Elmer Lim Jr., known professionally as Sonny, was on tour in Japan when he got the news: The Lim ‘Ohana — Sonny, his parents, and his sisters — are being inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Nov. 15 at the Halekulani Hotel.
“We never thought about this when we started but music has been a blessing, evolving beyond everything else that we have accomplished,” Lim said during a recent early morning phone conversation in Tokyo. “We’re so grateful and thankful for all of it.”
The story of the Lim Family began when the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel opened in 1965. Hotel employee Mary Ann Neula Lim was asked to perform for the hotel’s guests. Her husband, Elmer K.S. Lim Sr., a full-time Parker Ranch paniolo, joined her. A family friend was the third member of the original group.
Growing up in Kohala, music and hula were important to the Lim family. As Sonny and his sisters grew into their teens, they joined their parents at the hotel until every member of the group was family. The youngest Lim daughter, Lorna, replaced one of her older sisters when she was 13.
Lorna was the fifth member when they won a talent contest in 1978, and with it, the opportunity to record an album. “Sounds From Kohala” was recorded and released by Pumehana Records later that year. Their second album for Pumehana, “More Sounds From Kohala,” won the family their first Na Hoku Hanohano Award for traditional Hawaiian album of the year in 1981. Their third album, “Pua ‘Olena,” won that same category in 1982.
Mary Ann and the children kept the group going after Elmer Sr. died in 1988. Sonny and Lorna also enjoyed success as solo recording artists.
Sonny received the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 for his work with the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau in the ‘70s; when working with the Sons, he used the stage name Kohala.
The Lim Family received the HARA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
When Mary Ann Lim died in 2017, Sonny and his sisters inherited the kuleana (responsibility) for preserving and perpetuating the family legacy. In recent years, their children have joined them.
“My daughter plays slack key so she does some of the festivals with me, and I have some talented nephews and nieces,” Sonny said. “Nani’s son, Manaola, the fashion designer, is also part of the halau (Halau Na Lei O Kaholoku). Her daughter, Asia, is part of the halau, she sings and plays music. And then on the other side, Lorna’s two daughters are great hula dancers and they sing. Lorna’s (older) daughter, Wehilei, is really popular now doing all of that Hawaiian-reggae music, she has three Hoku Awards, so our next generation is actually moving up. Pretty soon, they’re going to be replacing us.”
Sonny contributed to the family legacy earlier this year with the release of “Hoene,” a collection of 12 modern Hawaiian and hapa haole classics. Three instrumentals confirm his place among the best slack key guitarists of his generation. Updates of “Hololoka‘a,” “Wahine ‘Ilikea” and “Makee ‘Ailana” are notable examples of his strengths as a singer and arranger.
“We’ve been so busy touring and traveling that I haven’t released anything since 2005. It’s been 20 years,” he said. “It’s my solo slack key project at last, and I love it. The good part is that I’m at the level now where we’re actually giving back, teaching slack key, so we know that the legacy will continue.”
Lim and his siblings will celebrate that legacy with two of the family’s biggest hits at the induction ceremony.
“Probably something from our first album like ‘No Kohala Ka Makani ‘Apa‘apa‘a,’ and then maybe ‘Pua ‘Olena.’ I think that might be the most famous song we still perform until today.”
Lim added that the family story is far from over.
“As a family, we’ve done music for so long, and we’re still continuing to do it. I’m 65 years old now and still touring. We’re still doing it like the way we did back in our younger days. We just happen to be still relevant in the industry, especially for traditional Hawaiian music and slack key. Our journey has been a blessing, and music has been really good for our family.”
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This year’s inductees:
>> Myra English (1933-2001): Vocalist, recording artist, “The Champagne Lady” — Her 1968 remake of Cal Smith’s 1968 Top 40 country hit, “Drinking Champagne,” topped the local charts later that same year and quickly became her musical signature. Recipient of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
>> Jack de Mello (1916-2019): Composer, musician, bandleader/conductor, arranger, recording artist, record producer, founder of Music of Polynesia (record label). De Mello envisioned and created an expansive new synthesis of Hawaiian melodies and contemporary Western orchestral music, and sometimes went as far as London to find sufficient musicians and studios large enough to record them. He produced large, patron-commissioned, multirecord box-set albums, and introduced a new generation of Hawaiian singer/songwriters that included Keola & Kapono Beamer, Jon & Randy and the Brothers Cazimero. Recipient of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Sidney Grayson Award (predecessor of the Lifetime Achievement Award) in 1982.
>> Gary Keawe-Aiko (1935-2025): Vocalist, musician (bass guitar and acoustic “stand-up” bass), known professionally as Gary Aiko. One of the great Hawaiian baritones of the 20th and early 21st century. Professional musician/vocalist for more than 50 years. Worked with Don Ho and with his mother, Genoa Keawe; he was also a featured vocalist with Royal Hawaiian Band. Recorded as a member of his mother’s group, and two solo albums, “Mai Poina ‘Oe Ia‘u” (1977) and “Poina ‘Ole ‘Ia” (2012). Famed also for his unconventional choices in off-stage attire. Recipient of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
>> Hiram Olsen (1943-2020): Guitarist, vocalist, recording artist, Waikiki entertainer. Recorded as the leader of the Hiram Olsen Trio with numerous credits as a studio musician. Recipient of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
>> Aloha Dalire (1950-2014): Kumu hula, First Miss Aloha Hula (as Aloha Wong) at the first Merrie Monarch Festival in 1971. Mother of Miss Aloha Hula Kapualokeokalaniakea Dalire (1991), Miss Aloha Hula Kau‘imaiokalaniakea Dalire (1992) and Miss Aloha Hula Keolalaulani Dalire (1999).
>> The Lim ‘Ohana: Strong cultural traditionalists from Kohala who continue to be influential in the evolution of Hawaiian music and hula. Recipient of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.
>> The Alama Sisters, Leilani (1925–2014) and Puanani (born 1930): Na kumu hula, teachers, hula festival judges and cultural resources for more than 50 years.
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“Lei of Stars 2025”
>> When: 10 a.m. Nov. 15
>> Where: Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Road
>> Tickets: $200 per person includes buffet luncheon
>> Honorees: Myra English, Jack de Mello, Gary Keawe-Aiko, Hiram Olsen, Aloha Dalire, the Lim ‘Ohana, and the Alama Sisters.
>> More info: Toni Lee at Parade.Lady001@gmail.com
Source: The Garden Island
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