A master of slack key (ki ho'alu) guitar­the Hawai'ian finger style, in which the strings (keys) are lowered (slacked) to nonstandard tunings, producing a lingering sound and resonance­Cyril Pahinui combines his deep roots in Hawai'ian music with a unique, jazz-influenced rhythmic approach; his musical intelligence, great ear, and killer chops have made him one of Hawai`i's most respected and beloved performers. Cyril grew up in the 50s in the town of Waim¯analo on O'ahu's windward coast. His father, Gabby "Pops" Pahinui, was Hawai'i's leading slack key player, and Cyril began performing with his father's group at the age of 12, playing on all five of Gabby's albums, and continuing on his own with the groundbreaking Sandwich Isle Band and with his brothers, Bla and Martin. A winner of three Na Hoku Hanohano awards (Hawai'ian Grammies), Cyril's most recent album, 1999's Four Hands Sweet and Hot, is a groundbreaking slack key and steel guitar collaboration with Bob Brozman.
Berkeley-based guitar master Patrick Kahakauwila Kamaholelani Landeza showcases lilting songs as well as classics and originals in the slack key style. One of the few mainlanders accepted in the close-knit circle of top Hawai'ian guitarists, Patrick carries on the unique, traditional ki ho'alu fingerpicking style. Last year Patrick released his third album, Christmas to Me, a mixture of original and traditional holiday pieces, brimming with his nahenahe (sweet-sounding) vocals, distinctive guitar style, and aloha spirit.