With extra seats arranged on the sides of the auditorium and people filling up another room, the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitor’s Center was filled to the brim as Joe Ah Quin (pictured right), a Laie singing legend who once lost his voice for over two months, drew an overflow crowd when he performed at the August 2, Sunday evening musical fireside.
Sue Keliiliki, a Laie community member in charge of arranging the monthly firesides, said, "People just love and adore him [Ah Quin]. I just love to hear him sing." Being part of the Laie 4th Ward Choir, which also sang at the fireside, she knew that if she told people that Ah Quin would also be performing at the fireside, there would be a crowd.
Ah Quin is a renowned singer. He sang professionally for over 20 years. He studied voice in high school as a young child and proceeded to study voice at the University of Hawaii. He has been married for 52 years, has seven children and 28 grandchildren.
Dressed in white and black attire, the Laie 4th Ward Choir hosted the fireside and sang three songs including "Be Still My Soul" and "Song of My Soul." The music director, a left-handed director, conducted the choir with a smile. After the choir, Ah Quin took the floor and despite the fact that the auditorium was packed full of people, the crowd continued in through the doors. He sang, "Oh Touch My Eyes," a song he said he sang when he was part of a St George, Utah, choir of about 250 members.
Ah Quin, with his hands by his side in an open position, gracefully sang Joseph Smith's first prayer, which he referred to as his testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith.
"What I like about him is the fact that he sings from his heart and not only uses is voice but he uses his testimony," said Bilgee Purevsuren, a senior in computer science from Mongolia who attended the fireside mainly because Ah Quin was going to perform.
Ah Quin sang a song he learned while studying voice in college, titled, "Without a Sun." At the end of the song, since people were asked not to applaud because it was a fireside, the performance brought smiles to the faces of the audience members.
"Behold Laie," "Once Upon a Time," and "A Land of Promise," were other songs Ah Quin sang with passion. The song “Once Upon a Time,” Ah Quin said would take people back down memory lane to their younger days.
He also bore his testimony about how the Lord had helped restored his voice. He said he woke up one morning and realized that his voice was gone. He could hardly talk, let alone sing. Several visits to the doctor confirmed that his voice could not be cured quickly but he would just have to wait.
"The doctors said it may take six months, a year or never," said Ah Quin. But with fasting and prayers, and a unique experience where he mistakenly inhaled cleaning chemicals while cleaning his home, Ah Quin said he was healed.
"I thank Heavenly Father for the gift he has given me. I want to share this blessing with others to bless their lives," said Ah Quin.
--Photo courtesy of Mike Foley