Willie K
Willie K – that’s “K” for Kahaialii – is, in the words of the Honolulu Weekly, “an amazing guitar virtuoso, a Hawaiian Jimi Hendrix; he’s Gabby Pahinui, Andres Segovia, and Eddie Van Halen rolled into one. Willie can mimic seemingly any style, moving easily between screaming Stratocaster, sweet slack key, and jazzy, almost baroque, acoustic 12-string.” Besides being a guitar wizard, he also sings and writes gorgeous originals, from rocking blues to tender ballads in the traditional Hawaiian style. Since releasing his debut album in 1992, he has won more than a dozen, Na Hoku Hanohano awards, the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammy.
Willie grew up in a big family – the second of nine boys and four girls – and played just about every possible instrument in the family band. “My father was a great influence,” he says. “He groomed me to be where I am today. He was just as diverse as I am—the guy knew how to play everything: jazz, blues and Hawaiian.” Willie is a music lover who plays everything, including the occasional Italian aria. “You want to taste it, you want to try it and give it a shot and see what will happen,” he says.
Willie K
Willie K – that’s “K” for Kahaialii – is, in the words of the Honolulu Weekly, “an amazing guitar virtuoso, a Hawaiian Jimi Hendrix; he’s Gabby Pahinui, Andres Segovia, and Eddie Van Halen rolled into one. Willie can mimic seemingly any style, moving easily between screaming Stratocaster, sweet slack key, and jazzy, almost baroque, acoustic 12-string.” Besides being a guitar wizard, he also sings and writes gorgeous originals, from rocking blues to tender ballads in the traditional Hawaiian style. Since releasing his debut album in 1992, he has won more than a dozen, Na Hoku Hanohano awards, the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammy.
Willie grew up in a big family – the second of nine boys and four girls – and played just about every possible instrument in the family band. “My father was a great influence,” he says. “He groomed me to be where I am today. He was just as diverse as I am—the guy knew how to play everything: jazz, blues and Hawaiian.” Willie is a music lover who plays everything, including the occasional Italian aria. “You want to taste it, you want to try it and give it a shot and see what will happen,” he says.
show less
