As the sun rose in Honolulu yesterday, fans of the late island music legend Fiji congregated in droves to pay their respects through a tribute concert. With both excitement and nostalgia, nearly 30,000 people made their way to Kapiolani Park and the Shell, as estimated by the City and County of Honolulu. A testament to his enduring influence, some attendees arrived before dawn to secure a prime spot for the day's event. "We came at like 5 o'clock this morning, we thought it was going to be packed but we're like the second ones here from this morning," Desiree Rilveria, an early bird and Fiji fan, told KHON2.
By midday, parking spaces became scarce, filled with fans who turned the waiting hours into a makeshift celebration with BBQs and lounging areas. Despite the unfolding chaos of the bustling crowd, the Honolulu Police Department strategically deployed hundreds of officers to manage the scene, ensuring safety and order. Meanwhile, eager concert-goers lined up as early as 8 a.m., some opting to utilize shuttle services from Blaisdell running until 11 p.m., in an effort to collectively honor a man who not only shaped the soundtrack of many lives but also embodied the voice of a culture.
George Brooks Veikoso, known by his stage name Fiji and hailed as the Godfather of Pacific Island Reggae, passed away at 55, leaving behind a legacy celebrated by thousands at the tribute concert. The event, which took place at the Waikiki Shell yesterday, featured performances by various groups paying homage to an artist who, according to one fan, started their love for music on the islands. "He started my love for music on the islands, just growing up. I'm 31 years old now, listened to his music when I was younger and how it developed into what it is now, Rebel Souljahz (and many other songs)," Randell Tolentino of Waipahu reminisced in an interview with Island News.
While the Waikiki Shell hosted approximately 8,500 attendees, an additional 20,000 fans gathered nearby at Kapiolani Park to watch a live feed of the concert. The overwhelming turnout began early, with attendees like Aliyah Alshemary marking their presence hours ahead. "We parked at 7 a.m., but we started making it here around 10 a.m.," she told Hawaii News Now. The fans, some decked in Fiji shirts, were fully prepared with stocked coolers and an appetite for both food and music. Raia Kawaa, another attendee, shared her excitement for hearing live renditions of beloved songs, stating, "Tequila Sunrise is my favorite," and "Fiji is probably one of my favorite artists, so I'm really happy to get to hear his music."
The concert not only served as a space to commemorate Fiji's musical achievements, which included the theme for Baywatch Hawaii and hundreds of millions of streams, but also to reflect on the personal impact he made on so many lives. Robi Kahakalau, who started her career alongside Fiji and was one of his closest friends, shared her reminisces about their shared path: "We both started our careers at the same time with the Hawaiian style band and then he produced my first two CDs, and was one of the best friends I've ever had in my life," she mentioned to Island News.
