Born and raised in Pleasant Grove, Utah, about 35 miles south of Salt Lake City, the King Sisters originally were part of the "Driggs Family of Entertainers". Their first professional job was with a Salt Lake City radio station, from which they graduated to a station in Oakland, California. In the early 1930s sisters Luise, Maxine and Alyce formed a vocal trio along the lines of their idols, the Boswell Sisters, and traveled to San Francisco to audition for radio station KGO (to replace the Boswell Sisters themselves, who were leaving the station)." After this, Maxine retired to home life in Oakland and sisters Donna and Yvonne were added to the roster.
In 1935, the King Sisters accepted a job with bandleader Horace Heidt. Gradually, relations between the King Sisters and Heidt deteriorated to the point where they left the band. In the following years, they separately and together sang with the bands of Artie Shaw's Old Gold program and Charlie Barnet and Al Pearce series. They turned down a request to be the vocal group for the Glenn Miller Orchestra. They recorded for Bluebird Records, a sub-label of RCA Victor Records and the same label as Miller, and also had their first hit with a vocal version of Miller's hit, "In The Mood".
In 1937, Luise married guitarist Alvino Rey. At the peak of the sisters' success, they appeared in a number of 1940's Hollywood films. During World War II, they appeared regularly on Kay Kyser's radio series. In 1965, they began hosting their own ABC television-network series, The King Family Show, which featured family members including Alyce's husband, actor Robert Clarke, and her sons, Ric and Lex de Azevedo, and Cam Clarke, as well as other talent. The show ran from 1965-1966, with a 1969 revival.
A second generation of the King Family, The Four King Cousins, continues to carry on the musical tradition.
On The Beach At Waikiki
The King Sisters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ay-ai, ay-ai
Do you see that cat in the coconut hat?
Ay, ai, ay, ai
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
Big brown fella said to me
As he gave me langauge lesson
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
He then said and smiled in glee
But he would not translate for me
On the beach at Waikiki
He taught me how to ride the surf at Waikiki
He fed me mahi-mahi on mandi
And then he took me sailing on the Catamaran
He showed me the Hawaiian sea
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
He repeated darefully
Oh the slips were so inviting
On the beach at Waikiki
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
He was surely teasin' me
So I got that boy and kissed him
On the beach at Waikiki
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
A wiki, wiki, what does it mean?
He would not translate for me
On the beach at Waikiki
Oh I can't forget those lessons
On the beach at Waikiki
See that man with the coat of tan?
Ay-ai, ay-ai
Do you see that cat in the coconut hat?
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Ay, ai, ay, ai
The song "On the Beach At Waikiki" by The King Sisters is a fun, light-hearted tune about a woman experiencing the beauty and culture of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii through the eyes of a local man. The singer describes the man with a "coat of tan" who points out the "cat in the coconut hat", adding to the sense of whimsy and playfulness of the song. The repeated phrase "Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki" is a Hawaiian phrase the man uses to teach the singer new words and phrases. Although the singer is having a great time, and is clearly attracted to the man's charm and playfulness, he teases her by refusing to translate the phrase for her. The man teaches her how to ride the surf, feeds her Hawaiian food, and takes her sailing on a Catamaran, all the while repeating the phrase "Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki" which intrigues and frustrates the singer.
The song captures the spirit of Hawaii at its most playful and carefree. The Hawaiian language lesson and playful teasing of the woman by the man capture the good-natured fun characteristic of the culture of Hawaii. The song conveys the sense of a vacation romance, a moment in time when everything is light and easy, and nothing is taken too seriously. The song's upbeat rhythm and playful lyrics convey the carefree, joyful feeling of spending time on the beach in one of the world's most beautiful locations.
Line by Line Meaning
See that man with the coat of tan?
Do you see that guy with a sun-tan?
Ay-ai, ay-ai
Expressing excitement or admiration
Do you see that cat in the coconut hat?
Do you see that person wearing a hat made of coconut?
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Expressing excitement or admiration
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
Big brown fella said to me
As he gave me langauge lesson
On the beach at Waikiki
A Hawaiian man taught me a phrase, "Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki", and gave me a language lesson on the beach at Waikiki
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
He then said and smiled in glee
But he would not translate for me
On the beach at Waikiki
The Hawaiian man repeated the phrase, but wouldn't translate it for me
He taught me how to ride the surf at Waikiki
He fed me mahi-mahi on mandi
And then he took me sailing on the Catamaran
He showed me the Hawaiian sea
The Hawaiian man taught me surfing, fed me a fish dish, took me sailing on a catamaran, and showed me the beauty of the Hawaiian sea
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
He repeated darefully
Oh the slips were so inviting
On the beach at Waikiki
The Hawaiian man repeated the phrase teasingly, while the beach was inviting for fun activities
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
He was surely teasin' me
So I got that boy and kissed him
On the beach at Waikiki
The Hawaiian man was teasing me with the phrase, so I kissed him on the beach at Waikiki
"Honika ooh, a wiki-wiki"
A wiki, wiki, what does it mean?
He would not translate for me
On the beach at Waikiki
I still don't know what the phrase means as the Hawaiian man would not translate it for me
Oh I can't forget those lessons
On the beach at Waikiki
I can't forget the memorable experiences I had on the beach at Waikiki
See that man with the coat of tan?
Ay-ai, ay-ai
Do you see that cat in the coconut hat?
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Ay, ai, ay, ai
Repeating the first two lines to emphasize the excitement and admiration of the Hawaiian man and his coconut hat
Writer(s): H. Kailimai, G.h. Stover
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.