By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Cyril Pahinui performs in a slack-key concert
at Ala Moana Park Sunday.
Tribute
to Dad
Cyril Pahinui joins
By John Berger
in a concert tribute to
Gabby and his gang
Special to the Star-Bulletin"The first time I played Carnegie Hall I walked out on stage and said, 'Dad, we finally made it.' "
Cyril Pahinui recalls that moment with humility and quiet pride. Pride that the music of his late father, rough-hewn, unpretentious Gabby Pahinui, was welcomed in New York City's premier concert venue. Humility in being his father's proxy in taking it there.
"I guess this is my time to carry the torch. This is my culture and the music I love. Whenever I play, it's like my dad is there with me."
Cyril has been carrying that torch a lot recently. He returned home Monday after back-to-back performances at the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society convention in Nashville and in a mixed-plate concert in Japan with Kalapana, Teresa Bright, Na Leo Pilimehana and the Peter Moon Band.
And he appears Sunday at the Bankoh Ki Ho'alu Festival.
Cyril will play solo, although his brothers, Martin and Bla, are also scheduled to perform. So is the Reverend Dennis Kamakahi, the Native Hawaiian Band, Ozzie Kotani, Ohana O Kauai and Glen Smith. Matt Swalinkavich and BB Shawn will represent the twentysomethings who embody the next generation of ki ho'alu musicians.
Cyril surprised some old-timers recently when he revealed his slack-key tunings (some players still believe in keeping that information secret).
"It's not the tuning, it's whether you can play it (and) put yourself in it," he says. One of his dreams is to open a studio where he can share his knowledge with younger musicians.
It could happen. He's only a few years away from retirement from his day job with the city.
In the meantime, Cyril is making music whenever he can. A three-time Hoku Award-winning soloist, he gained a national reputation with the release of "6 & 12 String Guitar" on George Winston's Dancing Cat label in 1994.
The pace is picking up. Poki Records released one of this year's best Hawaiian albums, "Ka Ho'olina Mau," last weekend. A new Dancing Cat album will be released on the Aug. 25; another, with steel guitarist Bob Brozman, comes out early next year.
It's all well-deserved recognition for Cyril, his father and the music. Like many Hawaiian musicians of his generation, Cyril learned to play family-style by watching his elders -- Gabby, Atta, Sonny and bassist Manuel "Joe Gang" Kupahu -- and then trying to duplicate what he'd seen and heard. When Dad thought Cyril was good enough, he was invited to join the band.
"When he asked me if I wanted to make extra money playing with them I really felt good, because I knew that was his way of saying I was ready."
It was the start of a musical career that included time with Sunday Manoa, the Sandwich Isle Band and the Peter Moon Band. Cyril also recorded several landmark albums with his father's group. A 1992 collaboration with Bla and Martin was short-lived but he speaks with pride of their accomplishments, too.
"I love my brothers, whether we're playing together or not, but like with me and my dad, the music always brings us together.
Bankoh Ki Ho‘alu Festival
Honoring: Gabby Pahinui and two of his favorite playing partners -- Leland "Atta" Isaacs and Sonny Chillingworth
