George Paele Mossman (March 28, 1891 – February 6, 1955) was a Honolulu businessman of Hawaiian ancestry, who became successful as a cultural entrepreneur, musician and ukulele maker. He was born in the

Kingdom of Hawaii The Hawaiian Kingdom, or Kingdom of Hawaiʻi ( Hawaiian: ''Ko Hawaiʻi Pae ʻĀina''), was a sovereign state located in the Hawaiian Islands. The country was formed in 1795, when the warrior chief Kamehameha the Great, of the independent island ...

to Thomas and Nahua Kealaikahiki Mossman in the

Pauoa Valley Honolulu (; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, which is in the Pacific Ocean. It is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of H ...

on the island of Oahu. After the death of his wife Rebecca Kainapau, he married Emma Keliilalanikulani Lewis. He had 7 children resulting from the two marriages: George R., Thomas W., Robert, Rebecca Pualani, Kaahikipiilani T., Leilani R. and Joseph Kekaulike. Mossman was of the Mormon faith, and a Sunday School superintendent of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) was established in the Hawaiian Islands in 1850, 11 years after the Edict of Toleration was decreed by Kamehameha III, giving the underground Hawaii Catholic Church the right to worshi ...

Early life

By the time he was 7 years old, his homeland had been annexed by the United States, becoming the Territory of Hawaii. After annexation, the territory began a process of a cultural assimilation. Mossman saw his old culture fading away, and grew concerned that one day it would be lost forever. He worked at various manual labor professions, eventually putting his efforts towards making ukuleles.

Perpetuation of Hawaiian culture

He opened Bell Tone Studio of Music in 1927, and hired "Hawaii's Songbird"

Lena Machado Lena Machado (October 16, 1903 – January 23, 1974) was a Native Hawaiian singer, composer, and ukulele player, known as "Hawaii's Songbird". She was among the first group of musical artists honored by the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1995. N ...

as the store's Hawaiian dance and singing instructor. In 1929, at the same address as his Bell Tone Studio, Mossman opened Hale Hoonaauao Hawaii, or "Hawaiian House of Learning" with an initial staff of four instructors to perpetuate the Hawaiian language and arts. Eventually, the school put together a traveling entertainment troupe that toured the islands. Mossman began organizing Hawaiian-language glee clubs in 1928 to preserve the culture. His first effort was instructing a class of 50–60 youths at President William McKinley High School. The George Mossman Players at McKinley High School presented reenactments of significant moments in Hawaii's history, such as their presentation of Christian convert High Chiefess Kapiʻolani breaking the taboos. The ''

Honolulu Star-Bulletin The ''Honolulu Star-Bulletin'' was a daily newspaper based in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. At the time publication ceased on June 6, 2010, it was the second largest daily newspaper in the state of Hawaii (after the ''Honolulu Advertiser''). ...

'' described the production as ".. the dynamic enthusiasm of George Mossman for his favorite hobby – the preservation of the early culture of the Hawaiians in a living form."

Lalani Hawaiian Village

George and his wife Emma Keliilalanikulani Lewis created the Mossman Foundation to continue the work of preserving the culture of the Hawaiian people. What Mossman is most remembered for in Hawaii is the 1932 creation of Lalani Hawaiian Village, a living history tourist attraction adjacent to their family home, at the corner of Kalakaua and Paoakalani Avenues. Mossman brought in Hawaiian crafts instructors, chanter Kuluwaimaka of the royal court of Kalākaua, Hawaiian singers and hula dancers. Opening ceremonies on May 12, 1932, were led by Territorial Governor Wallace Rider Farrington. The event was bolstered by congratulatory messages from United States Secretary of the Interior Ray Lyman Wilbur and

Victor S. K. Houston Victor Stewart Kaleoaloha Houston, popularly known as Victor S. K. Houston (July 22, 1876 — July 31, 1959), was an American politician and naval officer who served in the United States Congress representing the Territory of Hawaii. Educati ...

, territorial delegate to the United States House of Representatives, and the presence of representatives from the United States military forces. Old-style music and entertainment was presented, as well as speeches by musician

Johnny Noble John Avery Noble (September 17, 1892, Honolulu, Hawaii – January 13, 1944, Honolulu), better known as Johnny Noble, was an American musician, composer and arranger. He was one of the key figures behind the development of the hapa haole style ...

and athlete

Duke Kahanamoku Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku (August 24, 1890 – January 22, 1968) was a Hawaiian competition swimmer who popularized the sport of surfing. A Native Hawaiian, he was born to a minor noble family less than three years before th ...

. The ceremonies were facilitated by the "Ad Club", a publicity organization affiliated with the local Chamber of Commerce. According to news coverage at the opening, rather than hotels and tourists shops, what existed in Waikiki in that era were run-down shacks, remnants of the monarchy era. Lalani Hawaiian Village lasted for two decades, and has been acknowledged as the forerunner of the Waikiki tourism boom that happened after the Hawaii Admission Act of 1959 made it the 50th state. The Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa currently occupies that corner of real estate.

Death

George P. Mossman died February 9, 1955, and the ''

'' recognized his efforts to promote and preserve Hawaii's culture. His wife Emma died November 11, 1955. The Mossman ventures were all family operations. His daughter Pualani Mossman Avon became famous for her image appearing in numerous advertising campaigns for Hawaii. She became the poster girl for Matson cruise ship advertisements.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mossman, George Paele 1891 births 1955 deaths 20th-century American musicians Hawaiian ukulele players Ukulele makers