 and I'm excited to journey with you as we learn how to take your health back. We are coming to you live from our Think Tech Hawaii studios in downtown Honolulu and my home office in Makiki. Today, we will hear from Hawaii's diva of song, Melvin Lee. Melvin will enlighten us on how she is coping with a semi-retired life, which actually looks like somebody's regular working life because you know, she not gonna slow it down, but we shall also ask her, how is she dealing with the doldrums of life as well? Welcome, Melvin Lee. Aloha. Aloha. So let's get started, girl. I know we're gonna talk talk talk and before you know it's Paul, but we gotta start. Okay, here we go. So there are many moods and sides of Melvin Lee. So much enthusiasm for life and charisma. How did you develop this character, Melvin? I think ever since I was young, because I was just so rascal, yeah? And so mischievous, like you. I said 20 spankings because I was naughty. And you loved me. I learned. Good, good. Yeah, that's what we need, right? Discipline, spanking, it works, right? Yes, yes. And then how I got to be in the mood, different moods is when I started, when the music started to enter my life at a very young age, yeah? How to be happy, how to be sad, you know? I didn't know anything about love then when I was too young, yeah? Right. When I found out, I went, oh, Shucks, give it all to Wendy. Oh, yeah, right. And then you got it all back. I got it all back. There you go. We're gonna talk about all that. One 10 of it. So, you know, I know at one point in your career, you worked with three other legends, Divas, and you were known as Hawaii's four Divas. Please share with us. What was that like? I mean, come on, what Divas is bad enough? But there were four of you? You know what? I gotta tell you, we all said at the beginning, leave our egos outside of the door. Wow. Get inside that room. All of us are equal. Nobody's better than anybody. Well, I never thought of that anyway. So, and so we all thought like that. Well, not all, but anyway, but we all had to do that. And we did, we did. And it was really nice. We had a nice camaraderie. Very sisterhood, you know, really close. And it was easy because Loyal especially, she always like, she and I, we like to take the bull by the horns, you know? Right. And so, and Loyal musically, you can't beat that girl. She was very brilliant. She was brilliant. We all miss her tremendously, but her voice and her legend, their lifestyle and her gift of song really lives on. And she and I used to do shows together at the arena in the arena, Blazell Arena now in the center. And then I remember that and several other times. And she and I carried the whole shows alone, just she and I, you know? And we packed the place in. And so, you know, because we think alike, we knew exactly if we have, like if four of us were on stage, and if there was a low, Loyal and I look at each other from the back of Nohei and Carol, and we just do this and then we just carry on, you know what I mean? It was like a, you know, a really beautiful thing that we shared. What a gift to have worked with her and the memories that you cherish. I miss her. I miss her. Of course, we all do. Now I'd like to ask you to share with us a little bit about your family. I know that you were blessed with one biological daughter. Tell us about her and her talents. She inherited, I think, everything from me, actually, all her talents from singing. She sings very beautifully. She has a beautiful voice. She can pick up any instrument. She sees you play. I'm sure she does the same thing like me, yeah? And she's smart. And she's like, like me. You can mean to you. For sure, I know. She's a cap, but she has her own personality. She's not as, she's kind of shy in her own way. Right. But she's a captain also. She has her license for 100 ton vessel. And she teaches and she's teaching Hawaiian culture now and she takes her kids to gymnastics and she does all things that a mother should do. Wow. And I taught her this. I said, Kaolai, if you want something done, you take the bull by the horn. You do it yourself. You want it done right. Don't wait. You ask someone to do something. If they don't move the first second, you go on, you're right on it. Yeah. And I also know she gave you the two beautiful granddaughters that you just cherish and adore. They're my honey bunnies, yeah. Yes, all blessed. All blessed. And you know, I say that she's your mini-me, but you know, and truly we all know, okay, no more two of you, no can, no can. All right, no can. Just no can. No can, no can. No need. Yeah, no can. Yeah, no need because you can. Okay. And you are and you will, right? So just keep on going and keep on canning. Okay, girl? And I am. You are. You is. You is. I is, I is. Now, let's talk about what causes that twinkle in your eye, in your eyes, I should say. You are married to the love of your life, Mike Reyes. You're someone that I, someone that I should have been in my life years ago. Years ago. But how did you guys really meet? Well, I was having a hard time with my last marriage and I just kind of was in a doldrum, yeah. And I wasn't thinking of anybody else in my life. I said, oh, this is it. I don't want to, you know. But how, we've known each other since I was 15 years old, but we never saw each other. I slept once in Vegas and he was married to someone else. And then of course, then that was it. But then when this happened to me, when I was going to my divorce, I, he came into where I performed and I saw him and you know, we said hello and everything. And it was like the Lord brought us together. Amen. Amen. You know, yeah. And it just moved so quickly and was very quick. Wow. More than I expected. It's on timing. Melvin, it's on timing. You may not have been ready to receive such a gift and he wasn't ready as well. But when you both were, God brought you both together and look at what you have. I did. Yes, he sure did. And I'm so, we're all so happy for the both of you. Truly happy. I know, everybody. They were taking bets on me before. I know you lost me, you lost me a lot of money, you know, girl. But it's okay. I still love you. I love you too. You can bring me back later on. And so Melvin, I've been watching you since I was much younger. I won't say a little girl, but at the Olimwana Hotel and everywhere that you went. And wherever you perform, I've always tried my best to be there, especially in these days, you know, from the Elves Club to international marketplace, to chives, wherever you were. So where did it all start for your performing career? At the Garden Bar, the Hilton Wine Village, it used to be just a Hawaiian village. Henry J. Kaiser owned that hotel before. And he had bungalows, you know, and he had the Garden Bar where people would go down and dance and through the music of Bernie Hellman. And my mom was working as a cashier, a cashier at the Hilton, I mean, at the Hawaiian Village. And so she gave me a note and she says, take this to the drummer. So I took it down and gave it to the waitress and the waitress gave it to him and then Bernie called me up to sing. And I was shocked as I was kind of green-horned. I just came out of a beauty contest of Miss Hawaii. I was fourth runner up, you know? And I sang Moon River. That's the first time I've ever sang in front that many people at the Waikiki Shell. And, you know, it was unreal because before I went on stage, I'm talking about the night of the pageant, the talent, right? Before I went on stage, I was so nervous. But the minute I walked out on that stage, it no more butterflies. I sang as if I've been singing for years. I sang Moon River. Yeah, funny. And then when I got off stage, I was nervous and I thought, did I do that? You know what I mean? It was unreal. And then so when I sang at the Garden Bar, it was like I'd been doing it for years. And so he asked me to join his band and I did. So it started from there. Wow, you just make things happen. I mean, guys, even with this show today, Melvin accidentally double booked herself. I'm sure she gets this problem all the time where she's in such demand. Everybody wants her here and there. And so we made this commitment a little while ago, but she had to take another gig today. And which wasn't really a gig, but it was at the Natsunoya team room. And I know that you were being honored with by the Kahumanu Women's Society. So tell us what happened just like 30 minutes before you ran home to be on our show today. Well, they presented me with this beautiful gold medal of the Kahumanu Society and made me an honorary member. Wow. I had tears in my eyes. I didn't expect this at all. Oh my gosh, I'll treasure this with all my life. I'm telling you. And you know what, see, God brought Mike to guard you because that's so precious that anybody would want that as well. So thank you, Mike, for being not only her love of her life and her bodyguard and her driver that gets her everywhere, but just protecting each other and loving on each other. But you know, I'm his bodyguard too, yeah, physically. Yeah. Yeah. And I know you take good care of him because I know you can cook like crazy. And I know you make people laugh. And I know that laughter is one of the best medicines for everyone. So you helped me through many times by just Facebooking and laughing at each other and with each other. So continue, Mike, you're blessed beyond. And I know you are blessed as well, Melvin. So I had to throw this one photo in now. It's with you and me, wherein you were a special guest of Margaret Buchatz who created the Hawaii Music Walk of Fame where we honored seven legends of gesture year. Did you enjoy that evening? Because I'm pretty sure you must have known all of those seven legends. Yes, I did, of course. Right? Yeah, yeah. And, you know, the memories are just, it's like a page after page. And just if you back pages on the desk, it's so high you can, of all these people. I know. I mean, and you're like a encyclopedia of all these memories, of all these legends of gesture year. I mean, from Israel, Kamakah people, Ole, Don Ho, Hilo Hattie, Antialis, Chick Daniels, Alfreda Paca, and Gabby Pahinui. Yes. Right? All your buddies. Oh, yes. And much more. Much more, yeah. Not just professionally, but I know that you guys had deep roots and many, many great experiences that, I mean, it's treasures. I just got through telling my husband, not too long ago, I'm so glad that I was born in the year that I was and in the era because you know why? I've gone through all the phases. In fact, I said that on my show, on my Facebook show, just Sunday, I went through the phases and I've lived through it all and when the music and everybody was just, the camaraderie was just unbelievable and we helped each other on stage, you know? We just jumped on stage and we saw each other. Even if you meet somebody for the first time, it's like we knew each other. That's how the old time has made us feel, my newcomers. Like they knew us for a long time and I was so honored when I met Gabby or when I met Emma Verio or when I met, you know, all these big names, you know, and Alfred Apaka. I felt like, oh, and he treated me like I was a long time, like he's done me for a long time. Wow, you must be a great student because when I met you, that's exactly how I felt. And you embraced me with open arms and open heart and we just sat and we talked for hours like we knew each other from the time we was in Molokai together. But I was from Miley, you was from Molokai so different ends of the world, but still you welcome me as a treasured sister. You know why? You know why? Because you're like me and I'm like you. I was the same kind, yeah. Except you don't sing. Yeah, I don't sing, oh, oh, I don't sing, but I can count money. Yeah, Chinese blood. That's my talent, you know, when I went in Miss Chinatown, I didn't find money. Wow, so Melvin, you are a woman of many, many talents, not just singing, not just painting. I mean, I know, look at, with jewelry making, you make my creations when I go out and I wear this, everybody asked me, hey, who made that? Where you got that from? I said, oh, my dear friend, Auntie Melvin Bede. She created it. You said Auntie. Why did you say Auntie? She's about you. I'm gonna tell everybody you're my auntie. You go ahead, you tell them, you tell them, girl. I'd be honored to be your auntie. And I tell them that you make this special for me with all the love and when I wear this, I feel you with me. And you know what, they all look at that and they all like, even one time when I wore your big hat, you know, you gave me that hat. And I thought, look at me, I look like one yellow, haddy lady. Remember the time we went to, what is his name? Taya Yellow Ribbon Round the Odo Way. Remember we went to the concert and I went all bodo bodo, but I went put that hat on it. Oh, I was going to Orlando, yeah. Remember, and we, oh my goodness, it was like the best feeling because I was all bussed from the ocean, put that hat on and I was glam, glam, glam. And you show up, it wouldn't baseball hat. I know. Hey, that was my deal. But you also learned or knew the crocheting. I said, no, Vin, can crochet. When did you start crocheting, girl? My grandmother taught me at a very, very young age. Yeah, she taught me how to crochet, knit, sew everything, cook. Wow. Yeah. That's carbon, in fact, I have one, I have it here, look. Ah! There you go, girl. I tell you, I have it right at my desk all the time. Yeah, you go look. Oh, I feel like royalty, even look at this. Right? Yeah. All right. I tell you, you think I just picked up stuff from you and I put them in my closet. No, girlfriend, I see where I'm next. I see the dust. I see the dust, no, no, no dust logo. No, I'm not even sneezing, you see what I mean. But yeah, you crochet, like, where do you get the time to crochet? At night or when I'm watching TV, yeah. Wow. But I got to be moved. I'm going to tell you, every stitch on that and every shell that I put together have prayers. You know, I know, I know you're full of prayers, you know, and people turn to you because they need your prayers and they receive your prayers, prayers of healing and just prayers to get them to another day. And so we so, we look forward to asking you for prayer. And then you're right there to generously give us prayer every moment of the day. So Melvie, we appreciate that as well. Thank you. Not just your gift of singing, but your gift of prayer and speaking to Kaikua and Kaikua responding so quickly when you make those requests. You know, I've been to your beautiful home and I noticed that you have a stone garden with your friends' names on them. What do the stones represent? Not only friends, strangers too, that need prayers. Everyone, every stone there, I said prayers for. Wow. I passed that even today. When every time I passed there, there's this feeling that I have, that I say a prayer. It's just, it's normal, it's just natural already, like this prayer. Okay, I'm here praying for you, yeah? Heal, yeah? Or God bless you, yeah? Every stone in that garden. Wow. Amen. Thank you, Melvie, thank you. You know, and I know you've had a few health challenges and you are very open and very open to share what you experienced. Would you just give us a little bit of insight of what you've been challenged with in this past year? Okay, 2018, I took chemo, because I found out I had leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia. And that was my first oncologist. And then, so I went to the second oncologist to get us another opinion, yeah? And of course he said the same thing and then he wanted me to take chemo. So I did and my body didn't take too well to the talk, to the, they call it cocktails, yeah? They mix all the chemical, yeah? And then so I got really, really sick. I mean, I was sick the whole time when I was taking that, the infusions, yeah? And so I went through that phase and then I went into remission because it brought down my white cells. And then now recently, my white cells were up again and they watch for that, yeah? And so now I'm taking, they tried with the infusion again, I got really, really sick. And so the doctor said, okay, we're gonna try pills. This is my, actually my one, two, three, my third, fourth oncologist now. Wow. Yeah. So he told me to take the pill, they have new pills out called calcins, calcins. And so I'm taking that, it's 100 milligrams each. So I take 200 milligrams a day. And then I was so happy. He said, okay, it went down. This is just the last time. And the other time, and he says, it's down. I said, good, I don't have to take it anymore. He said, no, you're gonna have to take it for the rest of your life. So that's the thing, yeah. So, but I don't care because as long as I, and you know what, I don't feel, when I take the, because people get different reactions, yeah? I refuse, I refuse to be sick. I refuse to lay in that bed. I refuse, I just keep myself going. And if you have the strength to do things, get up and do it. So, and I don't like when I call my friends and I say, what you doing? They say, oh nothing, well get the hobby. Do something, help others or help yourself, you know? And enjoy the rest of your lives, especially at my age, it's 78, 78. I thought I was gonna die way before, you know what I mean? And you know, you try put your face real close to the camera, guys, you know what? No more even the kind wrinkles or the kind crows leg or feet, what you call them. Beautiful, beautiful. You 70, you know, no can tell. And you're challenged with a little health bump, you know what? Superb and like, what was it? Kimo said, what did Kimo tell you today? You know what? I forgot what he said. You were the healthiest. Oh yeah, no, not Kimo. Jay Laren told me that. Jay Laren, Jay Laren, yeah. The healthiest sick person I ever met. The most beautiful sick person we ever knew. I mean, and you know you, amazing. I don't know, you must be saying prayers and God is answering all the prayers for everyone else but he answers your prayers as, or all of our prayers for you because, cannot tell. And you say, oh, maybe I'm not gonna come on Facebook this Sunday, but you know what? So, you know that the Facebook message comes, guys, I'm up and running. I'm back. I'm back and not only are you back, bro, you come back with what theme and you come back with names and you ask for a request and this is not just from people from Hawaii. You're talking to people all over the world and they send you requests and you just nail it every time. How do you manage to do that through all of this? I had good teachers in my life, going through my life and my career because I learned how to sing jazz. Jazz is the root of all music, you know, to me because when you can sing jazz, you can, any genre that you take, it's the phrasing, you know. In fact, I had just had lunch with Jeanette Trevius yesterday. Oh wow. And I gave her a bunch of my old earrings, but I say old, but they're nice earrings, you know, a whole stack. I gave her a, Jeanette, you're a star now. I said, you got a dress like one and I want you to, you have a beautiful voice, you have a unique voice. And I told her about her voice, how she can use her voice in certain ways. I was giving her advice, yeah. And the problem is some of these singers nowadays, they don't want to hear advice. They sing one way and that's it, you know what I mean? But they don't realize our voices is like an instrument. We can change it. We can make it sound like a bass. We can make it sound like a high trumpet or we can make it sound like a regular, you know. We have different levels of tones and they have to know how to use it. That is why I can sing rock and roll. I can sing Latin. I can sing a Hawaii and a Haigo with my voice yodeling, you know. I can sing country, everything. You know what I mean? As you dance hula at that, you know, not just dance hula, not just sing, but you can combine them and sound good. I mean, that's a talent that you're born with and God bless you that you released and you maxed out who he created you to be. And you know, when you give Jeanette advice like that, she's a professional and you know, I know she's a brilliant young woman, a songbird as well, taking that advice from you and that will take her through her whole career to be as successful as you are. Yes, I really love that girl. And I had tears in my eyes when I told her at the table yesterday. I really had tears in my eyes and I said, you know, Jeanette, I really love you. I love your heart. I love your kindness. I love your personality, you know, the way she is. I said, don't ever change and stay humble, you know, so important. So important. You know, you have so much words of wisdom and kindness from your heart. So the more you can share with all of us those words, I tell you so powerful because you're just uplifting so many people with your heart through these times, especially within the last two years and who knows when. So you know, I'm inspiring. I always think that I cannot thank God enough. Yes. It's like I cannot thank him enough because when I look back at my young age, I must have been only three years old. My grandfather gave me an ukulele and he played it and he put it in my hand and I played exactly what he was playing. And then he played, when I got older to play the guitar, he played the guitar. He put the guitar in my hand. I played what he played, you know, so I keep stuff like that, yeah. And then the piano, I just watched this person playing. I went on the piano and I started playing, you know, it's things like that that I'm very thankful. Oh, you're blessed. Beyond words, you're blessed. I mean, I watch you when you set up, you over there, ding, ding, ding, too much, too much. I'm like, I can't hear it, but you're like tuning it up and getting it ready and then you want perfection and nail it all the time. So, yes, you are truly living the gift that Keokoo has given to you. So when you encourage others to max out who Keokoo brought them to be, you're building so many lives in such a positive way, Melvin. So thank you, thank you. And, you know, I know that you've been entertaining us for many, many, many years, even before the pandemic, on stage, oh, okay, on screen, I mean on stage, but on Facebook, you're so committed to making sure that you don't leave us hanging on Sundays. And I know that you've even done it before pandemic. So I also know that every Sunday you can turn on and you're gonna be there. What drives you to continue that commitment of you're up and you're getting yourself ready, you got the background change, you got the theme going, you delegate different music for everyone. How do you have that much energy and commitment every Sunday to do that on Facebook for us? Because we are brought up to know as musicians that music is healing. It's very healing. And I know a lot of people out there, certain songs touch them, you know what I mean? And I know that, and I know that. And it opens up their minds, opens up their hearts. And they reminisce, a lot of them reminisce back when, oh, I remember this song, I remember where I was and I remember who I was with, or I don't want to remember who I was with. And I mean, but it's like that, you know? But I make them feel as though they're my friend and they're sitting here with me in my living room. That's what I want them to feel like, you know what I mean? Like they're my friend, I don't know them. Yeah. You do a great job. And if you could, you would have everybody in your living room. Yes. And you know, I can always remember one day I went to your home and we were just like hanging out. I think I brought my friend's car on Vic with me. And then we were just hanging out. And you know, we were laughing like our butts off and we were having so much fun with just us two guys talking story in the corner with our phones. And you were like, I don't know what you were doing to my phone, your phone, but you're making me look beautiful. You did all these filters. You made me look like Avatar. You made me look like a super phone. I'm like, what the hell girl? Who needs TV? Who needs anything else except just love and compassion to spend with the people that you treasure the most. I mean, I had the most, the bestest time. And you know, I just didn't want that time to end. And so, yeah. And you know, sometimes I like when you're in the bed and I end the bed, I mean separately, okay guys. So, I know Mike is probably wondering, what the hell are you laughing your butt off for? I mean, you were just going and texting, texting, back, back, back, back, back, back, back. Back and forth, back and forth. So much fun. And I just laughing my head off lying by myself with my phone and you on the other end. I mean, those are just precious moments. And I thank you. That is precious, yes. I just thank you so much for that. So now I want to give a shout out to Mike, but not only is Mike, you're so me. I know that he's your best friend and he's also your best caregiver as you are to him. So I just want to say mahalo Mike for just being in her life, in our lives, because you know, since you came along, yeah, I don't have as many of those, oh no, I gotta go talk with Melvina, because she got you now. She's been in bed. She's been with you, right? So Melvina, you're like, you're under the bus. But it's okay, Mike, it's okay. I don't mind. Wendy, I want to thank you because with this program that you have, you have really enlightened many dark corners and dark areas that people don't understand about health. It is so important. That's important because without health, we wouldn't have the luxuries of the natural things that God gives us every day and every breath that we take. Thank you Melvina, but I just want to ask you, do you want to give a shout out to Mike? I mean, he's probably right there in your living room somewhere. Give a shout out to Mike. I wouldn't want you to see. Oh mahalo, mahalo, TMI, yeah, TMI. Yes, I have the best husband in the whole world. Yes I do. So you know, Mike, if you go and brought up, I'm looking. Well, you know, guys, Mike and Melvine, right now, it's time for us to say aloha and goodbye. So you've been watching, Taking Your Health Back on Think Tech Hawaii, mahalo to Melvine Lien, mahalo to Mike. Thank you for talking story with us and making our world so much better of a sounding place to live in. Aloha everybody, aloha Wendy. Aloha and please keep on blessing us with your God-given talents of song. I'm Wendy Loh, you're Melvine Lien and I know Mike is right there. We'll be back with another edition of Taking Your Health Back. Aloha everyone. Aloha. Aloha.