Rob Yamanoha: One Akamai Hilo Music Man
By Colin John
Driving over Saddle Road and into Kaumana, on the mauka side of Hilo, I am looking forward to speaking with the multi-talented Rob Yamanoha.
Still a young man, Rob wears many musical hats: guitarist, songwriter, producer, performer, studio owner, engineer and record label executive. He is also a devoted family man with four children, a supportive wife and the latest addition to the ‘ohana, a cute, miniature dachshund called Peyton. As I pull into the Yamanoha’s driveway, I am warmly greeted by Rob and the friendly little pup.
I’ve been aware of Rob for the past couple of years through his latest original CD—”Better,” a fine collection of “original island soul”—as well as through mutual musician friends. I want to know what makes this musician tick.
“I grew up on the North Shore of O‘ahu, in Wailua and Haleiwa, during the ‘70s and ‘80s. We lived a simple, rural village life before the area became popular with tourists and the international surfing scene,” he says.
Along with having a little fun surfing, Rob reports, “I took classical piano lessons from age 6 to 15. My parents encouraged me and I became proficient while studying the Suzuki method. I practiced daily in between lessons and this provided me with a fundamental discipline. Along with the classical music, I learned how to play ragtime piano and used to play, ‘The Entertainer’ and other pieces from that era.”
Reaching his teenage years, Rob lost interest in classical piano and became more interested in sports, as well as the guitar. “When I turned 15, I realized that the piano was not a ‘cool’ instrument, and I felt a little self-conscious because of it. I always looked up to my older brother, who played ‘ukulele. I liked the popular Hawaiian music of the day, including Ka‘u Crater Boys, Kapena, Makāha Sons and other bands. I liked their voices, sense of composition and the guitar.”
Like many adventurous youth, Rob soon started having feelings of wanderlust and sensed that there was another world outside the idyllic beauty of Haleiwa. California beckoned.
He moved to Santa Rosa, where his older brother lived, and enrolled in junior college, working odd jobs. “I loved the guitar but didn’t yet have one, so I saved some money and bought a Harmony acoustic from a pawnshop. The strings were really high on it and tough to play, but my training on piano made it easy to pick out notes and chords,” he said.
“I was becoming really interested in music and began thinking about doing it as a career. After junior college I thought about transferring to San Francisco State to major in music.” A family member suggested, however, that this might not be the best choice: a musician’s life is a tough life, being away from home often, with an uncertain future, and no guarantees.
Rob respected this person enough to consider taking the advice. “I had to rethink my position. I wanted to be independent and not be a burden on my family. I loved music but was always interested in teaching, so I moved to Hilo and enrolled at UH, where I majored in Hawaiian Language Studies. I felt I was doing something noble and satisfying my interests. I still had a strong desire to play music so kept at that while earning a BA in Hawaiian Language.”
During this period, Rob joined the popular, Hilo-based band, Moe Moe’a, a funky, original rock-and-roll band with aspirations beyond the back yard. “I enrolled in a masters program at UH, where I intended to go into counseling. At the same time, Moe Moe’a was getting popular and was composed of many interesting personalities. We made a record, got a deal with a company on O‘ahu, played many shows, and made no money. I took a look at the contract and realized that it was a bad deal and not in our best interest.”
“Every cloud…” as the saying goes…This knowledge set Rob on the way to becoming self-sufficient, savvy and akamai. He learned all he could about the music business while taking advice from his future wife, Karla. “I did my homework and got all these books on music business law and contracts. I looked to other artists whom I admired.” These included Indie DIY Goddess Ani Defranco and another Haleiwa native who used to play Little League baseball alongside Rob, Jack Johnson. “I thought, ‘If they can do it, so can I.’ So I started studying what they were doing and adapting their principles to my career. Then Karla said to me, ‘What are you doing with this counseling thing? You don’t seem very happy.’ I really didn’t feel comfortable with academia anymore, so with her blessings and my determination, as well as a slap of reality, I set out to do music full time. I felt that if anyone was going to make it happen, it would be me.”
In 2005, Rob created his own cottage industry, Red Moon Entertainment, LLC, where he used his self-taught knowledge to be a musician, studio owner, producer, engineer and record label owner. To date, things are looking bright. “I always thought about my music as a guinea pig. I play live, record, get others’ opinions, and then keep working at my craft, constantly learning. I enjoy helping others and have just finished projects with two bands. Kuahiwis are friends of mine, with members from Moe Moe’a and Mixjah and have a great, original island sound. The other band is called 4 Fathers, and they too have a unique sound. Half the band is based here and the other half on O‘ahu. Their keyboard player is Boom Gaspar, who also plays with Pearl Jam and is a Hawaiian music legend.”
What does 2011 hold for the hard-working, multi-talented Rob Yamanoha?
“I am currently working on my next solo CD as well as putting the final touches on the 4 Fathers project. I play locally at Cafe Pesto, Miyo’s and Hilo Yacht Club. I plan on hitting the road in the summer, playing dates in Seattle, Portland, Napa, Sonoma, and San Francisco. I will always make time for my great kids and wonderful wife.”
Spoken like a true journeyman.
To see where and when Rob is performing, to hear his music, and obtain other information, please visit his website.
Photos courtesy of Rob Yamanoha
