Willie Hona

Wiremu Hona (22 July 1953 – 5 May 2024) was a New Zealand musician.^[1]

Willie Hona
Hona (right) in 2019
Background information
Birth name	Wiremu Hona
Born	(1953-07-22)22 July 1953 Rawene, New Zealand
Died	5 May 2024(2024-05-05) (aged 70) Paraparaumu, New Zealand
Formerly of	Herbs, the Face

Early life and career

Wiremu Hona was born in Rawene on 22 July 1953.^[2]

Hona's career began alongside Mark Williams, Mack Tane and Gregg Findlay in the band the Face.^[3]

In 1983 he released She Needs You and it reached #41 on the New Zealand Charts.^[4]

In 1983 he also joined Herbs as singer and guitarist.^[5] He appeared on two albums, Long Ago (1984) and Sensitive to a Smile (1987) and on multiple singles such as songs Slice of Heaven, Sensitive to a Smile and Listen. He left the band in late 1988.^[6]

In 1991 he released a solo album called Keep an Open Heart.^[7]

Death

Hona died from pancreatic cancer in Paraparaumu, on 5 May 2024, aged 70.^[7]

Discography

List of demo albums

Title	Album details
Keep an Open Heart	Released: 1991 Label: Festival Records (D30704) Format: CD, Cassette

Singles

List of singles with selected New Zealand positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions	Album
		NZ [4]
1983	"She Needs You"	43
1991	"Keep An Open Heart"	–	Keep An Open Heart

Awards

Aotearoa Music Awards

The Aotearoa Music Awards are an annual awards night celebrating excellence in New Zealand music and have been presented annually since 1965.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result	Ref.
2012	Willie Hona (as part of Herbs)	New Zealand Music Hall of Fame	inductee	[8]