Mackey Feary "A Moon with the Stars"

Intro: Kalapana II from the group Kalapana was released almost 50 years ago with standout tracks like "Moon and Stars" that would be a must have album in the history of Hawaiian music. It became an important part of Hawaii's culture and taking a look at the legacy that Mackey Feary has left with us will set the stage to find out the level of musical exploration and significance of what can only be described as powerful as a burning star in the sky. The people would always be coming out to hear his messages about communication and it really connected with people. It wasn't really a thing to convey feelings in Hawaii back at that time and standing up to that expectation of Hawaii society meant being more independent and just doing it, even if it was difficult he knew holding it all inside. It was about being in the silent night sky and being a moon that shines their light, that light is personal experiences, and the thing the moon is shining on is the other sides understanding, when both are lit up it becomes something special.

 
"I can't look at the full moon without thinking of Mackey. He was the light of my eye".

Description: Bryant "Mackey" Feary Jr (1955-1999), was born August 13, 1955 was an Hawaii musician, widely recognized for his significant contributions to Hawaiian pop/rock/folk music. Born of Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, French, English, Indian, and Canadian as a mixed plate. Mackey began playing music at the age of seven with his dad and the rest of the family who all enjoyed music and made it a part of their lives and it was part of being a family.

 
Founding Member of Kalapana: He was a founding member of the influential Hawaiian band Kalapana and also pursued a successful solo career with the Mackey Feary Band. By sixteen, he was performing live in Hawaii Kai. In late 1973, at 17, he joined Malani Bilyeu, DJ Pratt, and Kirk Thompson to form Kalapana. The band quickly gained popularity, releasing their debut album, Kalapana I, in 1975, which blended pop, rock, folk, and jazz with a distinct Hawaiian feel. Their second album, Kalapana II (1976), earned Feary a Nani Award for Best Male Vocalist. Kalapana's success included a concert with Cecilio & Kapono at Aloha Stadium, drawing 20,000 fans. His music is considered to have modernized Hawaiian music, making it accessible to a broader audience and continues to inspire the youth of today.

"I think it's just the feeling, and the feeling across, is important you know? if you convey the feeling its the key to communication." -Mackey Feary
Voice: Mackey Feary distinguished himself from other musicians through his intimate conversational tone with his voice and listeners felt like they were in room with Mackey. The music gave him a place he could turn to for comfort and expression and just go into the zone of song, so he kept on playing and people kept on going into the zone with him. They would get lost in his music, but he was also a complex man, but he wouldn't show it to many people as he was much more interested in sharing Aloha with the strings of his guitar. While he had a great charismatic stage presence there was just so much emotion and depth he brought as well.

 
"Through his songs you could feel the struggle, you could feel his vulnerability, and he still had aloha in him after all that. He was a once in a lifetime performer. No one else like him." -Fan

Musical Reflections: Mackey had a life outside of music, but the way he communicated was often through music where he was able to paint a picture of what he was doing as well as going through. Memories and experiences captured in song of somethings recent and somethings back in the day, cruising the island, and going through life. He would enjoy relaxing and talking for a long time while cruising the islands with his friends trying to have fun in a way that was like going on an adventure off with his friends and just spending time together. There was one time that he went to a sound room to actually play some music, but he and a few others just layed on the floor listening to the bass coming off the walls all relaxed and lost in thought. It wasn’t always about music, but the meaning behind the music, and the meaning he gave things in his life. Such an interesting message when he was a quiet person who liked his privacy, he didn't like people getting all up in his business, but he wanted to share with people certain parts of his voyage in life to maybe tell them they weren't alone and that the music would be there for them.

Feeling the Message of Voice: He was really speaking to people's feelings and that was unusual and not seemingly local at all, but it separated him from other musicians. The local way back then was about displaying strength through acting all tough and scrapping, but Mackey wasn’t about that sort of lifestyle. He wanted something a bit more peaceful that brought people together rather than fighting against them. Mackey sang songs about getting to know yourself and it was sort of a message he wanted people to hear. The guitar was a place where Mackey could party all by himself, spreading the message that everyone's capable of loving, even if they felt people were far away, uncomfortable socially, or just going through hard things in their life. Mackey would be thinking all the time, even when he was having a good time thinking about the emotional journey and be thinking of what was, what happened, and what could be. He was sweet and soft spoken and he had a soothing voice that had everyone in awww.

 
"Well, I guess, growing up in intermediate and high school it was kind of a romantic time, i was uh geared toward that, you know my girlfriend rather than school." -Mackey Feary

The Voice Inside: It was all behind a smile that he would always have, but even with laughter and joy that was experiencing he was still in the back of his head juggling the thoughts of the different stages of emotions of what was going on making them feel visible from musician to listener and that was magical. To let others know that someone would always be there in a recording and have something that wouldn’t abandon them emotionally through song. Some felt that even if you feel alone there was Mackey still talking to them and speaking to them, or at least someone…anyone…was listening… He was there listening to them, the silent, but deep thinkers who can’t quite come up with a way to describe what's going on, the songs would be there for them.

Early Years:
"Yes! Timothy Couch, you, use to ride the bulls in the cow pasture, and we both ate the cows food (cow grains and dried pineapples). In the cow pasture behind your house all the time!" -Mackey Feary

Moving to Maunalani Heights
In 1966, The Feary Ohana would move to Maunalani Heights on Mariposa Drive with the whole family: Gina (mother), Bryant (father), Dancetta, Mackey, Rodney, Frank, and Alison. The younger ones would go on to attend Kaimuki Intermediate like Alison and Mackey. They knew many of the other children from their street and one street down as well as one street up and the families would know one another too, because that was the way things were back then. Mackey was a typical Hawaii boy, but was a bit quiet, a bit shy, and wanted to tag along with the older siblings. If da geckos on da walls could talk they would probably be chillin with Mackey at his jam sessions he had in his parents' basement.

 
Small Kid time at Liliuokalani school: Mackey first attended Liliuokalani school on Waialae and would later attend Kaimuki Intermediate where he was known as easy to approach even at a young age. Mackey didn’t have any trouble meeting people, so he would navigate through everyone pretty quickly and ended up making friends with the other students who were interested in music and went off to make a band. The band would play their music at the school assembly. He would jam with Steve Lysen and Ronald Tanaka and if he wasn’t jamming with friends he would be playing ukulele with the older boys around Paiko Lagoon near Kuliouou. Meanwhile Mackey's parents would be doing the best that they could to support the family.

"Played guitar with Mackey and Ronald Tanaka Kupele in their basement with the folks in attendance. Ronald taught Mackey. We were all Leos and Ronald was 5 years older. Mackey hung out with older boys who helped him develop musically faster." -Steve Lysen

Kaiser: Mackey grew up being just totally engrossed in music and he had really enjoyed band class with Mr Yoshioka. The reason was that Mr Yoshioka had a certain approach of teaching that began with musical tones, articulation, and different rhythms. When it wasn’t time for band class he kept on playing anyways with an older boy about five years his senior, Ronald Tanaka “Kupele”, would go on to teach Mackey a few things in playing music from the age of twelve 1962. He had transferred to Kalani.

Den was Kalani High School Days: Kalani High School, he transferred and he made friends pretty quickly as he was a handsome guy. He always played his guitar and so he attracted people who also liked music through playing it or from the girls who appreciated it while staring at him putting on a show in the hallway strumming away. Mackey didn’t think much of his musical talents, but he still took playing seriously because the connection was full of meaning to him, but with all that practice and his musically talented friends it was only a matter of time that his music would catch on. It started catching the attention of other schools, local entertainment venues, entertainment scouts, and local bands looking to recruit some young talent. He identified as a romantic where he embraced his inclination towards love and affection, which infused his music with depth and emotion. His journey through high school was not just about musical development but also about exploring the complexities of relationships and the power of connection.

 
“There was this one time where he sat in the cafeteria playing “House on Pooh Corner” -Classmate

House on Pooh Corner: Kalani High School, back when Mackey was at Kalani all the girls really had a thing for him because they knew he was a romantic and he was handsome and better yet he was an athlete. All the girls liked the way he would be so content, playing his guitar during lunch breaks in the cafeteria with his great singing voice, but the boys knew him more in a different way as they played dice in the bathroom. When Mackey used to head home he would ride the Maunalani Heights bus to get home and get off around Iwi Way, always in the back of the bus, usually quietly smoking. He was dating a girl named Elsa when he entered 9th grade. While his grades weren't top notch, this where he would only get better with his singing and music in general thanks to their music program there, so his music were sure top notch. He sand House on Pooh Corner that was written by Kenny Loggins, then Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and people in Hawaii really were into it.

"Back when Mackey was at Kalani all the girls really had a thing for him because they knew he was a romantic and he was handsome and better yet he was an athlete."

Oh Memories of Kaimuki: A Neighborhood that encapsulates old Hawaii in the planned suburb of Kaimuki, a getaway from Honolulu with the streets that move into residential areas to the small town shopping where shakas are thrown and nice people are walking with family. Growing up in Kaimuki was something special and it wasn't just a place, because it was like this whole world packed into a few blocks. The place is friendly with a long history of generations that live in the area that actually are familiar with many of the families that live there. The people who lived in the area are what people remember and their stories are important to the story of Kaimuki, because it is home or at one point it was, or for the late night goers the garages in the area would be what was their second home.

 
"Mackey is probably one of the best songwriters, if not the best to come out of Hawaii." -Mark Miyoshi

Old Small Town and the Victoria Inn: Nothing to worry about while walking home in the area as there was always someone keeping an eye, be it your neighbor or a friend or a store owner. People would go home and all pau for the day the next sunrise would happen and people would live it all over again. When the morning starts the roads are empty with a dog barking and the winds blowing from the valley gives off a nice feeling of being near the ocean where it can be seen in its beauty and blowing leaves. As the morning passes by the families start waking up for the day and pass as the time goes, so do peoples day, and that feeling that is given from the area is of happy island life. This was the way things were with the small town shops and gas station along the developing area that gave it a bit of charm, but the loveliest of places was the community meet ups like Victoria Inn where Mackey's Mom worked, his sister worked there a little bit too, everyone helped in one way or another back then.

 
"I was doing the songs of yesteryear, Mackey was doing the songs of now. Before, big difference." -Danny Kaleikini

Soundtrack of The Vietnam War: The Vietnam War would be tied to a specific soundtrack and that's not just because those songs were made in the time period or that people in Hawaii served in Vietnam, but changed the music of the time. Acoustic Music would start being used as a weapon as protests around the country would be sung from the 1960’s that Mackey and other members of Kalapana were living through like Bob Dylan's “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall” (Folk Rock). Troops on the ground were listening to the Animals “We've Gotta get Out of this Place” (Acoustic), Nancy Sinatra “These Boots were made for walkin” (Pop Acoustic) because of walking in muddy boots, Aretha Franklin wrote “Chain of Fools” that was initially about cheating was co opted to relate to refer to the chain of command. Tom Moffatt would bring the world's entertainers to Hawaii like Jimi Hendrix painted a picture of war through many of his songs at the HIC Honolulu International Center Arena (Blaisdell Arena). Technology grew with broadcasting in the late 1960’s making it so soldiers could hear more music and communicate better and that brought the next wave of music at the time going into the 1970s like: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Crosby Stills Nash & Young “Ohio”, Edwin Starr “War”, and Marvin Gaye “What’s Going On?”.

Mackey Feary and Milani Bilyeu: The meeting of Mackey Feary and Milani Bilyeu would be when things would start to move and move quickly they did, because they could just tune into each other's strengths once they started playing music together. They were observant and could see how each band member they played with was looking for a sound they could agree upon. But those two would spark something that would start a music revolution in Hawaii that would shape the music genre of regional Hawaii softrock forever through Hawaii’s music scene. Throughout the years this famous relationship would be marked in people's minds who enjoyed them individually and when they played together, this would be the music played by Malani Bilyeu and Mackey Feary in the 1970s. They would demonstrate to Hawaii the brilliance of soft rock through the creative pair where there were influential musicians at the time that would inspire their work. Much of this wasn’t by chance as both of these musicians would have hours of practice, passed on knowledge from people, and musical understanding for their passion to pursue a sound that was of their own liking. No one could predict that these two meetings would be what a band would need to make some of Hawaiʻi’s greatest contemporary hits of all time.

"The British Invasion had John Lennon and Paul McCartney, but here in Hawaii Music we had Mackey Feary and Milani Bilyeu... Just Brilliant... Amazing talent. I telling you Kalapana with Mackey was Hawaii's answer to the Beatles."

Hawaii School Music Circuit: Kalpana's music was based in Hawaii coming from the schools that had music classes that let students perform and the musicians that wanted to make it big. The atmosphere was right. The Hawaii music scene had Waikiki that had live performances that always had new acts in demand and the local spots would rest assured that popular acts from school would be likely to please their audiences. The whole battle of the bands and the radio that collaborated on these things would make people want to buy more records and that would add to the appeal of the pre digital music time period they were living in. Not to say in the digital age the approach wouldn’t work, but it would be very different with online access, purchasable merchandise through an eshop, and the music making process would be a bit more translucent than it was before. The group had come out at just the right time where people were looking for that sort of music looking back to the 1960s and enjoying the 1970s and it created a musical standard of Cecilio & Kapono, and then Kalapana in a particular style of music that no one could ignore, it was everywhere. When Kalapana was just starting out they weren’t going for the music venues yet, so they would do performances elsewhere like at a few Kalani High School assemblies, McKinley High School (Honolulu) McNeil Hall at Punahou.

 
"no body was actually tryna cut out of assembly that day unlike other days because they just loved their music so much. It was sort of a dynamic where people would display their talents at school, then make it as a niche at live events, and then go to do gigs that would make them part of the music community."

Don Ho's Guidance: would talkstory with Mackey Feary and his friends like Donnie Martin and Ronny just like any other local boy and he was down to earth and everything where he followed the mantra of: “I'm not a singer, I'm an entertainer. Never be something you're not” -Don Ho. Musically that sort of intimacy and authenticity can come from the natural unamplified sound that created a sense of intimacy between the musician and the audience that was important in Hawaii. The simplicity and purity of acoustic guitar music hold a particular appeal that allows for added instruments and making the range wider and different while depending on the main tune. His statement would also explain that the singing was a single part of a whole where the entertainment is the whole of: audience engagement, close proximity, emotional depth, and that's what Mackey was looking for is that sort of emotional connection and to communicate with the audience. It was that immersive experience that emphasizes the connection between the performer(s) and the audience, creating moments of shared emotion, and connection through music.

“No one knew how hard Don worked on understanding camaraderie and showing it. He would show that in his performances to people to show how important it was.” -Donnie Martin

Ed Guy Recordings: He saw the movement and managed Cecilio & Kapono at a club he built for them called “The Rainbow Villa” that was near the Waikiki by the McCully Bridge that had the longest bar in the state with pool tables. Bill Thompson retired on Maui and Terry Powell (Columbia Records) came to check out the Hawaii band scene, but Tom Moffat would continue to push to promote local rock bands and place them side by side with big mainland rock bands as a way to systematically give people their big break at places like the Diamond Head Crater Sunshine Festival and Honolulu Civic Auditorium. Ed Guy managed Cecilio & Kapono when they took off on the plane to the mainland to Columbia Records he was looking for a replacement band and he handpicked the group that would be “Kalapana”: Malani Bilyeu, Mackey Feary, David John "DJ" Pratt, and Kirk Thompson.

 
Kalapana, and The Hawaiian Rock Movement: The Hawaiian Rock Movement has a lot of history on its own, so not going too far into it is important in getting Mackey's story across. But this time was important, the scene was naturally growing with district-bands and Waikiki turning towards Rock, Jazz, and Soul, so there were people who wanted a part of that and that would be people like Ed Guy. Everyone got there from Hawaii Kai where DJ Pratt and Kirk Thompson as well as Mackey Feary were already doing gigs at places like Chuck on Fridays or at the Oar House. The Oar House was where they got talking to Mackey in his solo performances where he met up with them in DJ Pratts’ grandfather's garage. At that time Mackey was doing gigs there as well as special events like luaus, weddings, and just things on the side. People already knew who he was at Chuck's Hawaii Kai was a place for Fridays every week until they eventually were moved into the weekends to a fully packed place with the cocktail waitresses hardly being able to get through the crowds of people to see: Billy Kaui, Makaha Sons (acc.Jaime Ellsworth).

 
Mackey and Kalapana: When Mackey was a part of Kalapana while he was still in school, but he didn’t really go for broke until after high school where he played the bass guitar and lead vocals with Malani. Where they were known for “The Hurt”, “Night Bird”, and “Moon and Stars” and would always insist on singing a song when things weren’t at their best. He would say things like "Let's Sing a song, Let's figure something out" even if he knew the person he was jamming with didn’t sing, because it was all about the mood.

 
"They were Hawaii's Beatles, The local fans here reacted with the same fanatical fervor as those Liverpoolians did back in the early '60s." -Kamasami Kong
Top of Da Shop: In 1973, Mackey (age 18) was playing at “Top of Da Shop” over at Kapiolani Boulevard and he played at “Rainbow Villa” in Waikiki around that time while he transferred playing music at lunch recess he’d be jamming to some “James Taylor” songs, until graduating in 1974. He was also a bit silly because he would be singing all over the place like having Jam sessions out in his Waimanalo home or for the girls in the bathroom. On his off time he would be cruising around the island parking at Sandy Beach and would go body surfing with his friends.

Aloha Concert (April 1, 1984), Cecilio & Kapono and Kalapana would play at the 

Waikiki Shell
"He was such an awesome guy. I was just out of high school when I first met him. I remember just staring at him thinking to myself, "this guy looks so familiar." He just smiled, and what a bright, beautiful smile he had. I turned to my cousin and said, "doesn't he look just like Mackey Feary?" She said, "go ask him." I think his smile put me at ease, and gave me the courage to ask. I said, "is your name Mackey Feary?" He just nodded and smiled again. I said, "I am such a huge fan. I grew up listening to your music. You're awesome." With his bright smile, he said, "Thanks, I really appreciate it" -1984

No Place Like Home, Hawaii Homesickness: Kalapana went to the old Malibu house in 1976 where touring and recording in California was actually happening to make the dream come true. They would survive on dishes like liver and onions, bacon, and trays of lasagna. It was hard, sometimes they would go out and come back home starved and there wasn't any food left. The group did some great music as they were transitioning to the mainland, but it was really tough on Mackey who had constant homesickness, went to escape all in the wrong places, and on top of that feeling of not being with the girl he was in love with.

 
Going Solo: This is when things took a turn, so it was important when Mackey decided to go in all the right places and start Mackey Feary Band by going solo. While the group knew it would benefit them to keep Mackey in the Mainland to make more records and more more performances, but their souls couldn't take the tole it was having on Mackey, so they let him go back home, home to Hawaii.
Magic Mushroom: The Gold Bond Building, the biggest building in Hawaii at that time was located at 677 Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu. It was built in 1966 by C. Q. Yee Hop, a local architect who designed many commercial and high-rise buildings in the city. Mackey's long time friend Steve Lyson’s Father became its first manager in the 1970s, so that’s when he gave the lease of the night club on the ground floor to Mackey. Mackey was thinking of what to name the club and came up with "The Magic Mushroom", where The Mackey Feary Band played for years to come.

The Mackey Feary Band, Mackey left Kalapana in 1977 and he went on to go and work on the first album for the group. It finally released, it was a self-titled album, and it debuted in 1978. He was in the “Macky Feary Band” and he played at UH Manoa at the Andrews Amphitheater with Tony Tam Sing with sold out concerts. Then the album From the Heart in 1979, both of which continued his Hawaii-themed pop-rock-jazz style. While he was working on his second solo album he was also trying to understand the music business with copyrights, the taping process, and the scoring. Most of Mackey's songs would come from the heart and he was the most creative when he let loose and didn’t place much effort into it.

"Feary got together with former Country Comfort keyboard player Gaylord Holomalia, formed the Mackey Feary Band, and in 1978 released their self-titled album, which included classic cuts like “I Remember You,” “Lullabye,” and “Catherine.” At the time, Holomalia felt the singer had cleaned himself up and was back to being creative and professional." -Guy Aoki

KKUA Radio Station, Kamasami Kong would always have Mackey Feary to come in to do songs and come for interviews on the air. Mackey was close friends with Kong and he also was close friends with Mackey as he called "Mack". After the evening shows would be done it would be late at night. Kong would sign off on his radio show with “Lullabye” by the Mackey Feary Band and after he was done he would often take his studio crew to the Top of Da Shop to visit his dear friend Mackey. On a typical night the group would go into the production room and listen to music and sometimes make fake commercials. Sometimes they went on the air and people thought it was a real product.

“You could clearly see the mutual respect and love for each other. That is what I remember the most. And I know it went beyond that. What a sweetheart of a person he was. Kong always spoke so highly of him, all the time.” -Tracy Turner Pain

Nanakuli and the Feary Ohana: In the late 1970s Nanakuli would look like a small town with backyards, a lawnmower left out and chain-link fences, and many trees that were very cool to see at the end of the day. Mackey's dad and stepmother would move the Feary Ohana to a house on Mohihi street. Some people called it a street of destiny as the name Mohihi meant in Hawaiian a strong vine of strings that brings the idea of a stringed instrument of some sort entangled with a vine and leaves being the families who lived on the street. Mohihi truly was synonymous with music as people would get together with aunties, uncles, cousins, and friends as well as neighbors to all be singing and playing, especially in Mr Freary’s house.
Kalapana Concert Waikiki Shell (1976)

Summer Concert at Aloha Stadium (1976) featured Cecilio & Kapono along with Kalapana both as they had become local celebrities that became a must see show.

 
The Mackey Feary Project: The Years in Guam

"That's the main focus of The Mackey Feary Project, the creation of "new stuff". That's what the music is for- have fun with it...to play it. Working with Sal and Mike has been really good." -Mackey Feary

Skycap, He worked as as Skycap to perform Curbside Baggage Check In with Bruce Voiles where he went undercover as Bryant. They would work with several other Skycaps that would be under Delta, TWA, and Quantas. He would be traveling from time to time and when Mackey would land in Kauai at Lihue airport his friend Eithan Anch would pick him up and would take him to his gigs and later in the evening meet up with Malani at Guy’s restaurant. With so many people knowing about Mackey it kind of left him uneasy and that there were so many responsibilities and people trying to know about him or get to know him, simply because he was famous. When he had met people who appreciated his company for who he was rather than his reputation he would feel more at ease like with his colleague Bruce at his Skycap job in between Gigs.

"In 1988 he was working at HNL airport. Being a haole in the Navy I had no clue who he was. He would get time off to go for concert tours to Japan, LA or Guam. He respected me for not knowing his fame." -Bruce Voiles

Nightbird: “Nightbird” which took about 15 minutes.
"Knowing that he's gone, it's like losing a person you grew to know, even if through the cassette. I can see it now, it's like the moon is crying...it's such a shame we lost someone like Mackey, such a beautiful soul. All the people of Hawaii are crying today. Even now i'm crying my eyes out...and i'm sure there are many others that feel the same."

Passing: Mackey Feary passed away on February 20, 1999, at the age of 43.

"Fly on through the night wind. Take a star to her for me. Please whisper I love her. Tell her wait for me. Here it seems so cold now. How I miss her arms around me. Soar nightbird of love. Make her wait for me. You have wings you know I let you go. Almost every night. But loneliness can dull the shine. Of even the bright moonlight. Nightbird, fly on, fly on, Nightbird, sing her my song, Nightbird, fly on, fly on" -Nightbird, Mackey Feary, Kalapana