My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaii

My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua, Hawaiʻi was a popular song written for the July 4th canoe races in Kona in 1933. Tommy Harrison gave the song to Johnny Noble to publish, who revised the music to give it a new melody without changing Bill Cogswell's words. Once published, the song became a major hit, and has since been recorded many times. Noble turned over the royalties to the Sherman Clay in San Francisco for $500.00 advance royalty, giving the credit to Cogswell and Harrison.^[1]

The title refers to Kealakekua Bay where Captain James Cook was killed in 1779. The song mentions Hōnaunau, site of Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, also located in the Kona District on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. The lyrics also refer to the Reef triggerfish by its name in the Hawaiian Language, the Humuhumunukunukuapuaʻa.

A recording by Leon Redbone & Ringo Starr featured in the film "50 First Dates" (2004).

External links

• Listen to My Little Grass Shack

References

1. ^ "My Little Grass Shack in Kealakekua Hawai`i; Noble's "Hawaiian Favorites"". Hawaiian Music and Hula Archives. Miller Music Corp. 1933. http://www.huapala.org/My/My_Little_Grass_Shack_In_K.html. Retrieved 2009-11-23.