Masters of Hawaiian Music: George Kahumoku Jr, Led Kaapana, & Sonny Lim

“Kahumoku was an affable raconteur, mixing his dialogue with passionate renderings of material…” – LA Times

“…The vocals and slack-key wizardry of George Kahumoku … is as cleansing as a Sunday drive through God’s country.” — The Honolulu Advertiser

“… a master with the acoustic guitar. His music is played from his heart and soul through the very tips of his fingers.” www.amzmusiczine.com

Four-time Grammy-winner, master slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr., known as “Hawai‘i’s Renaissance Man,” is also a multiple Na Hōkū Hanohano (Hawaiian Grammy) Award winner. He was honored by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts and the Na Hoku’s with a 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of his long commitment to Hawaiian culture and music. In 2023, he was recognized with proclamations from the U.S. Congress by Representative Jill Tokuda and a recognition letter from the Hawai‘i State Senate in honor of his being awarded the inaugural “E Ola Mau Ka Mele” Award at Maui’s Hula Grill. Most recently, he was inducted into the inaugural Maui Nui Hall of Fame.

He is also a vocalist, storyteller, songwriter & author, world-traveling performer, as well as a teacher, –he founded the Hawaiian Music Institute at University of Hawai’i-Maui College –artist and sculptor, farmer, and chef (his farm to table). He is the producer and star of the long-running, weekly Slack Key Show® on Maui, which features the best of Hawaiian slack key and other leading music artists, now in its second decade.

“…He’s an absolute genius on guitar, ukulele, steel guitar, autoharp … and he is still a humble giant…”—Keith Haugen, freelance writer, Honolulu

A master of the slack key guitar and National Heritage Fellow, Led Kaapana has been one of Hawaii’s most influential musicians for four decades. His mastery of stringed instruments, his exceptional picking style on slack key guitar and ‘ukulele, and his extraordinary baritone to leo ki`eki`e (falsetto) vocal range, have made him a musical legend and earned him multiple Na Hōkū Awards.

“Overcome with emotion, Lim became the first Hawaiian to speak Hawaiian at the Grammys, thanking them for honoring Hawaiian music.“. –Honolulu Magazine on the first Grammy-winning CD in the newly-minted Hawaiian music category

Slack Key Guitarist, Lap Steel Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Sonny Lim developed his guitar & vocal styles performing with his famous Lim Family of the Big Island, esteemed Hawaiian cultural practitioners and descendants of Hawai‘i Island royalty. He was also one of the early members of the renowned Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau — the legendary Iz was an early member — for whom he played lap steel guitar beginning at age 15; this launched his career as a professional musician. He performed on the first Grammy-winning CD in Hawaiian music, and has won multiple Na Hoku Awards on his solo CDs. Born and raised in the heart of paniolo (cowboy) country on the Big Island, he was originally inspired to play Slack Key by the legendary Gabby Pahinui and at age 12 was taught by his Uncle Fred Punahoa, also teacher to the renowned Led Kaapana. Sonny has since become a respected solo artist, group artist with leading Hawaiian performers, and a sought-after studio musician.