HANAMA‘ULU — Makana is the guest host of a concert featuring some of Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i’s best musicians and dancers Monday, May 30 at 6 p.m. at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
The concert also marks the closing of the 39th season of E Kanikapila Kakou. Translated from Hawaiian to English, “E Kanikapila Kakou” means, literally, “Let’s play a stringed instrument together.”
Joining Makana on stage will be Napua Greig, Hi‘ipoi Kanahele, Mama Ane’s mo‘opuna, Troy Lazaro, Maka Herrod, Kamaha‘o Haumea-Thronas, Mauli‘ola Cook, Halau Papa Laua‘e O Makana, and Kaua‘i haumana of the late Nathan Kalama and Doric Yaris.
Since 2003, when Makana first connected with the EKK organizing Garden Island Arts Council, he’s kept in touch with this island that’s a huge favorite of his.
In the meantime, he’s played at the White House under the Obama administration; played with countless other stars within the musical horizon; composed a piece that became the musical backdrop for the movie “The Descendants” with him performing it; won numerous Na Hoku Hanohano Awards; and engaged in real-time political protests.
What moves Makana is his love of slack key and his fascination with it that started in small-kid time and remains alive as he continues to share it with the islands and the planet. He had the great fortune as a tyke to study with the great Sonny Chillingworth.
In his post on his Spotify website at https://tgilinks.com/3NB5Y6L, he says it all: “Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, Makana is an internationally acclaimed slack-key guitarist, singer, composer and activist. He has been called: ‘the greatest living player’ by Esquire magazine; ‘a dynamic force’ by The New York Times; and ‘master of the Hawaiian slack-key guitar’ by The Seattle Times.
“The prestigious National Geographic Society notes that he is ‘charting a new sonic frontier with deep ties to tradition. Makana’s captivating and wide-ranging performance style has led him to share the stage with Jason Mraz, Gotye and Jack Johnson, open for music legends diverse as Sting, Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Leon Russell, Common and No Doubt, as well as perform in venues ranging from Asian and European opera houses to The White House.
“His music ranges from traditional to highly original, exploring a broad spectrum of genres, styles and themes. Makana’s songs have been featured on three Grammy-nominated albums: ‘Hawaiian Slack Key Kings, Vol. 1 and 2’ and the soundtrack for the Academy Award winning movie ‘The Descendants.’ Makana’s score of a national campaign for the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau won a Pele Award, Hawai‘i’s top award for excellence in advertising and design. The Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, considered the Grammys of Hawaiian music, awarded him the ‘Slack Key Legacy Award’ in 2012.”
Purchase tickets online for “Legacy of Our Legends” at eventbrite.com/o/garden-island-arts-council-42722074693. Anyone experiencing difficulty purchasing tickets may call Shannon Hiramoto at 808-489-2947.
Food and beverages may be purchased throughout the evening.
EKK is brought to all by the Garden Island Arts Council with funding from the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s Community Enrichment Program and the National Endowment for the Arts.
w Info: gardenislandarts.org, facebook.com/ekanikapilakakou.kauaistyle, 808-245-2733, giac05@icloud.com
