On The Beach At Waikiki - Rene Dietrich & Horace Wright with Helen Louise & Frank Ferera (1915)

"On The Beach At Waikiki"

Rene Dietrich & Horace Wright are the singers, and accompaniment is provided by Helen Louise & Frank Ferera--this latter team plays guitar and uke

Victor 18157

1916

Music by Henry Kailimai

Words by G. H. Stover

A phrase is repeated throughout the song. Is it "Honikau, a wiki wiki" (as given in sheet music) or is it "Oone kauha wiki wiki" (as given by internet sources with lyrics of the song)? Which phrase is correct?

Horace Wright was a tenor known for singing Italian character songs and Hawaiian songs..

He partnered with Rene Dietrich, a soprano, for a vaudeville act. The team of Rene Dietrich and Horace Wright made recordings from 1916 to 1918.

"Honikau, a wiki wiki,"
Sweet brown maiden said to me
As she gave me language lessons
On the beach at Waikiki.

"Honikau, a wiki wiki,"
She returned and smiled with glee.
But she would not translate for me
On the beach at Waikiki.

"Honikau, a wiki wiki"--
She was surely teasing me!
So I grabbed that maid and kissed her
On the beach at Waikiki.

"Honikau, a wiki wiki--
You have learned it perfectly!
Don't forget what I have taught you,"
Said that maid at Waikiki.