A master of the slack key guitar, Led Kaapana has been one of Hawaii's most influential musicians for four decades. His mastery of stringed instruments, his exceptional picking style on slack key guitar and ‘ukulele, and his extraordinary vocal range -- baritone to leo ki`eki`e (falsetto), have made him a musical legend. With easy-going style and kolohe (rascal) charm, he has built a loyal corps of “Led Heads” from Brussels to his birthplace on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. His newest CD features Led’s favorites on ‘ukulele.
In 2011, he was honored with an NEA National Heritage Fellowship for his artistic excellence and his contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage, and has been invited to perform at the Library of Congress in celebration of 35 years of these Fellowships. Recognition by his peers earned Led four Grammy nominations in his own right and three wins on slack key compilations. He has won multiple Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) awards, including Favorite Entertainer of the Year in 2009, and most recently in 2017, Best ‘Ukulele Album for Led’s all- ‘ukulele CD Jus’ Press vol. 2.
Led Kaapana grew up in a family of musicians in Kalapana, in the southernmost district of Hawaii Island. His teachers included his mother, Mama Tina Kaapana, from whom he learned to sing leo ki'eki'e (Hawaiian falsetto singing), and his uncle, Fred Punahoa. "We didn't have electricity, not television, not even much radio," says Kaapana. "So we entertained ourselves. You could go to any house and everybody was playing music."
Throughout his career, Led has dedicated himself to perpetuating the traditional style and repertoire of his home, beginning in his teens when Ledward, his twin brother Nedward, and cousin Dennis Pavao formed the musical group Hui ‘Ohana. The group produced 14 best- selling albums, made hundreds of live appearances, and became a key figure in the resurgence of traditional Hawaiian culture and music during the 1970s. Launching a solo career in 1983, Kaapana has
continued to garner acclaim for his improvisational melodies and falsetto vocals. His 1983 solo album Lima Wela received the prestigious Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) award as "Best Instrumental Album"; the honor was repeated in 2000 with his Black Sand CD; and again in 2015 for his all-autoharp solo release Jus’ Cruzin’.
Led also formed the trio I Kona, releasing six albums from 1978-1998, including Jus' Press, which received a Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano award. He toured with the National Council of Traditional Arts program, "Masters Of The Steel String Guitar", from 1990 to 1992. Kaapana earned Grammy nominations in 2006, 2007, and 2009, and was featured on three of George Kahumoku’s four Grammy-winning compilations from the renowned Slack Key Show on Maui. In 2008, Kaapana formed his own recording company, Jus' Press Productions, and released Force of Nature with 12-string virtuoso Mike Kaawa, earning a Grammy nomination and Favorite Entertainer Awards at the 2009 Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano Awards.
Kaapana has worked with Nashville musicians Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins (whom he cites as an early influence) and collaborated with Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, and other bluegrass musicians for Waltz of the Wind. In addition, Kaapana has recorded with numerous renowned Hawai‘i musicians, including NEA National Heritage Fellows Aunty Genoa Keawe, the Ho'opi'i Brothers, and Barney Isaacs.
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In 2011, he was honored with an NEA National Heritage Fellowship for his artistic excellence and his contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage, and has been invited to perform at the Library of Congress in celebration of 35 years of these Fellowships. Recognition by his peers earned Led four Grammy nominations in his own right and three wins on slack key compilations. He has won multiple Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) awards, including Favorite Entertainer of the Year in 2009, and most recently in 2017, Best ‘Ukulele Album for Led’s all- ‘ukulele CD Jus’ Press vol. 2.
Led Kaapana grew up in a family of musicians in Kalapana, in the southernmost district of Hawaii Island. His teachers included his mother, Mama Tina Kaapana, from whom he learned to sing leo ki'eki'e (Hawaiian falsetto singing), and his uncle, Fred Punahoa. "We didn't have electricity, not television, not even much radio," says Kaapana. "So we entertained ourselves. You could go to any house and everybody was playing music."
Throughout his career, Led has dedicated himself to perpetuating the traditional style and repertoire of his home, beginning in his teens when Ledward, his twin brother Nedward, and cousin Dennis Pavao formed the musical group Hui ‘Ohana. The group produced 14 best- selling albums, made hundreds of live appearances, and became a key figure in the resurgence of traditional Hawaiian culture and music during the 1970s. Launching a solo career in 1983, Kaapana has
continued to garner acclaim for his improvisational melodies and falsetto vocals. His 1983 solo album Lima Wela received the prestigious Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) award as "Best Instrumental Album"; the honor was repeated in 2000 with his Black Sand CD; and again in 2015 for his all-autoharp solo release Jus’ Cruzin’.
Led also formed the trio I Kona, releasing six albums from 1978-1998, including Jus' Press, which received a Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano award. He toured with the National Council of Traditional Arts program, "Masters Of The Steel String Guitar", from 1990 to 1992. Kaapana earned Grammy nominations in 2006, 2007, and 2009, and was featured on three of George Kahumoku’s four Grammy-winning compilations from the renowned Slack Key Show on Maui. In 2008, Kaapana formed his own recording company, Jus' Press Productions, and released Force of Nature with 12-string virtuoso Mike Kaawa, earning a Grammy nomination and Favorite Entertainer Awards at the 2009 Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano Awards.
Kaapana has worked with Nashville musicians Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins (whom he cites as an early influence) and collaborated with Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, and other bluegrass musicians for Waltz of the Wind. In addition, Kaapana has recorded with numerous renowned Hawai‘i musicians, including NEA National Heritage Fellows Aunty Genoa Keawe, the Ho'opi'i Brothers, and Barney Isaacs.
A master of the slack key guitar, Led Kaapana has been one of Hawaii's most influential musicians for four decades. His mastery of stringed instruments, his exceptional picking style on slack key guitar and ‘ukulele, and his extraordinary vocal range -- baritone to leo ki`eki`e (falsetto), have made him a musical legend. With easy-going style and kolohe (rascal) charm, he has built a loyal corps of “Led Heads” from Brussels to his birthplace on the Big Island of Hawai‘i. His newest CD features Led’s favorites on ‘ukulele.
In 2011, he was honored with an NEA National Heritage Fellowship for his artistic excellence and his contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage, and has been invited to perform at the Library of Congress in celebration of 35 years of these Fellowships. Recognition by his peers earned Led four Grammy nominations in his own right and three wins on slack key compilations. He has won multiple Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) awards, including Favorite Entertainer of the Year in 2009, and most recently in 2017, Best ‘Ukulele Album for Led’s all- ‘ukulele CD Jus’ Press vol. 2.
Led Kaapana grew up in a family of musicians in Kalapana, in the southernmost district of Hawaii Island. His teachers included his mother, Mama Tina Kaapana, from whom he learned to sing leo ki'eki'e (Hawaiian falsetto singing), and his uncle, Fred Punahoa. "We didn't have electricity, not television, not even much radio," says Kaapana. "So we entertained ourselves. You could go to any house and everybody was playing music."
Throughout his career, Led has dedicated himself to perpetuating the traditional style and repertoire of his home, beginning in his teens when Ledward, his twin brother Nedward, and cousin Dennis Pavao formed the musical group Hui ‘Ohana. The group produced 14 best- selling albums, made hundreds of live appearances, and became a key figure in the resurgence of traditional Hawaiian culture and music during the 1970s. Launching a solo career in 1983, Kaapana has
continued to garner acclaim for his improvisational melodies and falsetto vocals. His 1983 solo album Lima Wela received the prestigious Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) award as "Best Instrumental Album"; the honor was repeated in 2000 with his Black Sand CD; and again in 2015 for his all-autoharp solo release Jus’ Cruzin’.
Led also formed the trio I Kona, releasing six albums from 1978-1998, including Jus' Press, which received a Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano award. He toured with the National Council of Traditional Arts program, "Masters Of The Steel String Guitar", from 1990 to 1992. Kaapana earned Grammy nominations in 2006, 2007, and 2009, and was featured on three of George Kahumoku’s four Grammy-winning compilations from the renowned Slack Key Show on Maui. In 2008, Kaapana formed his own recording company, Jus' Press Productions, and released Force of Nature with 12-string virtuoso Mike Kaawa, earning a Grammy nomination and Favorite Entertainer Awards at the 2009 Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano Awards.
Kaapana has worked with Nashville musicians Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins (whom he cites as an early influence) and collaborated with Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, and other bluegrass musicians for Waltz of the Wind. In addition, Kaapana has recorded with numerous renowned Hawai‘i musicians, including NEA National Heritage Fellows Aunty Genoa Keawe, the Ho'opi'i Brothers, and Barney Isaacs.
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In 2011, he was honored with an NEA National Heritage Fellowship for his artistic excellence and his contributions to our nation's traditional arts heritage, and has been invited to perform at the Library of Congress in celebration of 35 years of these Fellowships. Recognition by his peers earned Led four Grammy nominations in his own right and three wins on slack key compilations. He has won multiple Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) awards, including Favorite Entertainer of the Year in 2009, and most recently in 2017, Best ‘Ukulele Album for Led’s all- ‘ukulele CD Jus’ Press vol. 2.
Led Kaapana grew up in a family of musicians in Kalapana, in the southernmost district of Hawaii Island. His teachers included his mother, Mama Tina Kaapana, from whom he learned to sing leo ki'eki'e (Hawaiian falsetto singing), and his uncle, Fred Punahoa. "We didn't have electricity, not television, not even much radio," says Kaapana. "So we entertained ourselves. You could go to any house and everybody was playing music."
Throughout his career, Led has dedicated himself to perpetuating the traditional style and repertoire of his home, beginning in his teens when Ledward, his twin brother Nedward, and cousin Dennis Pavao formed the musical group Hui ‘Ohana. The group produced 14 best- selling albums, made hundreds of live appearances, and became a key figure in the resurgence of traditional Hawaiian culture and music during the 1970s. Launching a solo career in 1983, Kaapana has
continued to garner acclaim for his improvisational melodies and falsetto vocals. His 1983 solo album Lima Wela received the prestigious Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”) award as "Best Instrumental Album"; the honor was repeated in 2000 with his Black Sand CD; and again in 2015 for his all-autoharp solo release Jus’ Cruzin’.
Led also formed the trio I Kona, releasing six albums from 1978-1998, including Jus' Press, which received a Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano award. He toured with the National Council of Traditional Arts program, "Masters Of The Steel String Guitar", from 1990 to 1992. Kaapana earned Grammy nominations in 2006, 2007, and 2009, and was featured on three of George Kahumoku’s four Grammy-winning compilations from the renowned Slack Key Show on Maui. In 2008, Kaapana formed his own recording company, Jus' Press Productions, and released Force of Nature with 12-string virtuoso Mike Kaawa, earning a Grammy nomination and Favorite Entertainer Awards at the 2009 Na? Ho?ku? Hanohano Awards.
Kaapana has worked with Nashville musicians Dolly Parton and Chet Atkins (whom he cites as an early influence) and collaborated with Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, and other bluegrass musicians for Waltz of the Wind. In addition, Kaapana has recorded with numerous renowned Hawai‘i musicians, including NEA National Heritage Fellows Aunty Genoa Keawe, the Ho'opi'i Brothers, and Barney Isaacs.
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