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Hawaiian Vacation for Two!
Slack Key Guitar
By Karee Carlucci Published: 06/25/2007
The sound is sweet and soulful, the attitude is personal and emotional—Hawaiian slack key guitar music is inspired by the beauty and spirit of the islands, and is one of the world’s most unusual acoustic guitar traditions.
Ki ho‘alu is its Hawaiian name. It means “loosen the key.” In this art form, the guitar strings are slacked to produce a major chord, or key. Each musician’s tuning resonates with a lingering sound behind the melody in his own characteristic fingering. But ki ho‘alu is also about stories behind the music: family traditions, poignant memories, favorite beaches, hidden waterfalls.
This tradition in Hawai‘i goes back to the early 19th century. With the arrival of sailors and the hiring of vaqueros from Mexico to train Hawaiians to manage the King’s cattle, the six-string guitar was introduced to these islands. In the evenings after a hard day’s work, new Hawaiian-composed guitar music could be heard around campfires and in villages. When the hired cowboys returned to their homelands, some of them gave their guitars to the Hawaiians. Hawaiian people incorporated what they had learned from Mexican and Spanish music into their traditional chants, songs and rhythms, creating a whole new form of guitar music. At the same time, there were not a lot of guitars or people who knew how to play them, so the Hawaiians developed a way to get a full sound on one guitar by slackening the strings and playing melody, bass and chords together.
Here on Maui, the public has an opportunity for an up-close and personal look at Hawaiian slack key guitar music in the award winning Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series every Wednesday evening at Napili Kai Beach Resort. Each week also features a special guest artist, one of the “masters” of Hawaiian slack key music.
Nationally recognized slack key musicians including Ledward Kaapana, Dennis Kamakahi and Cyril Pahinui are regular guests, but the concerts also showcase masters of other musical instruments and Hawaiian traditions. Many of Hawai‘i’s best-known artists have performed in these concerts: Ohta san on ‘ukulele, steel guitar great Bob Brozman, Na Hoku Hanohano winner Owana Salazar, and recognized national treasures Auntie Genoa Keawe and leo ki‘eki‘e (falsetto) master Richard Ho‘opi‘i. Grammy Award-winning musician George Kahumoku, Jr., Hawai‘i’s “Renaissance Man” hosts each show.
Guest artists enjoy performing in these concerts because they rarely have the chance to meet their audience in this type of intimate setting where the focus is on the music. The show is further enriched by the artists sharing stories, relating fond memories and funny anecdotes. It’s never the same show twice. Personalities as well as playing styles mix in the true melting pot blend that is Hawai‘i. In this concert series, each master draws from the traditions of the area where he or she grew up and from the music of his or her ‘ohana (family) enhancing the performances.
The concert series was recognized with a “Keep It Hawai‘i” award for “demonstrating the spirit of aloha and perpetuating the essence of Hawai‘i.” CD’s of music recorded at these live concerts won Grammy Awards in 2006 and 2007 for the Best Hawaiian Music Album of the Year.
The weekly concert is held every Wednesday evening throughout the year. Reservations can be made by calling direct 808-669-3858 or toll-free 1-888-3858. For an ongoing performance schedule of artists, see slackkey.com.
Locations
Maui, West Maui
Photo Gallery - Slack Key Guitar
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