Entertainer Joe Mundo, who was the leader of The Aliis – the group supporting Don Ho –died Wednesday (April 2) while in the hospital, in Auburn, WA.
His son Mark Mundo said his dad had heart issues but ultimately died of kidney failure.
Mundo was 83 and a 1960 graduate of Farrington High School.
“He had a long, successful life,” said Mark, who remembers the time he spent with his dad and The Aliis on tour.
“It was pretty cool, hanging out in the summers. My dad was resilient and persistent and fun to watch,” he said.
Mundo played keyboards in Ho’s performances, a talent nurtured while he was a student pianist at Farrington. Mundo often put a comedic spin with The Aliis.
“It was a whole culture, watching and touring with the group,” said Mark. He was inspired to work in several rock groups but never turned professional in music. “I stopped touring with the group when I turned 18 and was hired by Hawaiian Airlines.”
He described his father as “a kind soul, very strong, and a good dad and husband. The time I spent with him as a kid was the best.”
Arleen Laimana, a longtime friend of Joe (they both attended Kalakaua Intermediate School in Kalihi), said she got an unexpected phone call from Mundo on March 14. “He told me he was calling to say goodbye,” she said. “What do you mean?” she asked. “My body hurts all over,” he said. She concluded, about the phone comments, that “Joe had a weird sense of humor.”
The Aliis last performed in a reunion concert in 2017 In Los Angeles and rehearsed at Laimana’s home in Torrance.
Mundo was in Honolulu for the unveiling of Don Ho’s statue at the International Market Place, an iconic location where Don Ho and The Aliis were the main nightlife attraction at Duke Kahanamoku’s. The supper club no longer exists.
“I miss the guys and the touring,” said Benny Chong, the original guitarist of The Aliis who has navigated his career as a jazz ukulele virtuoso since retirement. “But the guys are scattered all over, and I hate to drive at night (to make the gigs). We had so many memorable good times together.”
Mark is the lone survivor of his family; his mom Patricia died in 2014.
Services are pending but will be private. “My dad wanted something simple and private; his ashes will be scattered off Waikiki, just like my mom’s,” he said…
And that’s Show Biz…
Sorry to hear the news of Joe’s passing this month. Spent many night watching the Aliis with Don in Waikiki and Joe was always fun to be around. Aloha Dolores Treffeisen