What was the inspiration behind the "Aloha 'Oe" song, that was popularized by a Hawaiian soprano singer?
Aloha ʻOe "Aloha ʻOe" ("Farewell to Thee") is Liliʻuokalani's most famous song and a common cultural symbol for Hawaii. The story of the origin of the song has several variations. They all have in common that the song was inspired by a notable farewell embrace given by Colonel James Harbottle Boyd during a horseback trip taken by Princess Liliʻuokalani in 1877 or 1878 to the Boyd ranch in Maunawili on the windward side of Oʻahu, and that the members of the party hummed the tune on the way back to Honolulu. Different versions tell of alternate recipients of the embrace — either Liliʻuokalani's sister Princess Likelike Cleghorn or a young lady at the ranch. According to the most familiar version of the story:
Bill Aliʻiloa Lincoln Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln is a Hawaiian hula singer and musician, noted for his soaring falsetto. He was married to Napua Stevens, another noted hula performer and entertainer. Like Stevens, he recorded under the Bell Records label with his group "Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln and His Hawaiians", hits such as "Ke Ala Nui Liliha", "Ku'u Lei Liliha", "Moku O Keawe", "My Yellow Ginger Lei" (1955) and "Mauna Loa". John Kameaaloha Almeida was influential in launching Lincoln's career. He released a notable compilation of hits from the 1930s-1970s named "Hawaii's Falsetto Poet" in 2008, a name he was nicknamed.There is a Bill Lincoln Record Shop which exists in Hawaii on 304 Lewers Street in Honolulu. The club where he performed is named "La Hula Rhumba", located at 744 Lunalilo Street also in the Hawaiian capital.