About the Band

Our Band

Bruddah Derrick DeMotta

I was born on the Island of Oahu, in the United States Territory of Hawaii and am proud to be Portuguese / Spanish from Punchbowl, just south of Papakolea.

I graduated from St. Louis High School in 1975 and joined the United States Air Force that same year. I was never into Hawaiian music until I left Hawaii for McChord AFB, Washington where I met some really great local boys from Waianae, Nanakuli, and Ewa that educated me, through their mele and aloha spirit, in what it means to have a Hawaiian heart.

After retiring from the Air Force in 1994, me and my long time high school sweetheart, Phyllis U’ilani Lee (graduate of Sacred Hearts Academy, class of 1976), along with our four children, Darrell Kalikookalehua, U'ilani Michelle, Breanne Maka'ala, and Brysson William Leialoha decided to live and play where we were in San Jose, California.

I have been "chalangalanging" (playing the ukulele for fun) for about 30 years. I enjoy doing things with my ‘ohana, playing volleyball and golf, bowling, writing music, gambling in Las Vegas and having "a couple glasses of wine" every now and then. I thank God for blessing me with a talent and personality to entertain people.

I believe that Na Leo Pumehana "Warm Voices of the Heart" is the essence of what Hawaiian music should be--soft, sweet, and filled with harmony. Mix that with Na Leo Pumehana's kolohe (rascal) style of audience interaction, and you got one “good fun” time!

Bruddah Rory O'Neill

I was born in Chicago, Illinois to Irish immigrants and raised in South San Francisco, California. I currently reside in San Francisco, living right across the street from the Pacific Ocean.

I started learning to play bass guitar more than 20 years ago while in high school. After graduating from high school, I enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years at Vandenberg Air Force Base on the Central Coast of California. While stationed at Vandenberg, I was a member of “Instinkt”, a four-member band that I formed with three of my fellow airmen. We played ‘80s Rock cover tunes at local bars in the nearby town of Lompoc, California.

At the end of my enlistment in the military, I married, started a family, and threw myself into my work to help make ends meet. This left no time for bass guitar and it would be several years before I picked up the bass again.

When my daughters, Kelli and Fiona, started taking Hula and Tahitian classes, a musical opportunity presented itself. I was asked by my daughters’ Hula instructor to help form her Tahitian drum group in support of her soloist dancers for competitions. I eagerly agreed and was soon picking up my bass guitar as well to perform in the halau’s many recitals, performances, and luaus. I also brought my son, Brendan, into the drumming group, and watched, with pride, as he progressed into the talented Fa’atete player he is today.

In the past couple of years, I have taken formal instruction on bass guitar with an instructor who specializes in Jazz bass. He taught me chord progression, scales, and had me writing my own bass lines.

I enjoy playing music and performing and I love Hawaiian music. Polynesian music, in all its forms, always makes me feel good, even when I’m simply listening to it. My hope is to share these good feelings with others through my music.

Bruddah Kalani Kaikaka

Howzit! I was born on Oahu, Hawai’i, grew up in Hale’iwa and Kalihi, with the exception of High School and some College in San Jose, California (1995-2001). I am Hawaiian.

In the summer of 2001, after returning to Oahu, I met two larger-then-life braddah’s while I was cruisin’ “the strip” in Waikiki. Thanks to those two braddah’s, Pava & Tahiti (aka Ocean Breeze), within 6 months I went from knowing nothing about music to playing along side Ocean Breeze on the streets in Waikiki. Of course anyone with an instrument was welcome to play, but only a few were asked to come back the next night. I owe a lot to Pava & Tahiti.

While still in the learning process of music, I met the third most influential person I would ever meet in my musical life. His name is Lloyd Schmitt III. Lloyd and I didn’t get along at first, but through music we became brothers. His natural talent for singing and playing was so inspirational that it took my love for music to a whole new level of enjoyment. We would play music for hours at a time while hangin’ out at “Walls” or along the beach in Kapi’olani Park. Lloyd had the rare ability to put his heart and soul into his music, through words and through strings. When he sang a song, or plucked away at a guitar or ukulele, whatever he was feeling at the time, you felt as well. Nothing was scripted or formal. He sang it like he felt it and didn’t care if you liked it or not… however I have not met a single soul who didn’t like it.

So that’s where I’m at now. I love playing all sorts of music, especially my Hawaiian music (both traditional and contemporary), and I’d like to spread my music and culture to those who are as interested in it as I am.