In the slack-key of love: Hawaiian guitarist Makana
March 1, 2019 / Molly Boyle / Pasatiempo
Two years ago, Hawaiian musician Makana was reunited with the guitar he thought was gone forever. Named Morning Star, the guitar was stolen from Makana’s Kaimuki home in 2005. For more than a decade, one of Hawaii’s most internationally acclaimed slack-key guitarists played on, opening for Sting, Elvis Costello, and Carlos Santana without his self-described “best friend.” It had been given to the child prodigy at age eleven by his late mentor Sonny Chillingworth.
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from hawaii with love
February 14, 2019 / The Union
The focus of Makana’s art has always been to celebrate the beauty of tradition while exploring new, relevant perceptions, sounds and themes. In his music he often honors his forebears, the vintage Hawaiian music legends as well as the rock poet idols of the 60s, paying homage to the kupuna (elders) who carry within their beings the cultural wisdom passed down through generations.
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Nuclear Wakeup Call
January 13, 2019 / Cynthia Lazaroff / Nuclear Wakeup Call Earth
Makana toured Russia for two weeks as a goodwill ambassador to share the Aloha spirit of Hawaii and the gift and healing power of his music. He gave concerts, taught Slack-Key guitar in music academies, played for school kids, jammed in popular clubs and more.
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The student became the legend
October 11, 2017 / Sean Jordan / The Union
Coming from the islands of Hawaii, Makana is an internationally known slack key guitarist, singer, and one of Hawaii’s cultural ambassadors to the world. Recognized as one of the top guitarists in the U.S. by Guitar Player magazine, Makana’s songs range from his traditional Hawaiian roots to original tracks that cover many themes.
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ACOUSTIC ALOHA
November 2015 / Jimmy Leslie / Guitar Player
Makana came to GP’s attention when he narrowly missed snagging top honors at GP’s 2008 Guitar Superstar competition. He stood out from the electric shredders naturally, and his acoustic playing came from a place of soulful tradition. Notable slack key master Sonny Chillingworth taught Makana hand to hand, and Makana has made it his mission to spread the style far from its exotic origin.
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Tone Audio Interview
January 2015 / Jeff Dorgay / TONEAudio Magazine
I see everything as serendipity: everything is echoing- it’s up to us to recognize. Life is a grand feedback loop. It requires being in tune with one’s “na’au”, as Hawaiians call it- the gut, the intuition. It is so incredibly powerful, and I allow that force to guide my art and life.
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Makana’s String Theory
Spring/Summer 2014 / Jocelyn Fujii / Wailea Magazine
When the slack-key artist Makana says, “I’m here to create a revolution,” I believe him. Those who have watched him command the stage since he was a teenager believe him, too, and those who have heard him at environmental rallies and fundraisers also nod knowingly.
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Life, Love and his Latest Album
November 17, 2013 / Vanessa Wolf / Maui Now
Referred to as “one of the greatest living slack key guitar players” by Esquire magazine, Makana will celebrate the release of his new album this Saturday, Nov. 23 at Gannon’s Restaurant in Wailea. The concert celebrates the release of Makana’s 6th album, Ripe, which was entirely funded by fans.
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interview with makana
October 2013 / Jon Berrien / Groundsounds
Aloha! Born and raised on the Hawaiian island O’ahu, composer, singer, and slack key guitar master Makana, has been creating waves of inspiration with his music and activism. GroundSounds recently caught up with the pioneer of the slack rock guitar in the exclusive interview below, check it out.
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TedxMaui Makana
June 12, 2013 / TedxTalks
Born and raised in Hawai'i, Makana is an acclaimed master of Hawaiian slack-key guitar, a singer, composer, and cultural ambassador. He has performed in venues from Tianjin Opera House in China, to the White House, and was featured on multiple Grammy®-nominated albums.
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Occupy With Aloha
November 14, 2011 / CNN / Amy Goodman
At the dinner, Makana opened his jacket to reveal a t-shirt which read, “Occupy with Aloha.” Then, instead of performing the background instrumental he was scheduled to play, he started to sing a protest song he had released earlier that day.
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The One You Must Not Miss
Fall/Winter 2010 / Rebecca Pike / Where Oahu
True story: at the valet after seeing Return to Waikiki, a fellow guest said, “Makana is the best guitar player I’ve ever seen live, including Eric Clapton.” —Rebecca Pike
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Makana Shares Aloha with his Slack Key Music
June 15, 2009 / James H. Collins / The Associated Press
Without aloha, the style of Hawaiian slack key guitar playing or “ki ho’alu” is merely a collection of techniques. The 31-year-old musician from Honolulu explained during a recent interview that slack key’s “voicings make it cultural, and the approach makes it universal.”
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Faces To Watch
June 23, 2007 / Craig Rosen / Billboard
He has toured with Santana and Sting, and Metallica’s Kirk Hammett has name-dropped him alongside Andres Segovia. Makana’s 1999 self-titled debut album was named best world music album at the Hawai’i Music Awards and best CD by the readers of the Honolulu Weekly.
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The People
March 2003 / Esquire Magazine
Born and raised on Oahu, Henry Kapono (left, whose last name means “righteous”) has played alongside musicians like Dizzy Gillespie. Slack-key guitar music, indigenous to Hawaii, has been around longer than the blues, and Makana, right, is considered the greatest living player.
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