Kiernan Music: A Legacy of Love from Father to Son
By Fannie Narte
When you walk into Kiernan Music in Kainaliu, the guitars, ‘ukuleles, and musical paraphernalia that fill every wall and floor space overcome your visual senses. Without taking another step, you notice the unique instruments hanging on the wall in front of you that look like they belong in a museum.
Up high in the left corner of the store, there’s a shelf with an eclectic mix of items: a miniature folk guitar next to a large black speaker, a silver sculpture, and a small golden Buddha. On the opposite corner is a shelf with another black speaker surrounded by more miniature guitars, some with their own instrument cases.
Below this shelf is owner Brian Kiernan’s computer, and on the wall above his computer is a mounted blue ‘ukulele and this quote:
“Treat every interaction with another person as a sacred moment, because it is.”
~Anonymous
Curious customers wander into Kiernan Music and linger awhile to breathe in the ambiance. Customers with heirloom instruments in need of repair and restoration, who are reluctant to leave their beloved instruments with just anybody, learn that this is a safe place.
The Beatles, Guitars, and Girls
Brian, the second oldest of six children, grew up in Long Island, New York. His parents worked hard to provide for the necessities of their growing family.
From a young age, Brian remembers being the “little guy” hanging around his grandpa’s workbench. His grandfather, an electrician in the Brooklyn Navy yard, was known as “Mr. Fix-it.” Like magic, he watched his grandfather repeatedly bring back life to broken and discarded items.
Brian’s interest in guitars began when he was about eight years old. This was a period of time when the Beatles had risen to fame and every girl wanted to “hold their hands.” He was young and impressionable, and Brian thought that playing the guitar seemed like “a great way to meet girls,” he says.
During this time, a neighborhood friend suggested that Brian attend the “free” guitar lessons that were being offered at a local church. Although this prospect excited him, how could he learn to play the guitar, without a guitar? His friend encouraged him to go to class anyway. Armed with the hope of a child and powered by the enthusiasm of Beatlemania, Brian went to the class. He bought an old guitar from the teacher for $10 and had his first lesson.
Changing Times
Brian entered college as a music major with hopes of a career as a music teacher. However, because of the instability of the New York educational system during the mid-1970s, he changed directions. He switched to a musical instrument technology program and honed his skills in instrument repair and building. Brian successfully completed the apprenticeship program and received his certification in 1977.
With certificate in hand, he moved to California and found work as an instrument repairman in Santa Cruz.
Later, he moved to San Francisco. In 1980, he met and married his wife, Jasmin. With a desire for adventure and in search of a place to call home, they moved to Boulder, Colorado.
A Fork in the Road
In Colorado, he went back to school, acquired an Engineering Degree and quickly found employment in the geographic information systems (GIS) industry.
Although the work was interesting and financially rewarding, Brian’s passion was in building instruments. During the day, he worked to support his family. “Every night,” Brian says, “my sanity was restored by going into the workshop and building guitars.”
During these nights, Derek, his son, was Brian’s shadow. Just as Brian was the “little guy” in his grandfather’s workshop; Derek became the “little guy” in Brian’s workshop.
Eventually Brian’s work in the GIS industry evolved into independent consulting, which took him to O‘ahu in the early 1990s where he helped the City and County of Honolulu implement their mapping program. His frequent business trips to Hawai‘i were followed by numerous family vacations to the islands. Hawai‘i naturally became a favorite vacation spot for the Kiernans.
“We discovered the Big Island in 1994 and fell in love with it. It felt like the home we had searched for,” he remembers.
After repeated visits to Hawai‘i Island, Brian and Jasmin decided that this was the place they would retire.
They put their heads together and devised their long-term retirement plan. It was to buy an affordable home as soon as they could, which would then be rented until they were ready to retire. The search for their investment property began immediately.
However, in 2002, that plan was altered when Brian had a heart attack.
This setback was a time of reflection and re-evaluation. He thought, “I’m working really hard in my technology career, and I use my guitar building to relax. Why can’t I make the guitar building my career?”
That realization significantly changed his career path and ultimately brought the Kiernan family to Kona sooner than they originally planned.
After his recovery from his heart attack, Brian resumed his work as a consultant and continued his search for an investment property. After much searching, finally, they found their house.
“We bought a fixer-upper house in Kealia, still planning to rent it out until retirement.”
Brian set to work on the property, and that is when the aloha started. Neighbors stopped by to meet him and brought of fruit baskets and other meals. Their generosity and welcome overwhelmed him. He says, “I still well up when I think about it.”
Impressed by this continuous flow of aloha, he told his wife, “We could wait until we retire, or we could move here now and become a part of this community so that by the time we retire, we really are home.”
With that, Brian made the career change, and the Kiernans moved to their new home on Hawai‘i Island.
Kiernan Music
Kiernan Music was established in 2004. Its primary business was instrument building and repair. Two years later, Brian moved it from his workshop at his home in Kealia to its first storefront location in Captain Cook.
When Brian was five years old, his mom gave him a blue ‘ukulele. She then stored the instrument in their attic and gave it to him again when he turned 50. That ‘uke, which hangs over his desk, is an heirloom and a symbol of his mom’s love and generosity.
His mom had one last gift. After she passed, Brian received a generous financial gift from her estate, which was an important piece of the Kiernan Music legacy. With the help of that gift, he was able to move the business from Captain Cook to its present location in Kainaliu and bring his son Derek back into the business. Today they are recognized as a father and son team.
The Workshop—Where Magic Happens
In their workshop at the back of the store, Brian and Derek create their one-of-a-kind instruments. A beautiful archtop guitar rests on Brian’s worktable.
On Derek’s worktable, there are two ‘ukuleles with unique sound holes specially designed by the team.
A creative natural like his dad, Derek carved his own place in the industry. He built his first guitar in high school, which was his “resume” when he went to work for local guitar manufacturer, Goodall Guitars.
A large amount of time is devoted to repair and restoration work. A 1927 Gibson mandolin banjo awaits restoration work. Recently, they completed restoration work on a 1936 Gibson guitar, which was signed by ten-year-old Shirley Temple.
The Legacy
The store is divided into vintages, collectibles, imports, and Hawaiian made and locally built ‘ukes.
In addition to selling quality instruments, each year Brian donates a certain number of ‘ukuleles to different charitable organizations throughout the island. He spreads his generosity to as many people as he can and chooses to focus his philanthropic efforts with schools.
New customers enter Kiernan Music and think it’s a place of business, and they leave—like all of those who have come before them—knowing that it’s more than that.
“If I don’t sell anything all day, if I just have good interactions with people, I’m happy,” Brian says.
The passion and joy that Brian and Derek infuse into every piece they create are driven by their acknowledgement and appreciation for the gift of their legacy.
Kiernan Music is “something that was a lot of years in the making.” It is a legacy of love from father to son. ❖
Contact Brian and Derek Kiernan: kiernanmusic.com
Opening photo courtesy Technology Aloha: TechnologyAloha.com
All other photos by Fannie Narte
Contact writer Fannie Narte: info@fannienarte.com
