Don McDiarmid, Jr.

b. 1922 in Stockton, CA d. Apr. 15, 2010 in Kailua, HI Donald McDiarmid Jr., a legend in the Hawaiian music recording industry and president emeritus of Hula Records, which was founded in 1947 by his father, Donald McDiarmid, Sr. and revived by Jr. in the 1950's, was a major figure in the Hawaiian music industry for more than 50 years and launched the careers of many entertainers. He made the first commercial recordings of Don Ho and was instrumental in the Hawaiian music and dance renaissance of the 1970s. During his early years, he counted among his friends Duke Kahanamoku. In the 1990s, he turned the company over to his son Donald P. “Flip” McDiarmid III. Over the years, the Hula Records label included Gabby Pahinui, Genoa Keawe, Edith Kanaka'ole, the Kahauanu Lake Trio, Peter Moon Band, the Cazimero Brothers, Ohta-san, Kawai Cockett and Nina Keali'iwahamana. Due to the dynastic's of this family, use care when assigning credits.