LIHU‘E — Milton Lau started the Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival on O‘ahu in 1982. One year quickly turned into five. Five turned into 10. Ten into 20. “We went from year to year,” Lau said. “We had the passion, and
LIHU‘E — Milton Lau started the Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival on O‘ahu in 1982. One year quickly turned into five. Five turned into 10. Ten into 20.
“We went from year to year,” Lau said. “We had the passion, and the passion gave us longevity.”
Aug. 19 marked the 30th anniversary of the festival on O‘ahu. And in two days Kaua‘i residents will be treated to the soothing sounds of slack key during the 20th Annual Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar Festival “Kaua‘i Style.”
The event, sponsored by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, is from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort near Hanama‘ulu.
Just like the last 29 years, the event is 100 percent free.
“We make it free to everyone, but we also welcome donations,” Lau said. “Where else can you go and sit down for six hours and listen to 15 great artists? It’s unheard of.”
Much like its predecessors, this year’s festival features performances by some of the finest artists and musicians in the genre, including Nathan Aweau, Paul Togioka, Dennis Kamakahi, John Cruz, Pancho Graham, Walter Keale, LT Smooth, Doug and Sandy McMaster, Brother Noland, Michael Keale, Bobby Moderow, Stephen Inglis, David Kahiapo, Stephen Espaniola and Cindy Combs.
Slack key, also known as “ki ho‘alu,” which literally means “loosen the key” in Hawaiian, is a finger picked style of playing in which the strings are “slacked” to produce different tunings that create a lingering sound behind the melody, according to the festival’s website.
Kaua‘i’s own Paul Togioka was first invited by Lau to play Kaua‘i’s slack key festival in 1996, shortly after he received the award for Best Recording by a Slack Key Artists at the Hawaiian Music Awards. He has been with the Kaua‘i festival ever since and began touring with the festival on other islands in 2004.
He says that while each island experience is unique, Kaua‘i remains the most “intimate” with “nice indoor conditions.”
“The crowd is very supportive, extremely supportive,” he said. “I feel lucky that they invite me.”
On Sunday, Togioka says the audience will be exposed to variety of slack key styles, both traditional and more contemporary.
“It’s going to give you a broad taste of Hawaiian music.”
As for Togioka’s own musical career, he says he owes much of it to Lau, who single-handedly puts this festival together.
“I kind of owe him (Lau) the world, for what he’s done for me,” he said. “Ever since he took me under his wing, things really changed for me.”
Togioka is featured on the two-time Grammy-nominated and Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning album “Hawaiian Slack Key Kings,” recorded under Lau’s Rhythm and Roots Records label. And it was Lau who convinced Togioka to drop his band and begin working as a solo artist.
“I’m kind of private and shy … I was terrified of that,” Togioka said. “It took 7 years to convince me (to perform as a soloist).”
Once convinced, Lau offered Togioka the opportunity to record under his label.
“I’m really grateful and thankful for what he’s done for me,” Togioka said. “Besides his family, this (slack key) is his life.”
Lau says the festival, which pays tribute to the beauty and richness of Hawai‘i through music, has been great for both the musicians and the state, drawing tourists from as far away as Australia, Sweden and Japan.
“It’s a great thing and we never intended it to be what it turned out to be,” he said.
“We weren’t thinking about tourism, we were just thinking about the music.”
While there are many slack key artists on the Mainland, Lau’s focus has always been supporting local artists and musicians.
“We want everyone to know it’s a Hawaiian style of playing … to see the real deal you are going to have to come to Hawai‘i.”
Sunday’s festival brings an end to the statewide festival tour, and Lau promises a fantastic day of music that will likely draw a crowd of at least 800 people.
“All the artists love coming to Kaua‘i. There is a special spirit about Kaua‘i. It’s different from everywhere we go. We’re on a high note when we get to Kaua‘i.”
Doors open at 11:30 a.m., and performances are from noon to 6 p.m. Admission is free, but a $10 donation is suggested at the door to benefit the Ki-Ho Alu Foundation, a nonprofit organization set up to promote and perpetuate Hawaiian slack-key music.
Those unable to attend Sunday’s festival will be able to watch a live video stream of the entire event by visiting the festival’s website at www.slackkeyfestival.com.
For more information visit the website or contact Milton Lau at (808) 226-2697.
