With his powerful voice, dazzling guitar technique, and incredibly eclectic string of hit songs, Willie K Kahaiali'i has become a legend in contemporary Hawaiian music for his seemingly limitless versatility. While he is equally at home in jazz, reggae, rock (he is known as the Hawaiian Jimi Hendrix) and contemporary Hawaiian styles, tonight's performance will showcase a different side of this charismatic virtuoso, hearkening back to the sweet traditional music that he learned from his father, respected slack key guitarist Manu Kahaiali'i. Raised on Lahaina, Maui, Willie began performing with his father's band at the age of ten. His eclectic talent soon made itself known, however, and by the time Willie graduated high school he was playing in eight different bands, from salsa to r&b to swing jazz. Starting in 1990 with Kahaiali'i, Willie has recorded a string of hit albums that have gained him recognition as an innovator in contemporary Hawaiian music, as well as winning him numerous Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaiian Grammys). Willie's two latest albums, released last year on the Maui Tribe label, reflect his ever-broad interests: they are Awihilima - Reflections, a collection of traditional Hawaiian songs, and Kahaiali'i II, featuring contemporary Hawaiian and reggae music.