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Quiz about Music of Hawaii A Basic Calabash
Quiz about Music of Hawaii A Basic Calabash

Music of Hawai'i: A Basic Calabash Quiz


Aloha! The music of Hawai'i reflects its rich, multi-ethnic makeup. This quiz gives you a taste of "Island Music" and the traditions behind the sound. Enjoy!

A multiple-choice quiz by lykita. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
lykita
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
309,092
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1390
Awards
Editor's Choice
Last 3 plays: colavs33 (7/10), Guest 71 (2/10), Guest 76 (7/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Hawaii's most famous dance is the hula. Hula was originally danced by women only.


Question 2 of 10
2. Ask someone to name a Hawaiian instrument, and everyone will probably say "the ukulele." Which country's immigrants brought the small guitar that would be adapted to become the four-stringed instrument we know today? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. The word "ukulele" comes from the Hawaiian language, but what does it mean? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. One of the most well-known Hawaiian language songs is "Aloha 'Oe" ("Goodbye to You"). Who wrote this poignant ballad? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Which song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Which Hawaiian instrument became a staple in Country-Western music? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Immigrant groups to Hawaii brought their own musical traditions with them. One is Bon-Odori, where dancers entertain ancestral spirits by dancing around a decorated tower to the sounds of drums, gongs, and shamisen. It has become the quintessential summer festival event. Which culture originally celebrated in this way? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, whose album "Facing Future" was the first in Hawaii to go platinum, received a surprising amount of attention for a medley of two songs. Which two songs comprise this hit single? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The 1990s saw the rise of a new popular genre of Hawaiian music known as "Jawaiian." What other world music genre influence this movement? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Hawaiian music (and Hawai'i itself) probably wouldn't be half as popular today if it wasn't for a certain radio program. Name this show that started with the sound of waves off Waikiki and the blowing of the conch shell. Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 20 2024 : colavs33: 7/10
Mar 06 2024 : Guest 71: 2/10
Mar 06 2024 : Guest 76: 7/10
Feb 23 2024 : briarwoodrose: 10/10
Feb 20 2024 : pwefc: 7/10
Feb 09 2024 : Chinook1: 4/10
Jan 29 2024 : Guest 104: 5/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Hawaii's most famous dance is the hula. Hula was originally danced by women only.

Answer: False

Hula is danced by both "kane" (men) and "wahine" (women).

The image of the "hula girl" is a stereotype popularized by the shows put on in the resort area of Waikiki. Certainly, a bikini-clad beauty is a welcome sight, but a more voluptuous, full-figured woman can accentuate the hip movements better than a slim girl. Some of the most beautiful dancers in competition have been of a larger, fuller figure.

Men have always been dancers of hula. In fact, some traditional hula have ceremonial and religious purposes, and may be danced only by men.
2. Ask someone to name a Hawaiian instrument, and everyone will probably say "the ukulele." Which country's immigrants brought the small guitar that would be adapted to become the four-stringed instrument we know today?

Answer: Portugal

Portuguese from the Azores and Madeira Islands emigrated to Hawai'i en masse starting in 1878 to work in the sugarcane fields. It's believed that the braguinha or cavaquinho was modified and retuned to create the first ukulele. The fours strings are usually tuned G, C, E, and A.
3. The word "ukulele" comes from the Hawaiian language, but what does it mean?

Answer: jumping flea

"uku" means head lice, and "lele" means to leap or jump. This mysterious combination leaves most music historians stumped, but one theory is that the musician's fingers pluck with a rapid energy that resemble jumping fleas.

Although "pineapple box" is an incorrect answer, there is a "pineapple ukulele," with an oval-shaped body rather than the typical figure-eight shape.
4. One of the most well-known Hawaiian language songs is "Aloha 'Oe" ("Goodbye to You"). Who wrote this poignant ballad?

Answer: Queen Lili'uokalani

Queen Lili'uokalani, on her way home from her summer palace on the Windward side of O'ahu, witnessed the sad parting of a lovestruck couple on a mountain pass. This inspired her to write the song, with its "parting is such sweet sorrow" message.

The last Queen of the Hawaiian Kingdom, she was overthrown by British and American businessmen and placed under house arrest. Her kingdom was later ruled by a provisional republic, and then became a territory of the United States in 1900, and the 50th state in 1959.

Her brothers King Kalakaua and Prince Leleiohoku, and her sister Princess Likelike were all musically gifted. Collectively, they were known as Nalani'eha, "The Heavenly Four."
5. Which song won an Academy Award for Best Original Song?

Answer: Bing Crosby's "Sweet Leilani"

"Sweet Leilani" won the Oscar in 1937. It was sung in the movie, "Waikiki Wedding." It was written and composed by Harry Owens, a prolific songwriter who helped establish the "hapa haole" genre of Hawaiian music, which most tourists will recognize as "Hawaiian music" from luaus and hula shows in Waikiki.

Interestingly, "Blue Hawaii" was also written for "Waikiki Wedding," and was later popularized by Elvis.

"Hawaiian Rollercoaster Ride" was popular in "Lilo & Stitch," but didn't win any Oscars.
6. Which Hawaiian instrument became a staple in Country-Western music?

Answer: steel guitar

It's said that Joseph Kekuku started experimenting with sliding metal objects, like the back of a pocketknife or a bolt, across the strings of a guitar laid on his lap in the late 1800s. The twangy sound became his trademark, and the steel guitar was born.
7. Immigrant groups to Hawaii brought their own musical traditions with them. One is Bon-Odori, where dancers entertain ancestral spirits by dancing around a decorated tower to the sounds of drums, gongs, and shamisen. It has become the quintessential summer festival event. Which culture originally celebrated in this way?

Answer: Japan

Bon-Odori, or Bon Dance, is celebrated during summer at Japanese Buddhist temples and shrines all over the state. Japanese people believe that ancestral spirits come back once a year to visit this world, so people provide food at graves and entertain them with dancing.

The Bon Dance has become a much-anticipated event in Hawaii for people of all cultures. English songs have been integrated into the song list, with choreography that resembles line dancing. Like a lot of things in Hawaii, the tradition evolves into something uniquely local.
8. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, whose album "Facing Future" was the first in Hawaii to go platinum, received a surprising amount of attention for a medley of two songs. Which two songs comprise this hit single?

Answer: "Over the Rainbow" and "What a Wonderful World"

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's local hit caught the attention of mainland directors, who were enraptured by the singer's clear yet ethereal voice. His song has appeared in movies like "Meet Joe Black" and "Finding Forrester." It also was the song in the eToys commercial campaign, and was the song in the death scene of Dr. Greene in TV's "E.R."

Ironically, the singer never enjoyed the fruits of his success. Burdened by extreme obesity and related health problems, "Bruddah Iz" passed away in 1997, well before his single caught the attention of the world. However, his voice lives on through his recordings.
9. The 1990s saw the rise of a new popular genre of Hawaiian music known as "Jawaiian." What other world music genre influence this movement?

Answer: Reggae

I guess it seems natural that music from tropical islands would lend themselves to fusion. People in the early 1990s were hooked to the catchy rhythm, laid-back melody, and liquid lyrics. Musicians like Ho'onua, B.E.T., Fiji, and Natural Vibrations flooded the airwaves and brought back an active modern Hawaiian music scene.
10. Hawaiian music (and Hawai'i itself) probably wouldn't be half as popular today if it wasn't for a certain radio program. Name this show that started with the sound of waves off Waikiki and the blowing of the conch shell.

Answer: Hawaii Calls

Webley Edwards was a football player who came with this college team to play the University of Hawai'i. The visit made such an impression on him that he came back to produce a radio show.

"Hawaii Calls" aired from 1935 to 1975. Famous guests included Alfred Apaka, Haunani Kahalewai, Martin Denny, and Hilo Hattie. It was usually recorded outside the Moana Hotel, in the Banyan courtyard. This program did much to encourage Americans to visit the islands (imagine hearing Hawaiian music in the dead of winter in Minnesota, and you can understand the allure).

I hope this tour of Hawaiian music has informed and amused you. Aloha pumehana...
Source: Author lykita

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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