Live in the studio with host Beth Post, these three masters, featured regularly at the renowned “Slack Key Show” on Maui, bring Hawai‘i’s unique folk styles, with origins in the early 19th-century Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy) culture, to 21st-century stages. They themselves grew up in areas so rural, without electricity, radio, or TV, that they were immersed in Hawaiian music and culture from childhood.
George Kahumoku, Jr. (Uncle George) is part of a multi-generational family of musicians. Sharing music has always been a part of his life.He began playing slack key guitar at the age of 13, and, with more than 40 music recordings in his discography, has performed around the world, including frequent performances in California venues such as Freight and Salvage in Berkeley and the Strawberry Music Festival in Yosemite National Park. He recently returned from playing at the Edmonton Folk Festival in Canada, playing with ukulele artist Jake Shimabukuro. He is the "main man" behind the Masters of Slack Key show at the Napili Beach Resort on Maui. George is also an organic farmer, with a commercial farm that provides fine roasted coffee and teas His favorite pastime, however, is sharing music and food with family and friends, on the beach or the back porch.
Led Ka'apana also grew up in a musical family, in the rural, black-sand-bayed village of Kalapana on Hawai'i island. Led and his twin brother, Nedward and cousin Dennis Pavao, formed Hawaiian music's legendary group, Hui Ohana. The group was a key part of the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 70s and 80s and produced 14 albums. Led later played in the group I Kona, releasing 6 albums with them, including Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, Jus' Press.and also moving into a solo career which includes recordings on George Winston's Dancing Cat label. Led tours the US frequently, and recently performed at the Palms Playhouse in Winters. When he gets back home to Hawai'i, Led plays regularly at the Kona Brewing Company on Oahu, where he regularly plays with local talent and visiting musicians from the four corners of the globe.
Like Uncle G and Led, Uncle Richard Ho'opi'i grew up in a rural setting, in the tiny village of Kahakuloa on the northwest coast of Maui. He has practiced the traditional Hawaiian art of singing in the falsetto style (leo ki'e ki'e) with his brother and singing partner, Solomon, from early childhood, and they produced seven albums together as The Ho'opi'i Brothers. In 1997, both men were named National Endowment of the Arts Folk Heritage Fellows. Since the passing of Sol in 2006, Richard has recorded a solo album, Ululani (named for his wife), and plays regularly with George Kahumoku and Da Ukulele Boyz at Maui's Slack Key Show.