Attendees of the 44th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival Waikīkī Style listened to the stirring sounds of slack key guitar under stars and palm trees at the Waikīkī Aquarium, on Saturday, Aug. 29.
The same instrument took on a variety of sounds as more than a dozen artists shared music with attendees in an event from the Kī-hō'alu Foundation in partnership with Outrigger Resorts & Hotels, which benefits the aquarium.
Musicians who took the stage at the festival included Ledward Kaapana, George Kuo, Kawika Kahiapo, Bobby Moderow, and Jeff Peterson, and rising artist Anthony Pfluke, among other Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning artists.
In about six weeks, lovers of slack key, or kī hōʻalu, can listen to live slack key guitar music at the 29th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival - Kona Style, also run by the Kī-hō'alu Foundation, on Hawaiʻi Island at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa on Sunday, Oct. 18. Get tickets.
The festivals — which this year take place at Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi and Maui — were started by Milton Lau in honor of his friend, the legendary Gabby Pahinui.
“I was friends with all of his sons, and everybody was musicians,” Milton told Aloha State Daily. ”And then, when he died, we decided to do something that would honor him and all the culture and music.”
Originally, the festival started at Waimānalo Beach Park. The legendary slack key guitarist had lived across from the beach park and his home was a spot for kani ka pila gatherings.
“It was just a one-time thing,” Lau said. “And the whole park was filled.”
“It was a little surprising,” Lau said.
After the event, people came up to him and said this can’t be a one-time event, he said. They wanted it to be an annual event. The following year, the festival moved to Ala Moana Regional Park, the festival founder said. Soon, it expanded to Neighbor Islands, including Maui, Kauai, Hawaiʻi Island and even at one point Molokai.
The upcoming festival on Hawaiʻi Island features Brother Noland, Sonny Lim, Bobby Moderow, Keoki Kahumoku and Anthony Pfluke, among others. Tickets are $20 for kamaʻāina and free for keiki 12 years old and younger. Details
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
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