 ...I’m
here on a bit of a cultural lark. Truth be told, I never really “got”
the whole Hawaiian music thing. (I blame this on my parents, who
dragged me to see Don Ho, Mr. “Tiny Bubbles” himself, when I was an
impressionable 12-year-old visiting Waikiki for the first time.
Scarily, Ho is still at it.)
I discover one more musical gem at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua when I
attend the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series.
Held every Wednesday evening, the concerts are hosted by George Kahumoku
Jr., an affable and multitalented musician, author, and teacher who
welcomes guest artists to join him on-stage for some fine music-making
and storytelling. On the night I attend, Kahumoku introduces his
guest, the ducktailed Ledward Kaapana, as “probably the most inventive
slack-key guitarist of my lifetime”.
Watching and laughing with these two masters, I feel like I’m
sitting in someone’s back yard, listening to the music that Hawaiians
might play for their families and friends late at night, after a
couple of beers. It’s what I expect a real Hawaiian musical experience
to be: sometimes tender, often humorous, always evocative of the life
and traditions of these beautiful islands...
Copyright © 2005
—
Vancouver
Free Press Publishing Corp
For complete article, visit the Georgia Straight website at:
www.straight.com
Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series
at The Napili Kai Beach Resort, Napili on Maui:
Weekly shows every Wednesday evening.
Showtime at 7:30pm
Tollfree Reservations: (888) 669-3858,
or info on the web at:
http://www.slackkey.com
Seating is limited so reservations are highly recommended. Tickets are
priced at $45 before taxes.
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