Posted on: Friday, August 15, 2008
Slack-key fest features veteran greats, newbies
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer
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Ledward Ka'apana will be among the performers at the festival.
Advertiser library photo
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Here's the ki ho'alu buzz, from Milton Lau, organizer of Sunday's Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, and presenter of such events not just on O'ahu but the Neighbor Islands:
The kid who might be the future of slack key: Timi Abrigo, 13, from Maui. "He can do solo guitar, has a mom and dad that support his music, is thinking of relocating to O'ahu and he's pretty talented," said Lau. "A prodigy of George Kahumoku and Ozzie Kotani, mostly. Reminds me a lot of when Makana was starting out as the 'Ki ho'alu Kid.' "
Super trouper: Speaking of Makana, a festival participant — he has been selected as a finalist in Guitar Player's Guitar Superstar Competition on Sept. 13 in San Francisco. "He's one of a top 10 and the only one from Hawai'i and the first ki ho'alu player competing with jazz and blues guitarists."
A newbie with a good strum: Kenneth Keawe. "He's a Native Hawaiian who has retired from the Navy, and still youngish — in his 40s."
Group therapeutics: "There are quite a few groups this year in the festival, and each one has a great strummer. Ho'okena. Holunape. Maunalua. Pali."
Distaff note: Besides visiting Agnes Kimura, Owana Salazar is the only other female participant this year. "Brittni Paiva, who has been a regular, just got married on the Big Island and has taken R&R time. ... A year off for her honeymoon," said Lau.
World watchers: With a live webcast (www.slackkeyfestival .com) for the fourth consecutive year, the strummers will reach a global audience, including U.S. troops in Iraq. "We get e-mail from all over the world, and the guys in Iraq love this technology," said Lau.
HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITAR FESTIVAL: KI HO'ALU 2008, O'AHU STYLE
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Kapi'olani Park Bandstand
Free
226-2697, www.slackkeyfestival.com
Featuring: Kaukahi, Ledward Ka'apana, Jeff Peterson, Pali, Agnes Kimura, Paul Togioka, Holunape, Pilioha, L.T. Smooth, Owana Salazar, Maunalua, Timi Abrigo, Don Kaulia, Makana, Mike Kaawa, Brother Noland, Stephen Inglis, George Kuo, Ozzie Kotani, Kenneth Keawe
Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.
