Tune in to 10 hours It seemed like a good idea at the time, but no one could have foreseen how good it was. Twenty years later, Milton Lau's Hawaiian Slack Key Festival is one of the big events of the year in Hawaiian music. Back in 1982, he wasn't even looking beyond a single open-air concert in Waimanalo.
of top talent
CDs showcase guitar greats and gifted newcomers
By John Berger
jberger@starbulletin.com
"It only seems like yesterday. There was absolutely no planning; it was kinda like, OK, we'll see what happens next year," Lau said. The original "Gabby Pahinui Slack Key Guitar Festival" was presented in 1982 as a tribute to Pops and the music he loved. The name was eventually changed to the "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival" as other slack key legends passed away, and the event grew from an Oahu-only, one-day annual event to a series of concerts that embraced several of the neighbor islands and the mainland U.S. as well.
Raymond Kane
It has become known over the years as a showcase of top slack key talent, and the concert tomorrow is no exception. The 10-hour show will include performances by Haunani Apoliona, Ernie Cruz Jr., "Danny Boy," Barry Flanagan, Michael Kaawa, David Kahiapo, Dennis Kamakahi, Raymond Kane, Ocean Kaowili, Donald Kauli'a, Kimo Keo, Ku'uipo Kumukahi, George Kuo, Ron Loo Sr. and Ron Loo Jr., the Makaha Sons, Makana, Maunalua, the Native Hawaiian Band, Bla Pahinui, Cyril Pahinui, Jeff Peterson and, as the "special guest," Melveen Leed. There will also be a drawing for a $5,000 custom-made Taylor acoustic koa guitar.
Parking should be better than it was in years past when the concert was held at Ala Moana Park or the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, but there is an all-day "Sunset on the Beach" to contend with on Sunday. Fans should plan to get to the Kapiolani Park Bandstand as early as possible.
Donald Kauli'a
Lau is also commemorating the event with the release of two albums (see below), one consisting of live performances recorded over the years at previous concerts. Both will be available at the show.
"The whole idea is to promote the music, help perpetuate and preserve ki ho'alu, which is sort of an indigenous art form, and that's all we were interested in. Of course, 20 years later, the music has reached into many different areas, which is a really an exciting thing," he said.
Lau adds that because the festival is a free event, he relies on sponsors to help cover the expenses involved in presenting the cultural showcase year after year. One of Hawaii's largest banks is no longer affiliated with the festival, but 99.5 The Breeze, Outrigger Hotels and Hawaiian Airlines stepped forward to make sure that the tradition would continue. Lau says he got support from the mayors of Kauai and Maui as well.
"I think there's a perception that it's a good community event," he said.
Makana
Many of the artists return year after year despite the fact that, as Lau puts it, "there's very little money (in it) for them.
"They're very committed and loyal to this thing," he said. "This is truly cultural tourism at work, and the aloha that everybody has and shares through the festival and with their music is just a great feeling. I do my part, but without the musicians, there's no festival."
In fact, the festival has become such a prestigious event in local music that he reports being approached by Jawaiian and pop groups interested in participating, only to be told that the event, by definition, is for slack key guitarists only.
In the meantime, Lau's commitment to the cause of promoting and perpetuating Hawaiian slack key includes his aloha to others who are also promoting the music as well.
"The beautiful part is that other people from the mainland ... are promoting concerts, here and there throughout the U.S., which is fantastic."
Where: Kapiolani Park Bandstand Hawaiian Slack Key
Guitar Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Admission: Free
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CDs showcase guitar greats
and gifted newcomersMilton Lau and Ka-Hoku Productions commemorate two decades of successful slack key festivals with this compilation of 17 performances apparently culled at random from concert recordings made over the years. Most of Hawaii's great slack key artists have played at these festivals and the diversity, depth and evolution of ki ho'alu is found in the assortment of talent. The roster includes Raymond Kane, Ledward Kaapana, Sons of Hawaii veterans Dennis Kamakahi and George Kuo, Bla and Cyril Pahinui and Makana.
"Ki Ho'alu No Ka 'Oi:
Various artists
Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar
Festivals —Volume 1"
Rhythm & RootsThe sense of "being there" is enhanced by Mike Kaawa's narrative version of "Opai'e," and the good natured, fraternal banter between Brother Noland and Tony Conjugacion.
Unfortunately, annotator Keaumiki Akui provides no information on the individual selections -- not even such basic stuff as when they were recorded or who the performers are. Some artists can be identified by comments during the performances. But the beauty of the music still stands on its own.
rhythmandrootsrecords@yahoo.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Opai'e
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
This is a compilation of separate recordings by eight slack sky guitarists, not a group, and there's nothing "new wave" or particularly "edgy" about it, but slack key fans will enjoy it anyway.
"On The Edge"
New Wave Natives
Rhythm & RootsThe featured musicians include some of Hawaii's lesser known players as well as veteran recording artists Jeff Peterson and David Kahiapo. Annotation includes the tuning used for each song.
Among the relative unknowns is Tahiti's Florent Atem; he has recorded rock instrumentals in the past but hasn't been known for slack key until recently. Ocean Kauwili is a veteran musician, but makes his solo debut here.
Producer Milton Lau adds various instruments to most of the guitarists' work. Less would suffice for a slack-key showcase, and the beauty of Peterson's solo recordings prove it, but most of Lau's arrangements add commercial appeal to the collection.
rhythmandrootsrecords@yahoo.com
Mpeg Audio Clips:
Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info
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