While the focus is on slack key guitar music, the intent is to also present performances of ukulele, Hawaiian steel guitar and Hawaiian vocalizations, including falsetto music. The impetus for the formation of the company was the lack of venues where traditional Hawaiian music can be found, particularly on Maui.

Over the last few years, Hawaiian music has enjoyed growing popularity outside of Hawaii. Paul Konwiser, one of the founders, has traveled with most of the major slack key artists on coast-to-coast tours of the mainland over the last few years. “We get a phenomenal response where ever we go. We had 250 people lined up outside in a snow storm in Minneapolis trying to buy tickets,” he says. “They never did get in, because the show was sold out. These mainland tours brought some Hawaii to the mainland. But when people from the mainland came to Maui, it seemed ironic to me that they couldn’t find anything like what they had seen in Chicago, Seattle or New York City.”

Early in 2003, Konwiser met with Wayne Wong to discuss becoming partners in a project to bring Hawaiian music to Maui. Wong is originally from Hawaii, and is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools for children of Hawaiian descent. “I had been living in Seattle for over 30 years,” Wong said. “I’ve been looking for an opportunity to get back to Hawaii. But I wanted to do more than just start a new business. I wanted to be able to do something to preserve the culture. This enterprise is exactly what I was looking for.”

More than just music concerts, what is presented to visitors and kama’aina (native-born) alike, is a look at Hawaiian family culture, humor and story-telling.

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Productions is located in West Maui. The company is incorporated in the state of Hawaii.

HSKGP's first production is a year long concert series at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui. The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series performs every Wednesday evening. By popular demand, the Series has been extended again for a 5th season through December of 2008 and is now performed at the Napili Kai Beach Resort.

HSKGP was awarded the coveted Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Certificate of Merit, the 2005 Keep It Hawaii Recognition Award, honoring excellence in cultural preservation.

The first effort at an audio CD Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, vol 1 is a compilation of performances. It was awarded the 2005 Hawaii Music Award and was a nominated finalist for a Na Hoku Hanohano Award (Hawaii Academy of Recording Artist annual awards.) Ultimately, it received the 48th Annual Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album!

Eight months later, a second exciting recording of "live", on-stage performances from the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series from Maui debuts. To our delight, Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar -Live from Maui has been awarded the 49th Annual Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album.