LIVE CD -MASTERS OF HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITAR Volume 1 WINS GRAMMY AWARD (48th Annual Grammy Awards Announced)

LAHAINA, MAUI--The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has awarded the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume One album with a Grammy award for Best Hawaiian Music Album of the Year. Featured on the CD is music by top slack key artists Ledward Kaapana, Cyril Pahinui, George Kahumoku Jr, Ozzie Kotani, Daniel Ho and Keoki Kahumoku. Keoki Kahumoku was also one of the artists on last year’s Hawaiian Grammy-winning album. The CD is the debut album for two young musicians representing the future of Hawaiian music, Peter deAquino and Garrett Probst, known locally on Maui as “Da Ukulele Boyz.” The album is a compilation of live music captured at the weekly Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui.

Producers of the album are Daniel Ho, Wayne Wong and Paul Konwiser. "I couldn't believe it. It's probably one of the most exciting days of my life," Ho said backstage after being presented with the Grammy award. "It's really a blessing. I'm thrilled for everyone on the CD."

George Kahumoku, son Keoki, Peter deAquino and Garrett Probst joined Ho and Wong on stage at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Paul Konwiser remained on Maui to run the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series, which was on the same night as the Grammy ceremony. “We’ve never missed a concert, and I wanted to keep up the continuity,” Konwiser said. He added that he was glad the Grammy honored so many slack key luminaries on the album, including Cyril Pahinui, whose rendition of “Hi’ilawe” opens the collection. “How wonderful that it is the first song,” Konwiser said of the classic made famous by the legendary Gabby Pahinui. “Cyril sounds so much like his father. It’s wonderful to honor Gabby for all he did for slack key and for Hawaiian music generally.”

At the microphone on stage, Kahumoku did a brief Hawaiian chant for the audience. “It’s awesome, it’s really a lot of fun,” Wong said. “It’s also so great all the slack key family is here. We just feel so honored to be accepting the award even though every one of the nominees is equally qualified.” Wong described the atmosphere as “electric, everybody’s excited and having a really good time.”

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua staff is pleased with its role in the Grammy win. “We’re all very, very proud and excited,” said Javier Cano, General Manager of the resort. “We are fortunate to have a wonderful group of people to work with, and certainly there are just some fabulous artists and musicians in Hawaii.”

“I can’t believe a Grammy comes to Maui, that is really fantastic,” added Clifford Nae’ole, Ritz Carlton’s cultural adviser. “I will wait for George Kahumoku to come back and so I can tell him, ’Well done, my friend.’ You see, the way he does things – it may be at Carnegie Hall, but he still makes you feel like you’re on his porch,” Nae’ole said.

The album also won a Hawaiian Music Award and earlier this year, the Hawaiian Tourist Authority presented a ‘Keep it Hawaii’ Recognition Award to the concert series. The on-going performance schedule can be found at www.slackkey.com.

The 48th annual Grammy awards were presented in Los Angeles on February 8.

Tickets are $40 per show general admission, and $30 for state residents with a current Hawai`i driver's license. For reservations, call toll-free (888) 669-3858 or (808) 669-3858 in Hawai`i. Check the ongoing performance schedule of artists on the website http://www.slackkey.com.

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About Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Productions, Inc
Founded for the love of the music and grounded in the concept of aloha, Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Productions, Inc is dedicated to perpetuating and preserving traditional Hawaiian music, especially the unique Hawaiian acoustic guitar art form known as “Ki-ho’alu” (Hawaiian Slack Key). The corporation develops programs, events and the concert series to create a deeper awareness and understanding of this authentic Hawaiian cultural art form. View the ongoing performance schedule of artists on the website www.slackkey.com.