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Foreword from Butch:
“Mahalo” means “thank you” in Hawaiian, but cannot adequately express my gratitude to the nice people who have taken the time to send me compliments about my music or performance.
Mahalo no
(“Thank you very much”!)
Received: July 2006 from Rose Marie DeHart
Mr. George Ortiz, Music Manager
7665 NW 19th Street
Miami, FL 33126
Dear Sir:
I recently had the privilege of lecturing in the Lifestyles
Enrichment
Program on the first two voyages of The Pride of Hawaii and wish to
express my
appreciation to the crew and staff for such a pleasant experience.
The cruise
director, Ray Carr, and his staff were most cooperative in scheduling
the
lectures and readying the room prior to my lectures. The ship is a
magnificent
vessel and the Lifestyles Enrichment Room was pleasant and
comfortable. Our
accommodations were excellent and we were treated with kindness and
consideration.
The freestyle cruising is very appealing to my husband and myself and
although we do enjoy dressing for dinner and did so most evenings, we
realize
that
this is not the lifestyle of many of the travelers. For those there
were
other options. We enjoyed breakfast and lunch in the beautiful Aloha
Nui
dining room.
We are seasoned travelers, Latitudes members and have cruised many
times
with Norwegian. The entertainment on The Pride of Hawaii is of the
highest
quality. Our favorite entertainers were the Butch O'Sullivan Duo on
the
first
cruise with Butch and Paul and on the second cruise Butch entertained
solo. We
found him to be multi-talented, charming and personable. I believe
his
talents could be better showcased in a larger venue so that more of
the
passengers would come to know and admire his special gifts.
I will look forward to cruising again with the Norwegian Cruise Line
and
presenting workshops on 'Accessorizing With Scarves'. My husband
Murry is
a
retired United Methodist Minister and has served as the clergy on a
Christmas
Voyage on the Norwegian Sky.
Sincerely yours,
Rose Marie DeHart
Received: July 2006 from Heinz-Guenther Pink, Ph.D
Dear Butch O'Sullivan.
Thanks to you I have enjoyed the Pride of Hawaii very much. Your
fantastic voice
and music really makes all worries melt away.
As a former Video News Editor for the ABC network and local affiliate
KITV, I
truly appreciate your multiple talents displayed on the voyage. As a
composer
of my many prize winning songs on my album "Love and You in Hawaii" in
English,
Hawaiian and Japanese, I wish that you would sing and  perform them with
your
voice and talent. As long as you give me credit, I herewith give you
free
performance rights. All songs were always No. 1 or in the top ten of
the KCCN
Radio Station under Crash Kealoha and Gregg Kukuinut. All songs were
choreographed into beautiful Hawaiian Hulas and they were performed and
shown
on most of our TV stations, but most of all they were selected for the
US
Bicentennial Show. Your voice and talent will keep the songs on the
top. (...)
Mahalo Nui Loa
Heinz-Guenther Pink, Ph.D.
Received: July 2006 from Rose Marie & Murry DeHart
Hi, Butch,
It is so good to hear from you. I really miss those afternoons sitting in the Aloha Bar listening to your beautiful voice. We listen to the CD's quite often and imagine that you are standing in our beautiful sunroom, singing to us!
It sounds as if you are kept busy with preparing and planning the music. You make it look so easy as you sing that I suppose I forget how much preparation is required. I can't even imagine how many guitars you use - all the different sounds in them etc. I especially love the sound of the one you use in the Waikiki CD. Actually I think my favorite of the CD's and the guitars are the one I am listening to at a given time!
I'm so happy to hear that you are getting accolades and compliments for your work; all of them richly deserved. If you will send me an address I will send my own thanks to NCL.
I have a couple of questions for you:
1. The day we left the ship, we rented a car and drove around the island until our flight at 10:59 PM. We went out H-1, past the airport, the Aloha Stadium and soon after that we saw twin tower skyscrapers. Really tall, skinny buildings which I took to be residential condos and
behind them was a WalMart. We wound around through some beautiful scenery and found the Wal Mart.
Where were we? I think perhaps it was Pearl City. Does that sound right?
[A- You were in Kunia which is past Pearl City, Waikele & Waipahu. It is north of 'Ewa.]
2. We then went back into Honolulu and got on H 3 and went through a tunnel or maybe it was 2 tunnels and got on highway 63. We went into the edge of a town and then made a U turn and got back on 63. There were some cliffs that reminded me of the Na Pali Coastline but I think they are on a different island, aren't they? So what did I see? I have a very curious nature and need to know these things.
[A- You went east on H-3 and were looking out onto Kane'ohe Bay and Kane'ohe. The cliffs (pali) of the Ko'olau Range.]
3. Number 6 on the Christmas CD is the song you sang to Murry. Could I buy the sheet music for it and what is the name in English. One more thing, do you remember a song you sang about saying what you mean in song. Or something like that. I thought it was beautiful and am very familiar with it, but it just won't come back into my memory.
[A- You can probably find the words to it on line. Look up Hawaiian songs and then look up "Kanaka Waiwai". The English tile/words are
a "Let Me Walk Through Paradise With You".]
Answer all of these and you will get a STAR! I get some very nice uplifting e-mails from my friends and wonder if you want me to send them to you. I don't want to inundate you with it. Just let me know.
I hope you are having a great time at home enjoying your beautiful yard and all the flowers. We have small bed in back, but we aren't much on gardening so it is somewhat neglected. I try to have an herb bed every year - love the rosemary, it makes the house smell so good.
Stay in touch.
Aloha
Rose Marie
(Rose Marie & Murry DeHart- Raleigh, NC)
Received: June 23th, 2006 from Rose Marie
I really like your website. I have visited several of the areas and
appreciate
all the time it takes for you to send a newsletter. I have read all of
them
and also your biography. It is all very interesting.
We enjoyed your music so much on "The Pride of Hawaii" and also enjoyed
your
company. We had a great time on the cruises and hope to go again.
The CD's are great. We have played all 4 of them in between unpacking,
washing
etc. I think I like just Butch and his guitar. You have such a
marvelous
talent I just like to hear you.
Your daughter and grandson are nice looking. We have some
grandchildren, too.
Aren't they neat? And the best part is you can send them home!
I am about to get over jet lag. Slept until noon yesterday and then
got up at 5
AM today. Hope to get back on schedule soon.
I looked up the name that you gave me in the phone book. I think that
address
is out on the west side of Raleigh according to the zip code. Raleigh
has
grown to over 350,000 population. I don't know if you have been here
or not
but it's a pretty neat place to live. Lots to do.
Murry has a wedding tomorrow in the afternoon and I will be going with
him after
church in the morning.
Let us hear from you.
Rose Marie
(Raleigh, NC)
Received: June 12, 2006 from Gene Leupp
Critique of Pride of Hawai`i
Butch O'Sullivan Duo (with Butch and Paul): Wonderfully pleasant
performances
always, certainly adding an element of class to cruising.
Congratulations for
that part in your program.
Gene Leupp
(Foster Village, HI)
Received: June 11, 2006 From Philip & Judit Luchsinger
Butch,
We made it back to New Orleans and wanted to let you know how much we
enjoyed
your song each day on the cruise. WE especially enjoyed talking to you
at
breakfast that last Friday before the trip was over.
We still are
laughing about
your story of how almost everyone on the cruise would have a hard time
surviving
on their own in the mountains surrounding the islands. It is a shame
that some
type of classes are taught in the school systems.
Let us know if you are ever thinking of traveling to New Orleans.
Philip & Judit Luchsinger
(New Orleans, LA)
Received: April 2006 From Bud & Jan Sawyer
April 2006
Butch.. I was sitting in a waterfront bar in Portland Maine, when the
fellow
next to me described the wonderful times he had has on the Norwegian
Ship "WIND"..Just out of the wildest curiosity, I asked if he had met Butch
O'Sullivan. "Met him ? He was the entertainer on the "Wind" This
almost
blew my mind. I went home and played some songs from your "Live at
Waikiki" cd
and remembered fondly how kind you were to Jan and me. With all the
people that
you have met and entertained shipboard and elsewhere, there's not a
chance that
you remember us but we were the couple from Maine that led a tour of
Mainers to
the Islands on board the American Lines ship. It might have been her
last trip.
Sad, but still an endearing and touching experience.
If you remember,
we live
on the coast of Maine, in Falmouth. In the summer there are literally
hundreds
of boats, sail and power, to be viewed from our front porch. Now, there
are
hundreds of winter mooring logs bobbing out there. There is a
possibility that
we may take a group to Hawai'i again, either this fall or next spring.
It would
be truly wonderful to see, (and hear) you again. Do you still send
newsletters? If so it would reach Bud Sawyer at 30 Madokawando Landing, Falmouth,
Maine,04105. We have some unusual names here, too!
Bud and Jan Sawyer (Falmouth, ME)
Received: April 27, 2006 from Lynn & Brenda
Hi Butch,
I would just like to thank you again for your wonderful songs rendered
to us on
the Norwegian Wind cruise - April 1 to 14, 2006. My wife and I enjoyed
your
music wherever your were performing on the ship. I bought one of your
albums
and we listen to it often.
Good luck with you gig in Baltimore, and if you ever present in the
Toronto,
Canada area we will most certainly be at that concert.
Thanks Again
Lynn & Brenda
(Ontario, Canada)
Received: April 25, 2006 from Sara & Gene Brushart
Subject: Butch O'Sullivan's appearing on the October 14-21, 2006 on
Pride of
America
To: George Ortiz <gortiz@ncl.com>
Dear Mr. Ortiz:
In reference to a previous email approximately three or four months ago
regarding the possibility Butch O'Sullivan's appearing on the Pride of
America
on the October 14-21, 2006 cruise, we have not received a response from
you as
of today. We talked to Butch over the weekend by telephone and he said
that he
would enjoy very much participating on that cruise especially since
some of us
have had the opportunity to hear him and enjoy his music on previous
Hawaiian
cruises. My husband Gene and I will be escorting for AAA a group from
Southeastern Ohio on that cruise and we feel Butch's appearing on the
cruise
would be a wonderful attraction for everyone. We have mentioned him to
our
group and they would really look forward to that possibility. Please
let us
know if this could be arranged. Butch requested that we contact you
regarding
this matter. Thank you for all you can do in making this possible.
Sincerely,
Gene and Sarah Brushart
(Waverly, OH)
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Received: March 2006 from Mary Hill
March 2006
Aloha, Butch!
I certainly enjoyed my cruise on the (Norwegian) Wind earlier this month. The
employees on
the ship were extremely nice and made my cruise pleasant. The
presentation of
the food was superior. I ate most of the time in the Four Seasons
Dining Room.
Everyone was especially nice and service was great. Yes, the food was
also
delicious!
I was very disappointed that you, Butch, were not set up in a lounge or
somewhere that everyone in the area could hear you. (Butch was
strolling the
dinners in the Terraces Restaurant and the Four Seasons Restaurant.)
Your
singing is so beautiful and relaxing. More people should have been
able to
hear your beautiful voice. It was a shame that one could only hear you
sing
when you were close to their table. My what a waste of a very talented
voice.
Hopefully, they will realize their mistake and set you up somewhere
like the
Grand Atrium on the STAR. That was an ideal place for you to sing.
You were
certainly the very best entertainer on the ship.
Thanks for helping make my cruise a very special one.
Happy cruising!
Aloha,
Mary Hill (Commerce, GA)
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Received: December 2005 from Phyllis
and John
Hi from Florida,
I just want you to know again what an impact you have made on
me. I play your tapes all the
time over and over again and
each time I am back in Hawaii
enjoying our trips again. I
always regret that I didn't
know about your Caribbean
cruise. I sure would have made
that one being closer to home.
I enjoy your Flutter Byline and send a copy to Graham and Jan
Lunsford the couple we sat
with each night in the lounge.
They are not on the computer
so are getting to enjoy them
too. Have you made any new
recordings? We are so glad
we got to know you.
Phyllis
and John Nelson
Florida
Received: November 2005 from Mike and
Vickie
Aloha Butch,
Upon returning to our home
in Long Island (New York),
from our wonderful cruise on the Norwegian Wind that departed from Honolulu
on October 15th,
I decided
to try and locate the words and music to a popular Hawaiian drinking song.
I was introduced to this song one evening at dinner on our recent cruise when
you played it as the first of many special requests that you entertained us
with during our entire cruise. My search on the web took me to a web site for
Ron Tish who wrote the song and much to my surprise, there was also a link
that brought me here, to your website. Having found this site, I felt compelled
to write and let you know that my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed your pleasant
renditions of the many different genres of music that you performed. Whether
it was listening to you at poolside in the afternoons or having you personally
serenade us at dinner, we found you to be an extremely entertaining and charismatic
performer. Having you, seemingly seek us out at dinner each night, was truly
one of the highlights of the cruising experience for us. We are still smiling
when we talk about collaborating with you on our rendition of "Tiny Bubbles".
I have attached a couple of pictures that might help refresh your memory of
some of your newest and most supportive fans. 'Mahalo no' for providing us
with our daily dose of musical enjoyment!
Mike Posner
New York
PS I have found your website to be very fascinating and a pleasant
reminder of our vacation.......I also never found the words/guitar
chords to "Just Hang Loose"........are you aware of
any links to that information?
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