Nahenahe: Ray Kāne and "Wai O Ke Aniani"

Ray Kāne, the legendary Hawaiian slack key guitarist, performs the random tune for today entitled Wai O Ke Aniani. Kāne's middle name, Kaleoalohapoina'oleohelemanu, loosely translates as "the voice of love that comes and goes like a bird and will never be forgotten." His deceptively simple guitar style, coupled with unique ways of brushing, plucking, hammering on and pulling off the strings resulted in his "nahenahe" or sweet sounding music that he always felt should be played or sung from the heart. He was one of the first slack key masters to play public concerts and tour widely, and made his first recordings in 1961. In 1987, Kāne was honored as a national living treasure by the National Endowment of the Arts. Ray Kāne died in 2008, but his music lives on. Wai O Ke Aniani is from his 1998 CD Wa'ahila.