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 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).
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