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.