Al Kikume


Al Kikume was an American actor, musician, and bandleader of Hawaiian descent. He was a frequently featured musical performer—on radio, preceding silent film screenings, and at miscellaneous live events—during the 1920s and early thirties, as well as a familiar face among supporting actors in Hollywood jungle movies during the thirties, forties and fifties.

Early life and career

Kikume was born in Kauai County, Hawaii. Known for his association with Honolulu's Royal Hawaiian Band, as well as revivals of the Broadway play, Bird of Paradise, Kikume's first credited screen appearance was as "Chief Mehevi" in John Ford's The Hurricane.

Personal life and death

By no later than 1911, Kikume was married to Virgil Edna Smith, with whom he had one son, Bernard Kikume Gozier, aka Bernie Gozier. Gozier went on to have a substantial Hollywood career of his own, both as bit player and stuntman, appearing in at least one film, Green Dolphin Street, alongside his father.
Kikume died in Los Angeles on March 27, 1972.

Partial filmography

Hula – Native musician accompanying Clara Bow's hula danceTarzan the Fearless The Perils of Pauline serialThe Hurricane – Chief MeheviAir Devils – Don KahanoMandrake the Magician serialTyphoon South of Pago Pago Jungle Girl serial Perils of Nyoka serialWhite Savage She Gets Her Man – JoeSong of the Sarong Green Dolphin Street On the Isle of Samoa – Chief Tihati