 DAVID
‘Iolani-o-Naoo Shunichi KAMAKAHI was born on November 12, 1980
in Honolulu, Hawaii the second son of Dennis and Robin Kamakahi.
He attended Royal Elementary School until age 6 then transferred to
Aliamanu Elementary School in 1987. From the ages of 8 - 14, David
studied karate under the guidance of Sensei Glen West and
Sensei Chuzo Kotaka in the Shito-ryu form of karate of the
International Karate Federation dojo. For two consecutive years at the
ages of 12 - 14, David held the U.S. AAU National Karate Championship
Gold Medal, in both Kobudo (weapons) and Kata (Form) while
representing Hawaii. At present, he holds the rank of 1st Dan black
belt and is a lifetime member of the International Karate Federation.
David graduated from Kamehameha High School in 1998 and was
awarded the Pono Beamer Award for excellence in the field of
Hawaiian music. He attended the University of Hawaii Manoa for
two years before transferring to Leeward Community College
majoring in liberal arts. As a young ukulele student, David studied
the stylings of grand ukulele master, Eddie Kamae and at the
present age of 22, has become notable in the field of Hawaiian music
already being a featured veteran artist/vocalist on four CDs since the
age of 15.
His discipline in the martial arts and his musical approach to
classical interpretations of songs on the ukulele are refreshing and
supports a progressive Hawaiian music direction. He has toured the
U.S. Mainland and Japan performing concerts with his father and is a
music publisher member of ASCAP. In 1998, David accompanies his
father Dennis on the solo slack key guitar CD called
'Ohana (Family). David has recently released his first
solo and the third collaboration CD with
his father, called Pa'ani -which received the 2005 Na
Hoku Hanohano Award for Contemporary Album of the Year
(best performance of music in a contemporary style).
For more information, visit
the Kamakahi website:
www.denniskamakahiproductions.com
David last performed with his father, Dennis, in The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar Concert Series at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Maui on
May 31 and February 8, in 2005; December 7, October 19, August 3, June 1, and April 13 in 2004 and December 30, 2003.) |
