Peter Manu Kaina Jr., a veteran musician who performed with some of Waikiki's best-known musicians, died Feb. 14 on Maui. He was 61.

"He died on a Valentine's Day — and he proposed to me on a Valentine's Day," his wife, Dodie, recalled. "We had been married 44 years."

Kaina was a guitarist in Waikiki, performing with such local stars as Danny Kaleikini, Iva Kinimaka, the Pahinui brothers and Zulu in the 1960s. He moved to Maui in 1969, when he had an engagement with his cousin, entertainer Nelson Waikiki, at a Valley Island resort.

"He worked very hard throughout his life," his wife said. "And he loved music. He was in a battle of the bands contest, representing Farrington High School."

Thousands of visitors to Maui might have recognized Kaina through his good cheer as a tour bus driver, a job he had since 1969 with such operators as Gray Line, Tank Tours and Polynesian Adventures. Kaina also was a musician for the Na Pili Kai Foundation once led by kumu hula Emma Sharpe.

His passion, however, was his music, and he did numerous promotional appearances for Hawaiian Airlines and found pleasure strumming at home for the family.

One of his three sons, Jonathan Kaina, is an entertainer with the Society of Seven Las Vegas group.

Other survivors are daughters Darlene Kupahu and Melody Tilton and sons Peter III and Derick; hanai children, Rena, Charla, Kincaid Kupahu, Leslie Tilton, Bernard Anguay, Andrew, Albert, Debra Aspacio, Raymond Anguay, Bernadette Camarillo, Janel Like, Gavin, Jerome Michael Jr., Lloyd Anguay, Stephanie, Darryl Anguay, Lesile Anguay and Geraldine Kalilikane; stepfather, Ted Kida; brothers, William Aki, David "Bullie," Jerome, Andrew and Albert; sisters, Virginia, Victoria Midado, Sharon Nakatani, Debra Aspacio, Evangeline Hoopii and JudyAnn Keala; 19 grandchildren; four-great grandchildren.

Visitation 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Ballard Family Mortuary. Visitation also 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at St. Anthony Church; Mass 1 p.m.; cremation to follow. Aloha attire. Arrangements by Borthwick Norman's Mortuary.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.