Biography
Hui 'Ohana, translating as "group of the family," ranks among Hawaii's foremost ensembles and unites twin brothers Ledward and Nedward Kaapana, both born in 1950, with their Portuguese-Hawaiian cousin Dennis Pavao, born in 1952. The trio carries its falsetto harmonies atop melodic slack-key guitar picking, moving the music from the rural village of Kalapana across the international stage for twenty-five years.
None of the three musicians obtained formal instruction, yet each absorbed techniques passed down by relatives and refined them through self-directed practice. Their first release, Young Hawai'i Plays Old Hawai'i, appeared in 1973 and displayed a firm grasp of the island state's musical heritage. The group's third album, Ke Kolu, issued in 1974, featured the Kaapanas' mother Regina and sister Tina, while six of its ten tracks originated with their father George.
Hawaiian Style Guitars, recorded in 1988 alongside guitarist Jerry Byrd, stands as another collaborative effort. Beyond the Hui 'Ohana catalog, Led Kaapana and Dennis Pavao have each issued multiple solo albums.
None of the three musicians obtained formal instruction, yet each absorbed techniques passed down by relatives and refined them through self-directed practice. Their first release, Young Hawai'i Plays Old Hawai'i, appeared in 1973 and displayed a firm grasp of the island state's musical heritage. The group's third album, Ke Kolu, issued in 1974, featured the Kaapanas' mother Regina and sister Tina, while six of its ten tracks originated with their father George.
Hawaiian Style Guitars, recorded in 1988 alongside guitarist Jerry Byrd, stands as another collaborative effort. Beyond the Hui 'Ohana catalog, Led Kaapana and Dennis Pavao have each issued multiple solo albums.
Albums