# Helen Desha Beamer

Helen Kapuailohia Desha Beamer (September 8, 1882 – September 25, 1952) was a musician, composer of songs in the Hawaiian language, hula dancer and coloratura soprano of Hawaiian ancestry. Her descendants have also become accomplished artists in the U.S. state of Hawaii. In 1928, her duet of "Ke Kali Nei Au" with Sam Kapu Sr. on Columbia Records was the first commercial recording of the Charles E. King composition. She was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 1995.

## Early life

Helen Kapuailohia Desha was born on September 8, 1882, in Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, in the Kingdom of Hawaii. Her parents were George Langhern Desha and Isabella Hale'ala Miller. Her mother and grandmother, Kapuailohiawahine Kanuha Miller, taught hula in secret when the dance was banned. Her grandmother was a notable hakumele, Hawaiian for composer of music. Helen was a graduate of Kamehameha School for Girls, where the school's music director noted her talent as a pianist and as a song composer. Kamehameha Schools was established by the estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop to provide education for children of Hawaiian ancestry.
She was also the organist at Haili Church in Hilo.

## Professional career

She had a coloratura soprano range and was a recording artist for Columbia Records. In 1928, she and artist Sam Kapu Sr. made the first commercial recording of the "Hawaiian Wedding Song," which had been written by composer Charles E. King as "Ke Kali Nei Au". She was the composer of numerous songs in the Hawaiian language that are still being recorded by contemporary Hawaiian artists.

## Personal life and legacy

Helen Desha married Peter Carl Beamer of Hilo. The couple had five children. She was the matriarch of a musical dynasty that includes her grandson, falsetto singer Mahi Beamer, who was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2006; granddaughter Winona (Nona) Beamer; and Nona Beamer's two sons, Keola and Kapono. She died in 1952 and is buried at Homelani Memorial Park in Hilo.
In 1995, she was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame.

## Compositions (partial list)

Source: allmusic

## Family tree

vteBeamer, Desha, Kāneakua, Miller family tree :
| Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Mela (Miller) | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | Kānekapōlei | | | | | | | | | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | Kaialii | | | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | Poimoa | | | | | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | Kilinahe | | | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | Lama (w) | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | Alexander P. Miller Jr. (Alika Mela) | | | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | Kapuailohia Wahine Kanuha Kaialiilii. | | | Ai | Ai | Ai | Ai | Ai | Ai | | | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | Namakalele | | |
| Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Charles Makee | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | Sarah Kaʻili Miller | | | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | John Mahiʻai Miller/Kaneakua (Oct. 9, 1860-Jan. 26, 1936) County Clerk of Kaua‘i Hui Hawaiian Aloha ʻĀina | | | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | Lucy Kaʻumealani Cummings | | | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | Samuel Kalimahana Kaialiilii Miller. (1868-Nov. 24, 1933) | | | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | Daisy Amoe Ai | | | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | George Langhern Desha | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Isabella Haleʻala Kaʻili Miller (1865-Feb. 28, 1949) | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller | Noa Miller |
| Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | Charles Miller | | | | | | | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | Sakichi Hayashi | | | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | Annie Maikaʻi Miller | | | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | Charles Hoolulu Siemsen | | | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | Peter Carl Beamer | | | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | Helen Kapuailohia Desha (Sept. 8, 1882–Sept. 25, 1952) | | | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha | David Lester Desha |
| | | | | | | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | James Waichiro Miller | | | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | Milton Hoʻolulu Beamer (October 18, 1903 - ) | | | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | Kaaloehukaiopuaena Copp | | | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | Francis Kealiʻinohopono Beamer | | | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | Louise Leiomälama | | | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Harriet Kekahiliokalani Beamer | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Peter Carl Kaleikaʻapunihonua Beamer Jr. | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer | Helen Elizabeth Kawohikukapulani Beamer |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Mahi Beamer | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Odell Steppe | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer | Winona Beamer |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | Keola Beamer | | | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer | Kapono Beamer |