Josefa Moe
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Josefa Moe | |
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Born | May 1, 1933 |
Origin | Hawaii |
Died | November 3, 2006 | (aged 73)
John "Josefa" Moe (May 1, 1933 – November 3, 2006) was an entertainer and artist.
Biography
Early life
Moe was born "on the road" in
Education
Josefa was raised in an English boarding school while his mother and father performed the world over. In his teen years, Josefa traveled with his parents who starred in Felix Mendelssohn's Hawaiian Serenaders, experiencing great adventures and soaking up all the magic of European vaudeville from backstage as well as meeting greats like Laurel and Hardy and Terry-Thomas who was a close friend of Pulu Mo'e. Later, in college, Josefa was educated in the fine art of calligraphy. For a time, Josefa was also a middleweight Golden Gloves boxing champion. Once out of school, Josefa was roommate with Bond actor Roger Moore. Daily, the two would press their good suits and make the rounds for auditions. After a comedic vaudeville stint in England teamed with brilliant comedian/impressionist Maurice Sellar and pop-eyed actor Marty Feldman, young Josefa relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii (1955) with his father Pulu. There Josefa served as a local "beach boy", entertaining elite tourists of the day with song, dance, tours and surfing instruction. This was the very beginnings of the popular tourist industry that would evolve, along with Josefa, to occupy the clubs and stages of Waikiki.
Career
During this time, Josefa hand-carved authentic
For a period, Josefa was considered the most photographed Samoan in the world appearing in
Josefa Moe is credited as a "dancer" in the 1959 American film Forbidden Island starring Jon Hall. In addition to entertaining, Josefa owned and operated Academy Art Associates; a commercial art studio and sign shop in Honolulu, Hawaii. Josefa also invented KEPA HAWAIIAN HERITAGE BRACELETTES; Koa wood bracelettes hand-lettered with traditional Hawaiian names. Some also believe that Josefa designed Punchy, the Hawaiian Punch mascot.[1]
Josefa Moe is known as an originator of free-hand T-shirt airbrushing. Josefa loved nothing more than to set up easel and airbrush on a busy sidewalk in Waikiki to “talk story” while custom painting cartoons and caricatures on T-shirts "while-u-watched." His custom T-shirts were featured in Time magazine. He was an accomplished muralist and installed his works in Hawaii and all over the country. In the 1980s Josefa teamed up to design restaurants and clubs in the east coast where his brother Lani Moe entertained. Josefa was a fixture at the Kamehameha and Aloha swap meets for decades where he would paint T-shirts and bracelets while enjoying one of his lifelong joys; people-watching. After his retirement to Las Vegas, Josefa’s younger sons and daughter continued the successful Hawaiian airbrush tattoo business that Josefa had created in Hawaii.
Death
Josefa Moe died of natural causes November 3, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. His memorial was held on April 29, 2007 in Waikiki, Hawaii at Queen's Surf beach. His ashes were scattered in the ocean where he taught his children as well as many friends and tourists to swim, surf and appreciate the beauty of Hawaii. Coincidentally, the ashes of friend and fellow entertainer Don Ho were scattered at Queen's Surf beach a week after Josefa's memorial (May 5, 2007).
Josefa Moe is survived by his 11 children: Brian, Joseph, Daniel, Robin, Jaymie, Christopher, Kalani, Taui, Tammy, Kaipo and Cheyne Mo'e.
References
External links
- [1] Facebook Page
- Golden Gloves boxing champion
- Honolulu Advertiser Obituary