Wednesday, September 3, 1997
What ever happened to Johnny Pineapple, whose legal name is David Kaonohi, who performed Hawaiian music in such spots as New York's Lexington Hotel and Stork Club and Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago? Performer brought
Hawaii to big citiesThe Hawaiian musician and entertainer, who spent most of his life on the mainland, died June 13, 1981, at his home in New York. He was 74.
During his freshman year at Oregon State University, motion picture scouts saw Kaonohi on stage and signed him to make several appearances in Hollywood films. He was dubbed "Johnny Pineapple" in 1938.
A longtime student of harmony and musical composition, Kaonohi wrote more than 25 songs and worked out arrangements.
During World War II military service, he entertained troops on the mainland and in Europe.
He later entertained armed forces personnel around the world as a civilian. In the fall of 1970, his revue went to Germany, Italy, Greenland, Vietnam and other parts of Asia.