Masters of Hawaiian Music

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. In December 2022,

he is being honored with a Na Hoku Lifetime Achievement Award. 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.

 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 collaborator with leading Hawaiian performers. A multiple Na Hoku Award

winner, he performed on several Grammy Award-winning Hawaiian CDs including

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. https://www.herbohtajr.com