Through church and countless family gatherings, enveloped by the warmth of a soft guitar and kanikapila- style singing with ʻohana, maestro Aaron David Mahi developed his love for music.
He was born on July 9, 1953, to Miguel and Barbara (Leilani) Akana Kane Mahi and grew up in Kalihi and Kaʻaʻawa with his three siblings: Gertrude “Trudi,” Gerard, and Beatrice “Honey Bea.”
Mahi’s grandfather inspired the entire family to join choir practice at Makiki Church, but his greatest musical inspiration came from his aunties: Bernice Ferreira who directed music at McKinley High School, and Puarose Magnisi, who played organ and piano at the church. While still in elementary school, Mahi accompanied his Aunty Bernice to rehearsals and loved to mimic her as she conducted the choir.
Mahi was always a very serious child. His ʻohana recalls looking for him when he did not come for dinner, only to find him sitting on a stone wall a couple of houses down the street. Asked what he was doing, he replied that he was “thinking about his life.”
His seventh-grade teacher at Kalākaua Intermediate School, Richard Kaichi, recognized Mahi’s musical gifting and persuaded him take up the cello. Later, when they needed a bassist, Mahi was chosen because he was the only student who could carry the large instrument.
Kaichi was also responsible for helping Mahi win a Honolulu Symphony scholarship. Mahi started with the Junior Orchestra in middle school and graduated to the Honolulu Youth Symphony in high school. His sister, Honey Bea, followed in his footsteps two years later. She remembers that Mahi drove a Volkswagen bug and when they went to rehearsals, she had to sit in the back seat with her cello while his string bass got the front passenger seat.
Mahi enrolled at Kamehameha Schools in grade 9. In grade 10, he was selected to lead the sophomore men’s competition at the schools’ annual Song Contest, which allowed him and the other student directors to help select and create the arrangements for their competition song.
While still in high school, Mahi and his classmates (and fellow musicians) Dennis Kamakahi and Danny Akaka spent time with Gabby Pahinui, his sons, and Palani Vaughn at Gabby’s home in Waimānalo. Playing kanikapila with those renowned musicians helped hone their musical skills.
At Kamehameha, Mahi studied ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. To develop his skills, Mahi would walk two miles to his Grandpa Mahi’s home to talk story because his grandfather was a native speaker. According to sister, Trudi, out of 24 cousins, Mahi was the only one who learned to speak Hawaiian.
After graduating from high school, Mahi attended the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut graduating with a degree in music education in 1975. From there, he attended the Herbert Blomstedt Institute of Conducting in California.
Upon returning to Hawaiʻi, Mahi immersed himself in music. In 1976, he joined the Windward Symphony Orchestra as a jazz and rock bass guitarist.
He was also a member of UH Mānoa’s Hawaiian club, Hui Aloha ‘Āina Tuahine, and appeared on the group’s award-winning album Ka Leo Hawaiʻi released in 1977. It was during this time that the musical group, Kaimana (Haunani Apoliona, Haunani Bernardino and Eldon Akamine), invited Mahi to join them on their second album along with virtuoso Nalani Olds.
In 1979, Mahi joined the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra as a bassist and later as its conductor, and in 1981, he was appointed to lead the Royal Hawaiian Band by Honolulu Mayor Eileen Anderson – a kuleana he carried for 24 years. He was the band’s first Native Hawaiian bandmaster since Charles E. King retired 40 years prior.
In 1983, Mahi led the band on a seven-nation European tour. In Germany, he was presented with a shellenbaum (an instrument with bells) that was a replica of the one presented to King Kalākaua in 1881. He was later awarded the Golden Ring of Honor from the Association of German Musicians. And in 2003, at a ceremony at ‘Iolani Palace, Mahi was awarded the Bundesverdienstkreuz (Cross of Merit) for perpetuating German music in the band – one of Germany’s most prestigious awards.
Under Mahi’s leadership, in 1988 the Royal Hawaiian Band was invited to perform in concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
During his lifetime, Mahi worked to recover (and encourage the performance of) lesser-known Hawaiian compositions. And he incorporated piano scores of lost orchestrations into the music the band performed during their many trips to Europe, Japan and the continent.
Mahi was a master of both classical and Hawaiian music, and his musical arrangements numbered in the hundreds. He was also a gifted composer – although many of his own compositions remain unpublished.
As an arranger, he was sought out by his alma mater, Kamehameha Schools, for its annual Song Contest. In 2008, he arranged the song, Aloha Koʻolau, composed by his classmate Dennis Kamakahi, for the sophomore women (Class of 2010). For three years, Mahi arranged their competition mele – and they won all three times.
In 2021, Mahi was presented with the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Performing Arts.
In addition to his musical endeavors, Mahi was an active community volunteer. He was involved in numerous Hawaiian organizations, such as the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, Partners in Development Foundation where he served as a cultural specialist, and the Hawaiʻi Ecumenical Chorale as a conductor. He was the maestro of the Sovereign Strings Band and an advisor for the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings. Mahi also served as kahu to the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.
Although he had no children of his own, Mahi was especially close to his nephew, Kahakaʻio Ravenscraft. Throughout high school, Ravenscraft shadowed his Uncle Aaron at countless fundraising and community events. He also helped out at Makiki Church where Mahi served as kahu. Mahi taught him oli for lāʻau lapaʻau and how to make hoʻokupu. They also enjoyed things like fishing at Kaʻaʻawa and making imu.
Ravenscraft says that his uncle was unwavering and true to his convictions and that the time they spent together were precious years he will always remember with fondness.
Mahi’s passing on July 6 was met with profound sadness by the community. Two days earlier, Mahi suffered two heart attacks and was taken to Queen’s Medical Center. He passed from this life to the next surrounded by his beloved mother and ‘ohana.
It was by chance that an event planned more than a year ago to honor Mahi’s legacy and celebrate his extraordinary accomplishments was held on the day that he passed.
On July 6, hundreds of his classmates and friends were gathered at Kamehameha Schools’ Kapālama campus for a musical tribute to Mahi – three days before his 71st birthday.
“The profound impact of his life’s work and achievements” aptly described not just the purpose of that event but also the community’s response to news of Mahi’s passing.
Maestro Aaron David Mahi’s musical talents were a gift to our community, and his example as a leader of music and people will echo in our hearts for generations to come.
The author wishes to mahalo Aaron Mahi’s siblings – Gertrude “Trudi” Kamakaopiopiowiwoʻole Gunderson, Gerard Michael Mahi and Beatrice “Honey Bea” Kuuleialoha Ravenscraft – who contributed to this hoʻomanaʻo in honor of their late brother. “Aaron was our brother. We are also grateful that, in many ways, he was also Hawaiʻi’s brother, son and uncle. We are blessed to be his family.”
