Cultural Quest   (excerpt -full article available here...)
Go beneath the surface to see a Maui and Oahu that's rich in tradition

Hawaii is more than just a pretty face. It's more than swaying palm trees and swiveling hips, more than white sand beaches, colorful cocktails and loud aloha shirts.

Every Wednesday night, The Ritz-Carlton welcomes the Masters of Slack Key Guitar Concert Series, where affable host George Kahumoku Jr. sings and "talks story" with guest artists.

On the night I attend, Kahumoku introduces the duck-tailed Ledward Kaapana -- looking remarkably Elvis-like in his aviator glasses -- as "probably the most inventive slack key guitarist of my lifetime." Listening and laughing with these two masters, I feel like I'm sitting in someone's backyard, enjoying the music Hawaiians might play for their families and friends late at night, after a couple of beers. It's what I expect a real Hawaiian musical experience to be -- sometimes tender, often humorous, always evocative of the life and traditions of the islands. 

Copyright © 2005 — The Oregonian
Ann Campbell is a Vancouver, B.C., travel writer.

Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series at The Napili Kai Beach Resort, Napili on Maui:
Weekly shows every Wednesday evening.
Showtime at 7:30pm  
Tollfree Reservations: (888) 669-3858,  or info on the web at:  http://www.slackkey.com
Seating is limited so reservations are highly recommended. Tickets are priced at $45 before taxes.