The Big Island Beat Podcast: Talking Story With Makana

Show Notes: Widely praised for his mastery of the Hawaiian slack-key guitar, Oahu singer/songwriter Makana built a reputation around the turn of the millennium for his dynamic playing style that infuses indigenous guitar styles with rock, blues, and world music. Following his award-winning 1999 debut, he delivered a string of solo albums that mixed traditional slack-key instrumentals with original songs, later gaining wider notice for his contributions to the Grammy-nominated collections Hawaiian Slack Key Kings I & II as well as the soundtrack to the film The Descendants. Makana also has the distinction of being the last artist to perform at the Kahilu Theatre before the pandemic shut things down. Fans of the podcast will be treated to two originals songs by Makana, “Aloha-Ka Manini,” and “Stressed.” Connect with Makana via his website.