HANAMA‘ULU — It was a tribute to two legends in their own right, and the vibes were that of respect, love and appreciation. Unlike previous years of the Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, which have been lovingly put on by Milton
HANAMA‘ULU — It was a tribute to two legends in their own right, and the vibes were that of respect, love and appreciation.
Unlike previous years of the Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival, which have been lovingly put on by Milton Lau on O‘ahu and throughout the Neighbor Islands, this year’s event was not only dedicated to the memory of musical legend Gabby “Pops” Pahinui, but to that of surfing legend Andy Irons as well, who recently passed away.
Though this year’s 18th Annual Slack-Key Guitar Music Festival coincided with Irons’ memorial, it was still well-attended, as it was standing-room only at Sunday’s event at the Kaua’i Beach Resort near Hanama‘ulu.
Locals and visitors alike from everywhere from Sweden to Colorado watched and took in music in the form of short, 20-minute sets by artists that included Sandy and Doug McMaster, Danny Carvalho, Pancho Graham, Brother Noland, Paul Togioka and Makana, to name a few.
And though times are tough economically (the event used to be sponsored by Bank of Hawai‘i but is no longer) several musicians donated their performances and Hawaiian Airlines donated flights for artists, keeping the event generous in attitude and spirit, as there was no cost to attend (though donations were accepted).
Hot, new talent at the event included Carvalho, a young veteran of ki ho‘alu (at a mere 19 years old) who got his start playing slack key at the age of 9.
For Carvalho, Sunday marked his 10th festival performance.
“My first time performing in (this) festival was in 2000,” Carvalho said. “My teacher (Ozzie Kotani) featured me in his set.”
Carvalho, who grew up surrounded by music, said both of his parents played slack-key guitar.
“They would always have music playing on the radio, especially Hawaiian music,” he said. “My father also made guitars, so we had a lot of instruments around the house, and one day he put one in my room and showed me how to tune it. Once he started teaching me, we both began to realize that this was something that came naturally to me, so he began looking for a teacher.”
Carvalho said the biggest inspiration to him isn’t necessarily any one style of music, but the generosity he’s been shown, by Kotani and everyone else in the Hawaiian music community.
“They have entrusted me with their music, their knowledge and their time — now it is my honor and responsibility to pass it on. That, and I love doing it,” he said.
It’s with that idea in mind — passing on the tradition of ki ho‘alu (slack-key guitar) — that musicians Doug and Sandy McMaster were inspired to play slack key, after a fellow colleague and musician, Keli‘i Mawae on Moloka‘i, stressed the importance of keeping it alive.
“He said to us that, ‘as long as people keep hearing stories and songs they will carry that music in their hearts, it will survive,’” Sandy McMaster said.
The McMaster couple addressed that mission at the festival by playing some traditional slack key as well as the original, “Ka ua loku o’ Hanalei.” Sandy McMaster, who noted she was pleased to see a bigger turnout this year than last year, calls helping perpetuate the art of slack-key guitar an “honor.”
“To me, and I know Doug feels this way, too, this music is such a gift to our modern world from old Hawai‘i,” she said. “It is so soothing and so relaxing. In a world filled with all kinds of stresses, it’s just a real gift.”
Artist Graham seemed to feel the same way.
Graham said Lau has helped give this gift to the rest of the world, as the festival since its inception on O‘ahu in the ‘80s has since gone beyond the Neighbor Islands to reach around the globe, to areas as far as Vancouver, Germany and Japan.
“It was neat to see such a mix of artists playing together,” Graham said of the many musicians warming up in the green room. “We were stoked to see such a great turnout.”
As for how the event went overall, Noland, who has been at every Kaua’i Slack Key Festival since Hurricane ‘Iniki with the exception of last year, said he felt it was the most busy yet and that he was pleased to share the essence of ki ho‘alu with those who haven’t experienced it before.
“It sort of puts everybody in a dream state,” he said.
“The notes and the music and the sound will capture you. …It’s the essence of what Hawai‘i is about.”
