🌿🎸 Ray Kāne — “That’s Slack Key Guitar” with Aunty Diana Aki — “Honaunau Paka” A true Kona pairing: kūpuna slack key and a beloved voice from Kaʻū. In this clip, Ray Kāne holds down the kī hōʻalu chair with his gentle, nahenahe touch while Aunty Diana Aki steps forward to sing “Hōnaunau Paka.” His guitar moves in that unhurried, rolling way he was famous for; her vocal rides on top, full of warmth and the storytelling style that made her “the Songbird of Kaʻū.” It feels more like you’ve been i

The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar of Ledward Kaapana — Sample Lesson Ledward Kaapana is widely acknowledged as one of the most exciting and accomplished masters of kī hōʻalu (slack key guitar). In this special sample lesson, Led invites you into his world of open tunings and improvisational mastery. Playing in his signature style, Ledward’s technique combines two-finger picking and alternating bass—reminiscent of great blues and country players, but infused with the distinct licks and harmonies of t

🏔️🤙For our Slack Key Guitar community, here is an exclusive early look at “Koʻolau ʻUʻi” by Dennis Kamakahi, taken from the upcoming album Slack Key Heaven. We are sharing it two weeks early just for you. 🌺Here is Dennis in close focus with a love song to the windward side of Oʻahu. “Koʻolau ʻUʻi” means beautiful Koʻolau. The lyric lives in mist and trade winds, rain lifting off the cliffs, and that pull to return to the ridge. Dennis sings it with a steady heartbeat bass and an unhurried lin

Ray Kane — Slack Key Guitar Lesson Medley On this Christmas Eve, we are treating you to a masterclass from the late, great Ray Kane. This video features excerpts from his instructional DVD, "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Learn to Play." Uncle Ray was not just a performer; he was a generous teacher who ensured the kī hōʻalu tradition would live on. Watching his hands here is a gift in itself—his style was famously "nahenahe" (sweet/gentle), relying on feeling and spacing rather than just speed. In

Learn Slack Key Guitar from Makana at www.Patreon.com/MakanaMusic "Blue Water Dolphin Song" composed by Keola Beamer is one of my all-time favorite slack key songs. Make that one of my all-time favorite songs, period. When I first heard it years ago, I let it play on repeat for a week! Keola recorded it on multiple guitars and his version is enchanting. Here I have arranged it for a single slack key guitar. Aloha! Makana | Makana Music