Beat-lele musician and St. John Apostle and Evangelist parishioner Manolo Quiason, aka Nolet, stands outside the legendary Cavern Club where The Beatles first made a name for themselves. (Courtesy Manolo Quiason)
By Jennifer Rector
Hawaii Catholic Herald
The award-winning podcast “Hawaii Catholic Herald Highlights” is back with a new host and new stories to share throughout the Diocese of Honolulu.
On top of being an Army officer, Jack Rector has a passion for good conversations, a glass of whiskey and of course his faith. He’s taking on “Hawaii Catholic Herald Highlights” as the new host — working alongside his producer and wife, Herald reporter Jennifer Rector, to bring stories that are hidden gems throughout the islands for listeners to enjoy.
The first episode goes live April 12 with guest Manolo Quiason, affectionately known as Nolet.
From rocking the stage in Liverpool, England, to worshiping the Lord in the pews in Mililani, Quiason has shared his love for music throughout Hawaii and across the world.
Quiason sings for the 6 p.m. Mass at St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church in Mililani and has even composed music used for the Mass several times.
“It took a lot of prayer. I have no technical training. I have no technical strategy or advice or method of putting notes together. I just rely on the spirit in prayer, you know?” said Quiason.
His musical journey started off in the Philippines, where he grew up in the capital, Manila. He and his brothers played music, but it was not until he saw the priest at his parish pick up a guitar and start a band in the 1970s that he saw prayer and worship as an option.
From there he eventually learned more about the faith — always guided by the Holy Spirit — which eventually led him to be a member of Beat-lele, a local cover band that plays music from The Beatles using ukuleles.
The group has performed all over Oahu and has also traveled to Liverpool, home of the iconic British rock band, where Beat-lele was invited to play at a Beatles festival with musicians from across the globe.
Aside from jamming on his ukulele, Quiason worked as an architect for many years which he said was like “living in an Indiana Jones movie” for him and his family.
His career took him to Kuwait in 1983, right when the Philippines was hit with the downfall of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., leaving the country in turmoil.
Quiason said he’s grateful to have missed the political outbreak in his beloved home country.
“I was in Kuwait already, so God took me out of that situation. And no matter how Kuwait seemed to be very foreign and very different, I immediately was able to find the Catholic Church,” said Quiason.
The adventure did not stop there. During a family visit to the United States in 1990, once again the whole family dodged a world event — the beginning of the Gulf War.
This interview is a two-part series on SoundCloud. Stay tuned!
