Nephi Hannemann

Artist: Nephi Hannemann

LP: The Polynesian Man

Song: "She's My Woman"

[ listen ]

Song: "Baby's Lullabye"

[ listen ]

Song: "Elusive Dreams"

[ listen ]

Actor/singer Nephi Hannemann was born in Samoa, a descendant of Samoan royalty. The name Nephi, however, comes from his LDS heritage. (Nephi, the son of Lehi, was an ancient prophet and an author—he wrote the first two sections of The Book of Mormon. He was also founder of the Nephite Tribe, an Olympic bodybuilder, and second runner up in the very first Mister Universe contest.) Several years after graduating from Farrington High in 1962, Nephi Hannemann began making regular appearances on TV episodes of "Hawaii Five-O," playing various characters with names like Gus, Pimp, Surfer, Puni, Yoko, Tamaki, Aku, Mahina, and Paul. He was cast in the role of an evil witch doctor named Malakoma for the delightfully preposterous 1974 Disney film THE CASTAWAY COWBOY, a James Garner vehicle set sometime between 1825 and 1974 (everyone looks and acts like the 1970s, but they're all riding horses and buggies). The film tells the story of a Texas cowhand who washes ashore in Hawaii, where he makes the local natives into the island's first (and hopefully last) cowboys, thereby saving an attractive (and lonely) widow and her cloying (and fatherless) young son from the clutches of a scheming (and dastardly) dandy. According to an article in the Monday, September 17, 1973 edition of The Deseret News, the film's original title was PANIOLO, but it probably had to be changed because nobody could pronounce it. 

In 1972, Hannemann recorded and released his solo LP "The Polynesian Man," which showcases his versatile musical talents. The lively "She's My Woman" features Hannemann at his Tom Jonesiest and includes some of the worst gender-related stereotypes ever put on vinyl; in the lovely ballad "Baby's Lullabye," Hannemann envisions his infant daughter's future as a life filled with high heels and lipstick; Nephi's cover of "Elusive Dreams" chronicles his fruitless wanderings through the South Pacific isles in search of happiness, riches, and fame. Unfortunately, one can assume that "Polynesian Rock Star" was one of Nephi Hannemann's elusive dreams, since he never made another record. You can read about the life and career of The Polynesian Man on Wikipedia here, go here to see a 1966 Hannemann Family photo—Nephi's in the back row, second from left—and the LP liner notes are included below.

 

 [ Nephi Hannemann as "Surfer" on Hawaii Five-O ]

[ Nephi Hannemann as "Mahina" on Hawaii Five-O ]