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From George Kahumoku Jr., to Maui Advertising Company from his IPhone on January 30th… Yesterday was a full day of events. We had a special morning presentation with Leutzinger high school from the LA area at the Grammy Museum on Figuora St in downtown LA. Dean Pitchford, a 1968 St Louis HS grad shared a DVD video presentation that included songs he wrote the lyrics to, such as Footloose, Bambi, Lady & the Tramp & many many others. Then I came on with Daniel Ho and did my original song called Ho’okupu about Pele & Kamapua'a from our Grammy nominated CD Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol 2, and we had the whole roomful of high schoolers singing and grunting & making pig noises. We then did Aunty Edith Kanakaole's Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai (the Seaweed Limu) song which was danced by 19 year old Puanani Edgar, one of my hanai nieces from Ventura CA. Then Daniel Ho & I did a version of my mosquito song that brought the house down! Next up were Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho with Amy Stillwell, and they did 3 songs from their Grammy Nominated Album, He Nani! The event ended with everyone joining hands & singing Hawaii Aloha.We then broke for lunch, waited in line with Beyonce's personal assistant for our Grammy tickets & then Paul Konwiser, Sandy Wales, and I had lunch at the Farm of Beverly Hills with Javier Cano who was the CEO heading the Grammy LA District's newest Ritz-Carlton skyscraper building project. Mr. Cano was the GM @ the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua where the Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series started over 7 years ago! The evening event at the Grammy Museum featured all Four Hawaiian category Grammy nominees, myself, George Kahumoku, Jr & Daniel Ho, and Jeff Peterson performed from our Grammy Nominated Masters of Hawaiian Slack key Guitar Vol 2. Then Daniel Ho & Tia Carrere showcased their CD, He Nani. Manu Boyd and Glen Smith from Ho'okena performed as a Duet, and Amy Gilliom finished the night off with her brother Eric, & John Cruz, taking turns singing duets backed by her guitarists Chino Madera and Jeff Peterson. – George Kahumoku Jr

The slack key concert series is recognized nationwide as the home of slack key music in Hawaii. George Winston, world-renowned pop instrumental pianist and owner/producer of Dancing Cat Records, noted that the weekly concert series is the only venue in the world dedicated to slack key guitar. The popular concert series was founded in 2003 by Paul Konwiser, Wayne Wong and George Kahumoku, Jr. They developed the successful show concept of traditional Hawaiian music combined with personal stories to provide an expanded view of Hawaii’s culture and musical heritage in a dignified concert setting. George Kahumoku is the musical host of every show which features a different guest artist every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on the island of Maui.

AD What influenced you to start playing guitar?
GK I grew up in a musical family of fishermen and farmers with 26 cousins living in the same household. From my great grandfather Willy Kahumoku's dad, George Kalua Mahikoa Kaleohano Kuluwaimaka Kahumoku to my son Keoki, we have 9 generations of Hawaiian Slack key guitarists.
AD Did you ever take lessons?
GK None. I only learned from my immediate family members, mostly from my Dad George Sr and my elder cousin Michael Naihe.
AD What were your early influences?
GK I also played what I heard on the radio, The Ventures, The 4 Amigos, rock & roll , but I played it all in Slack key.
AD What are your current influences?
GK Nature and life around me influences my newest compositions. I also love the Okinawan Folk songs and wish to write such songs about food and eating.
AD Which is your favorite guitar you've ever played?
GK The 12 String Takamines from the 1970's were the best for playability and the thumping SK stand up bass sound of their telopathic pickups. Now Takamine has been taken over by Ovation which has a good rythmn or strumming sound, but not good for picking. I love my 12 Rainsong for volume and playability unplugged. I compose most of my songs on the Rainsong, it's the smoothest to play, however even with the Baggs pickup I can't get that thumping stand up bass sound like my old Takamines. I love the A.Davis jumbo because whether I'm plugged in or not, the bass just vibrates right through my heart It's my best show and on the road guitar with the best and most accurate sound.
AD What's next [projects, tours, R&R, back to school]?
GK I plan to keep teaching in the public school system at Lahainaluna High School 'til they kick me out. I love teaching at Maui Community College. I'd like to help teach more people to plant more gardens so they can feed themselves. I have at least 60 songs in the can that I've recorded with Norton Buffalo and I'm trying to get them released. I have 3 books I'm working on, at least 3 other solo guitar projects and three duets with Daniel Ho, my son Keoki and uncle Richard Hoopii.
When I'm touring, I always do a working R&R where I play music and get to visit family and friends along the way. With our horses, goats, cattle , chickens, ducks and other farm animals, it's hard to stay away from our home in Kahakuloa too long. We also need to make time to harvest our papayas, bananas, eggplant, okra, taro, wing beans and herbal mamaki, mint ,waipine & hawiwi teas. Music can be tough when you are a farmer. I do lots of trades and get a helping hand from my students and friends & family. I wish I had 5 GK Clones to keep up with my mind.