Slack key guitar music, indigenous to Hawai’i, has been around longer than the blues, and Makana is considered the greatest living player. – Esquire Magazine

Born and raised in Hawai’i, Makana is an internationally acclaimed Slack Key guitarist, singer, composer, philosopher, activist and one of Hawaii’s cultural ambassadors to the world. He is considered the youngest authority on his art form and recognized as one of the top guitarists in the US (Guitar Player Magazine 2008). The NY Times calls him “A dynamic force within the style” of slack key and National Geographic Society says Makana is “Charting a new sonic frontier with deep ties to tradition”.

His songs range from traditional to highly original, both instrumental and lyrical, exploring a broad spectrum of themes: cultural, philosophical, sociopolitical, economic, inter-personal, sensual, and universal, often through the lens of humor and a piercing wit. He has performed in venues worldwide ranging from Tianjin Opera House in China to The White House, toured nationwide with Jason Mraz, opened for Sting, Santana & Elvis Costello, and released 6 records to date.

Makana’s song Deep in an Ancient Hawaiian Forest is featured in the Academy Award winning movie, The Descendants, starring George Clooney, and his songs Flood and Will I Ever See You Again? appear in the DVD extras.

Makana’s protest song, We Are The Many, has over 300,000 views and has garnered press from many of the major media outlets. He performed the song at an APEC Summit gala, which was attended President Obama and a slew of world leaders.

Read Full Bio

Makana’s song Deep in an Ancient Hawaiian Forest is featured in the Academy Award winning movie, The Descendants, starring George Clooney, and his songs Flood and Will I Ever See You Again?, appear in the DVD extras.

5 comments
  Livefyre
Newest | Oldest
Michael Saiz
Michael Saiz

Awesome Nomi, I wuz wondering who the smart - lucky one was who went for the guitar. :)

MAKANA Music
MAKANA Music

Wow Naomi I was wondering who pledged for my guitar! MAHALO :) What tuning shall I prep it in for you? Slack key or standard? :)

Naomi Durkin
Naomi Durkin

I am SOOOOO excited! I'd been playing my old Yamaha Classical guitar again lately -- after not picking it up for a good while -- and had decided to take finger-style lessons from a friend come Spring. I'd also decided I needed a much better guitar. Wanting to be part of the making of Makana's new album, and looking at his Kickstarter campaign, I saw some of the "rewards" (amazing ones!) he was offering the contributors. Once I saw that one of them was actually ONE OF HIS GUITARS ... one he's played for over ten years ... I couldn't contain the joy! So . . . you guessed it. Come May, I will be the owner of one of Makana's very own guitars. I am as thrilled as I can be. Not only because of the gem I'll get to make music with and sing to, but because I'm now part of a community effort to support a musician whose beautiful music is only matched by his beautiful heart. Thanks, Makana, for the generous "rewards" at Kickstarter and for making this a "family affair" ... so to speak. I feel thrilled, yeah ... but I also feel privileged that I'll get to play a musical instrument you've played that has given thousands and thousands of people so much joy to hear! . . . Now, if only I were 1/100th of the player! tee, hee. Why not check out Makana's Kickstarter page and see if there are any reward goodies YOU would love to have, and be a part of something really beautiful!

David Godsey
David Godsey

Looking forward to having you back here at Open Space on Vashon, Makana! It will be an epic Valentine's show!!!! See you soon!

Julie Tooke
Julie Tooke

Please come to PHOENIX or TUCSON ...

Press & News

DAILY MIND MINT

True Healing

When you truly heal your emotional Being and you no longer harbor resentment or pain, you will notice how disinterested you become to any form of gossip, personal negativity, or ill thoughts directed at you or others; you will feel a peace that is not shaken by the physical world nor the seemingly urgent demands it attempts to place upon you; you will perceive with a clarity that simply reveals, without projecting an emotional imprint; and perhaps most revelatory, you will realize that suffering is truly a choice and a state of mind, and it is, in contrast to all that society will try to make you believe, not the result of any actions by others nor of preexisting conditions beyond one’s control, but rather the result of perceiving Life as flawed in its expression. 

Suffering is rooted in the belief that Life, or another, or oneself, should somehow be different than it is. As long as you see yourself as a victim, your loved ones as victims, even the Earth as a victim, you create dissonance between Life and your view of Life. You may choose to assist others, you may express your compassion through action, but it does not have to come from the need to end suffering; rather you can choose to be motivated by pure joy, inspired by potentiality, and fueled by limitless creativity. 

There is Life, and then there is your belief about Life. If you want to be free of suffering, let go of the latter and embrace the former. It awaits you like a ripe fruit hanging from a tree!