Flanked by the steep Koʻolau mountains and the blue serenity of the Pacific waters, the humble town of Waimānalo has long been a gathering place for the best of Hawaiian music. It was here that Gabby “Pops” Pahinui held his famous backyard jam sessions. Despite no formal musical training, this virtuoso seamlessly blended a multitude of genres with Hawaiian melodies to develop a distinctive style that persists today.
A generation of aspiring and acclaimed musicians flocked to the humble town of Waimānalo to sit, listen, and learn from the master of kī hōʻalu (slack key). The impromptu and informal gatherings was a creative outlet far from the demands of the Waikīkī showroom stages. It was in this intimate, low key setting that some of the most well known musicians and songs emerged.
Let’s Play Music! Slack Key with Cyril Pahinui & Friends celebrates the music and legacy of Gabby “Pops” Pahinui who spread the unique melodies and rhythms of Hawaiian music across the globe. Through his mastery of ‘ukulele, kī hōʻalu (slack key), or guitar, this virtuoso continues to influence generations of musicians who fondly reminisce of many impromptu backyard jam sessions at the Pahinui home.
