 DENNIS
David Ka-hekili-mamao-i-kalani-keha ( The Distant Thunder In The
Highest Heavens ) KAMAKAHI was born on March 31, 1953 in
Downtown Honolulu. At the age of 3, he started to play the ukulele and
was taught by his Grandfather, David Naoo Kamakahi, the art of
slack key guitar playing at the age of 10 years old.
He began his serious study of music while attending Aliamanu
Intermediate School under Mr. William Kaneda. At the age of 14,
he entered the Kamehameha Schools as a freshman and continued his
study of music theory, band arranging, and composition under the
guidance of Mr. David Lorch. It was at the Kamehameha Schools
that he became friends with two fellow classmates who would themselves
become Hawaii's exponents of Hawaiian Music and Culture, Dr. Kalena
Silva, Professor of Hawaiian Studies at the UH Hilo Campus and
Royal Hawaiian Bandmaster Aaron Mahi. It would be while
attending the Kamehameha Schools that these three friends would set
the course of the future of Hawaiian Music.
He started his professional career in music when he became a member of
the group called Na Leo O Nuuanu whose members would
include Aaron Mahi, Cyril Pahinui, Danny Akaka Jr.,
Kaipo Asing, and Bruce Spencer. In 1974 he joined the
"SONS OF HAWAII" replacing slack key guitar legend,
Gabby Pahinui.
It was his tenure with the Sons of Hawaii (1974 - 1995) that
would lead him to become one of Hawaii's most prolific composers of
songs in the Hawaiian language being the composer of some 400 songs.
Many of his songs became Hawaiian classics. Pua Hone,
Wahine 'Ilikea, E Hihiwai, Koke'e,
Golden Stallion, Selamoku, Hualalai,
Kou Aloha Mau A Mau, Na Makani 'Eha, and
Na Ali'i Pu'olani just to name a few.
He became an ordained minister in 1977 and founded the Ka Leo Mana
Mission in Hawaii and in 1978 became a member of the American
Society of Composer, Authors, and Publishers. (ASCAP)
He has done soundtracks for several Hawaii produced films by Eddie
and Myrna Kamae and in 1996 released his first solo slack key
guitar CD which he co-produced with Howard Johnston and grammy
winning new age pianist George Winston under the Dancing Cat
label. In 1998 he released his second solo slack key guitar CD called
'Ohana (Family) which he recorded with his son David
on ukulele. He has just released a new CD with his son David, called
Pa'ani. He continues to perform in Hawaii and abroad.
Dennis was presented the 2005 Na Hoku Hanohano KI
HO`ALU AWARD, joining the ranks of other slack key greats that
have been honored such as Gabby Pahinui, Atta Isaacs, Sonny Chillingworth and Ray Kane.
Dennis was featured on our 2006 released compilation CD:
Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar -Live from Maui
winner of the 49th Annual
GRAMMY Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album.
Dennis is again featured on our newest compilation CD:
Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar (Daniel Ho Records) which just won
the 50th Annual
GRAMMY Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album.
For more information, visit
www.dancingcat.com or
Dennis' own website:
www.denniskamakahiproductions.com
See and hear
Dennis perform in The Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar Concert Series at The Napili Kai Beach Resort, Maui on
May 21, 2008
and June 18, 2008.
He previously performed in this series on April 2, February 20 and January 16, 2008 and
before that December 12, October 10, August 29, July 4, June 20, May 16, April
11, March 7, February 21 and January 3, of 2007 and
November 1, October 11, August 2, June 7, April 12, March 15 and January 4, of 2006 and before that on November 2, September 13, June 21, May 31, April 5, and February 8 in 2005; December 7, October
19, August 3, June 1, and April 13 in 2004, as well as October 28,
December 2 and December 30 of 2003. |
