Blaisdell Arena show in 1987. She also launched a restaurant, Dockside Plantation, a waterfront destination at the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center, which operated for nearly a year and a half.
The remake of “My Hawaii” is a crisp, fascinating find, rejuvenating one of the grand hit tracksfrom the past. Both Cavaliere and Parton take turns, articulating the lyrics, which have everlasting appeal; and midway in the song, there’s recitation of the words—rich with aloha, resourceful in tapping emotions. For a fund-raiser, this is fabulously in tapping emotions and nudging the heart.
However, I’ve been awaiting a link from Maui United Way that will enable supporters to hear the tune, with a gorgeous video of the beauty and the magic that is Hawaii (Cavaliere and Parton are not shown performing the tune), to download for streaming with a donation to support the Maui fundraising effort. If and when I receive that info, I will update this report and share the link…
And that’s Show Biz…