November 16–23, 1995

critic pick|roots

Hawaiian Music and Dance Festival

At International House this Friday, three of the finest Hawaiian slack key guitarists will participate in a grand event titled Aloha! The Hawaiian Music and Dance Festival. The patriarch of the players, spiritually, is 70-year-old Raymond Kane. Say that KAH-neh, which you might already know if you are a fan of local filmmaker Robert Mugge's work. Kane was so large a part of HawaiianRainbow that his portion of the soundtrack was used to make an entire LP.

If you saw the film, or maybe got to the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife the year that Hawaii was the focus, you'll recall Kane as a jovial gent, full of good fun and high spirits. From a recent phone conversation, it's obvious that none of that has changed.

In the movie, Kane offered the easiest explanation of the slack key guitar's name and evolution. In the 1800s, the cowboys came to Hawaii with guitars. The Hawaiians liked them, but also liked the challenge of different tunings.

Kane explained that everybody starts off with the Taro Patch tuning: DGDGBD. He says he always returns to that one, since it is the "master tuning."

"I play the old-fashioned style," says Kane. "Today they jazz it up, throw in chords the Hawaiians never heard of."

He says that's very interesting, but it lacks the sweetness and depth of the old Taro Patch tuning, which he terms, "Hawaiian soul."

It doesn't surprise Kane that folks around the globe have taken an interest in what was once strictly homemade entertainment. He explains, "It relaxes me. All day long you fight like cats and dogs [at your job]. You go home, start playing the guitar, the next thing you know you fall asleep! It makes you feel good, throws off the stress."

Some of the next generation of slack key players are Dancing Cat Records label mates, Keola Beamer and George Kahumoku, Jr. They will add diversity to the offerings at International House. And throughout the evening the Ku'u Lei Aloha Hula Dancers will offer traditional Hawaiian dance.

Aloha! Hawaiian Music and Dance Festival at International House, 3701 Chestnut St., Nov. 17, 8 p.m. Info: 895-6537.

— Mary Armstrong