George Kahumoku Jr.

• Folk
• Trad

GEORGE KAHUMOKU JR. lives on Maui with his wife, Nancy, maintaining their 3-acre farm, growing fruit and vegetables, dry-land taro (for his famous home-made poi) and tending goats, chickens, ducks, and miniature horses. With over 25 solo, collaboration, and compilation CDs to his name, George celebrates over 15 years of his famed weekly Slack Key Show on Maui, which produced 4 Grammy-winning CDs. He founded the Hawaiian Music Institute at University of Hawai‘i-Maui College to preserve the legacy of Hawaiian music and to prepare the next generation for careers in music. A renowned storyteller, George collaborated on the book A Hawaiian Life with long-time friend Paul Konwiser to capture his hilarious, entertaining on-stage stories. This project led to his film biography Seeds of Aloha. For the last 15 years, George Kahumoku Jr.’s Annual Maui Slack Key Guitar and ‘Ukulele Workshop creates one of the great musical learning experiences in the Islands today, and embodies George’s belief in sharing, celebrating, and perpetuating the unique music and culture that is Hawai‘i.

Herb Ohta Jr

HERB OHTA JR. As a master ‘ukulele performer, composer, recording artist, and teacher, Herb Ohta Jr. has solidly established himself in the company of musicians who promote Hawaiian ‘ukulele in the international music landscape today. It is Herb’s goal to share the beauty of Hawai’i’s music, its culture, and the ‘ukulele to people all over the world. Son of the legendary ukulele artist Ohta-san, his first formal teacher, Herb learned his first ‘ukulele song at age three from his grandmother, recognizing his natural talent. Now a multiple award-winner, with 7 Na Hoku Awards (including Best ‘Ukulele in 2021) and 4 Hawai‘i Music Awards, he creates unique arrangements of new and familiar tunes and makes each song breathtakingly fresh and definitely his own. While he enjoys all types of music, Herb’s favorite songs to perform are ballads and all types of Hawaiian songs because they enhance the natural sound of the instrument. Herb’s style is distinct and recognizable as his own with a graceful “nahenahe” quality (gentle, melodious, emotionally evocative) that is very Hawaiian, reflecting the inspirations of ukulele greats that came before him.

Sonny Lim

SONNY LIM Slack Key Guitarist, Lap Steel Guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer. A member of Hawaii’s musical Lim Family, esteemed Hawaiian cultural practitioners and descendants of Hawai‘i Island royalty, Sonny was 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. At age 12 his Uncle Fred Punahoa, also teacher to renowned Led Kaapana, recognized Sonny’s talent and began instructing him. His professional career was launched as steel guitarist for the renowned Makaha Sons of Ni’ihau with the famous Iz as a leading member. Sonny has since become a respected solo artist, studio musician, and collabortor with leading Hawaiian performers. A multiple Na Hoku Award winner, he performed on several Grammy Award winning Hawaiian CDs including Slack Key Guitar Vol. 2 (Palm Records) and Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Vol 2 (DHC).