DAVID ‘Iolani-o-Naoo Shunichi KAMAKAHI
David and Herbwas 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

See and hear David perform in The Slack Key Show, Masters of Hawaiian Music at The Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui on July 7, 2010.

David previously 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.)