FRANCIS DOO AT
BAMBOO GROVE
by K.T.
Francis Doo, native Hawaiian and 19-year Portland resident, performs
most Fridays at the Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grille, located at 0515 S.W.
Carolina in Portland. A recent Friday evening heralded the beginning
of extremely cold winter weather. This writer and Editor Bonnie Carter
braved the elements to check in at the Bamboo Grove and sample a taste
of Hawaii. The cozy atmosphere was brightened by Hawaiian music, food
and decor.
Francis Doo, who was wearing shorts and a T-shirt, banished the cold
with his authentic Hawaiian traditional and contemporary music. In
his collection is a custom-made, six-string ukulele by Nahenahe (“Melodius”).
All of his beautiful ukuleles sounded warm and friendly as he accompanied
himself singing in Hawaiian and English.
The Hawaiian alphabet contains only 12 letters, but the vocabulary
is phenomenal. Doo cites a large collection of Hawaiian songs, some
yet unexplored; he has at least 200 on his own tune list. Doo brings
Hawaiian culture and history to his listeners. He relates that Hawaii,
formerly an independent monarchy, was taken over in 1893 by American
businessmen and attained statehood in 1950.
The last Hawaiian dynasty consisted of two sisters and two brothers,
who were all accomplished musicians and composed many Hawaiian songs.
The last Queen of Hawaii was Queen Liliuakalani, married to Capt. John
Dominus, then-governor of Hawaii. The Queen was imprisoned by the U.S.
occupiers because she refused to surrender her homeland. She made the
decision that it was better to co-operate with the new regime than
to fight it and loose her citizens in battle. While in prison, however,
she wrote the most famous and well-known Hawaiian song, Aloha Oe. She
was saying good-bye to the land she knew as it transitioned to its
new status with the mainland U.S.
Many aspects of authentic Hawaiian culture and history are reflected
in Doo’s music. He describes their traditional music as sweet
soothing, with smooth harmonies. He notes that he and his fellow musicians
can create vocal harmonies with the melody of a song, but they do so
in ways that only a native-born and raised Hawaiian can do. The music
induces feelings of comfort and mellowness in listeners. Hawaiian songs
tell a story and it seems as if no language barrier exists. The results
are mesmerizing.
Doo also filled this writer in on the facts about Mme. Pele. Pele is
the volcano, housed in its surrounding preserved area. Visitors who
take a souvenir rock find themselves being called to task for intruding
on Pele’s home and many rocks are mailed back to the park anonymously,
with apologies. It is hoped that Pele is content in her present state,
as volcanoes are difficult when disturbed.
Doo hosted a radio program until 2000, offering news from home and
helpful information for newly arriving Hawaiians to the mainland. He
still retains ties with Oahu, his home island. Doo tells of his family’s
personal deities, the turtle and the shark. Three brown turtles visited
coastal island waters following the death of three relatives and Doo
says he does not fear sharks because he learned to respect them. The
water is their home and you have to respect it’s powerful nature.
As a long-time Oregon resident, Doo honors us with a special song.
His mother and best friend had passed away within a year or so and
he was in such grief that he could not write anything new. When he
heard about the two young girls who had been murdered in Oregon City,
it inspired him to write a heartfelt song called Walking With Angels.
It was a blessing on the girls and a tribute to his mother and friend.
This tune is included in his upcoming CD, along with the title cut
My Island Home.
Owners Kawika (David) Kahoilua and Ryan Ganley are well-known for their
authentic Hawaiian cuisine and are proud to introduce and celebrate
the food, music and culture of Hawaii. Doo writes a Hawaiian question
on the menu board, and invites guests to try for the answer. The menu
is a genuine custom-made surf board, gleaming the color of old ivory,
with tiny brown stripes. The Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grille serves authentic
Hawaiian food. This writer can attest to the style and generosity of
the Hawaiian dinner plate. The “medium” teriyaki chicken
plate contained enough meat to make a whole chicken! In addition, plain
rice was substituted for the side salads, on request. The dinner yielded
two full meals!
In addition to the surf-board menu, surfing videos of bright sun and
blue water are displayed on the in-house TV system. Renderings of rubbings
of ancient rock or wood carvings hang from the ceiling. Wonderful artwork
of tropical fish and native canoeing graces the walls. A floral motif
is repeated on the walls and throughout the establishment. It was fun
to forget about the cold, dark and windy weather outside; the sun always
shines on Hawaii.
The Bamboo Grove Hawaiian Grille is easy to find, a half-block off
Macadam avenue, just south of the Johns Landing Tower. Doo performs
on most Fridays, and also on some Saturdays. He recommends that you
call ahead to be sure of the evenings and times he is there. He is
available to perform at private parties.
Plan your wintertime “island escape” soon.
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