Slacking Isn't Slacking: Barry Flanagan and "Paniola 'Ona Slack-Key"

Today's random tune is by Barry Flanagan, one half of the duo Hapa, and the song is called Paniolo 'Ona Slack-Key. Flanagan is a white guy from New Jersey who is currently working with Hawaii natives Kapono Nāʻiliʻili, Tarvin Edwin Lono Makia, and Radasha Ho`ohuli. he has been a consistent 30 year member of Hapa, starting out as a partner to Keli'i Ho'omalu Kaneali'i. Following Kaneali'i, Flanagan teamed with Nathan Aweau, who eventually left Hapa for a solo career. Flanagan then duoed with Hawaiian chanter Charles Ka'upu, who described Hapa's goal as helping revive the Polynesian language and to totally change the way the world perceives Hawaiian music. Unfortunately, Ka'upu died suddenly and unexpectedly in his early 50s in 2011. In its new incarnation Hapa continues to draw from jazz, folk, blues, bluegrass, Latin, flamenco, rock, Irish music and slam poetry as well as traditional Hawaiian music. Hapa's debut CD in 1995 became the biggest selling album ever by a Hawaiian group, and they have since released eight albums. Paniolo 'Ona Slack-Key can be found on Hapa's 2005 album Maui, and on Flanagan's solo album Instrumental Peace, released 2014. Slack-key refers to a style of Hawaiian guitar playing.

Listen to songs like this and more on the KUNM Global Music Show every Monday night from 10 pm - 1 am Mountain Standard Time. Live streaming, program information and the two-week digital archive can be found at http://www.kunm.org.