Cover Photo: Marsha Forsythe
Led Kaapana
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“…friendly, generous, self-effacing, a little kolohe (rascally) and a flat out genius at just about any stringed instrument that can be finger-picked.” — The Honolulu Advertiser “…He’s an absolute genius on guitar, ukulele, steel guitar, autoharp … and he is still a humble giant…” Led Kaapana’s mastery of stringed instruments, particularly slack key guitar, and his extraordinary baritone and leo ki`eki`e (falsetto) voices, have made him a musical legend. He has been thrilling audiences for more than 40 years. With easy-going style and kolohe (rascal) charm, he has built a loyal corps of Led Heads from Brussels to his birthplace on the Big Island of Hawaii. Recognition by his peers earned Led 4 Grammy nominations in his own right and 2 wins on slack key compilations. Like so many Hawaiians, Led grew up in a musical family. In the tiny black sand bay village of Kalapana, there were few distractions. “We didn’t have electricity, no television, not even much radio,” says Led. “So we entertained ourselves. You could go to any house and everybody was playing music.” Often everybody was playing music at a backyard party, many of which lasted for days. “People played in shifts, taking over when somebody went to sleep,” Led recalls. “You’d fall asleep to the music, wake up….and the music was still playing. That was the best alarm clock I ever had!” |
It was at these family gatherings that Led learned to play in the old style, watching, listening, then imitating. Chief among his teachers were his mother, Mama Tina Kaapana, and his uncle Fred Punahoa. “Even today when I play, I still picture all the `ohana (family) getting together and sharing their songs and their aloha.”
As a young man, Led also loved to rock and roll and also listened to country, jazz, and Latin music. Even though his dad would tease, “Hey, that’s not slack key!”, nobody ever stopped him. They just encouraged him to “play what you feel and play with aloha.”
As teenagers, Led and his twin brother Ned and cousin Dennis Pavao formed the Hui Ohana, one of the hottest groups of the 70s and 80s and now legendary among Hawaiian musicians. The 70s saw the blossoming of the Hawaiian Renaissance, and Hui Ohana was a key part of that return to traditional Hawaiian culture and music. Young Hawaii Plays Old Hawaii, the title of their first recording, was also their statement of purpose. The group produced 14 best-selling albums and made countless hundreds of live appearances, proudly sharing Kalapana’s musical traditions.
Led later formed another trio, Ikona, releasing 6 albums with that group, including Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, Jus’ Press. He has also released a number of solo albums, including two Na Hoku Hanohano Instrumental Album of the Year winners, Lima Wela and Black Sand. Ki Ho`alu, Hawaiian Slack Key, Grandmaster Slack Key and Force of Nature (with Mike Kaawa) received Grammy nominations.
While recording for Dancing Cat Records, Led produced a number of solo projects, duets, and a project with Allison Krauss, Jerry Douglas, and other bluegrass legends called Waltz of the Wind. He has worked with Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and many other Nashville notables. Back at home, he has shared his talents on recordings with most of Hawaii’s top talents, including Aunty Genoa Keawe, Barney Isaacs, The Ho`opi`i Brothers, Melveen Leed, the Pahinui Brothers, Amy Hanaiali`i, and countless others. In 2008, Led formed his own recording company, Jus’ Press Productions, and released his Force of Nature CD, with 12-string virtuoso Mike Kaawa. The album earned a Grammy nomination in 2009 and won Led and Mike the Favorite Entertainer Award at the 2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. That was followed up with Jus’ Cruzin’, an all autoharp CD, in 2014, Jus’ Press Vol. 2, which took the 2016 ‘Ukulele Album of the Year Hoku, and, most recently, Jus’ Bes’, released in late 2017, a remastered retrospective of some of Led’s all time greatest hits.
Led tours the US extensively and has also appeared in Belgium, Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Tahiti.
When home in Hawaii, Led can be found on Saturday evenings at Honey’s at the Ko`olau Golf Course in Kaneohe, where local talent and visiting musicians from the four corners of the globe drop in to join the “back yard” party.
Tour Schedule
2025
Led Kaapana with Mike Kaawa
Wed, May 7, 2025 – The Shedd Institute, Eugene OR
7:30 PM
Ticket Link
Sat, May 10, 2025 – The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas NV
7:00 PM
Ticket Link
Past Tour Dates
2024
Sat Sept 21, 2024 – Private Event, Eagan MN
George Kahumoku Jr & Led Kaapana
Masters of Hawaiian Music: George Kahumoku Jr, Led Kaapana & Jeff Peterson
Wed Sept 25, 2024 – Egyptian Theatre, Boise ID
Thurs Sept 26, 2024 – Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland OR
Fri Sept 27, 2024 – Federal Way Performing Arts Center, Federal Way WA
Sat Sept 28, 2024 – Blue Note Napa, Napa CA – 2 shows
Sun Sept 29, 2024 – Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, Berkeley CA
Thu Oct 3, 2024 – La Paloma, Encinitas CA
Fri Oct 4, 2024 – Irvine Barclay Theatre, Irvine CA
Tues Oct 8, 2024 – Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix AZ
Wed Oct 9, 2024 – Coconino Center for the Arts, Flagstaff AZ
Presented by Greenhouse Productions
Fri Oct 11, 2024 – Santa Fe Chapel, Santa Fe NM
Presented by Amp Concerts
Sat Oct 12, 2024, South Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque NM
Presented by Amp Concerts
2023
Masters of Hawaiian Music, with George Kahumoku Jr, Led Kaapana, & Jeff Peterson
Thurs Sept 21, 2023 – The Triple Door, Seattle WA
Fri Sept 22, 2023 – Lincoln Theatre, Mt Vernon WA
Sun Sep 24, 2023 – Egyptian Theatre, Boise ID
Tues Sept 26, 2023 – Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland OR
Wed Sept 27, 2023 – The Shedd Institute, Eugene OR
Thurs Sept 28, 2023 – Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix AZ
Sat Sept 30, 2023 – Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque NM
Presented by AMP Concerts
Sun Oct 1, 2023 – San Miguel Chapel, Santa Fe NM
Presented by AMP Concerts
Mon Oct 2, 2023 – Private Event
Tue Oct 3, 2023 Montalvo Arts Center, Saratoga CA
Thu Oct 5, 2023 – Blue Note Napa, Napa CA (2 shows)
Sat Oct 7, 2023 – La Paloma Theatre, Encinitas CA
Sat, Aug 5, 2023 – Makapu’u Twilight Concert, Waimanalo HI
January 2022 – Masters of Hawaiian Music Tour with George Kahumoku Jr, Led Kaapana, Herb Ohta Jr
Fri Jan 14, Old Town School, Chicago IL
Sun Jan 16, Music Box Cleveland, Cleveland OH
Thu Jan 20, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna VA – Rescheduled
Sat Jan 22, Club Passim, Cambridge MA (2 shows)
2021 – Led Kaapana with Jesse Lopaka Gregorio
Wed Nov 3, Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland OR
Thu Nov 4, The Triple Door, Seattle WA
Sun Nov 7, The Smith Center, Las Vegas NV
2020
Masters of Hawaiian Music – with George Kahumoku Jr & Kawika Kahiapo
Fri, Jan 10, 2020, Cutting Room, New York NY
Presented by CEG Presents
Sat, Jan 11, 2020, St Paul’s Espiscopal Church, Chatham NJ
Presented by Andy Wang Music
Sun, Jan 12, 2020, Club Passim, Cambridge MA
Wed, Jan 15, 2020, Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, Minneapolis MN
Fri, Jan 17, 2020, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL
Sun, Jan 19, 2020, Music Box Cleveland, Cleveland OH
Tues, Jan 21, 2020, The Ark, Ann Arbor MI
Fri, Jan 24, 2020 and Sat, Jan 25, 2020, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna VA
2019
Sat, June 29, 2019, Hawaii Kai Towne Center, Honolulu HI
Mele on the Marina Festival
Fri, July 12, 2019, Montana Folk Festival, Butte MT
Wed, July 17, 2019, The Triple Door, Seattle WA
Sat, July 20, 2019, Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland OR
Wed, July 24, 2019, SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara CA
Fri, July 26, 2019, McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Santa Monica CA
Sun, July 28, 2019, Sweetwater Community Church, Bonita CA
Presented by AMSD Concerts
Sat, Aug 3, 2019, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas NV
Fri, Sept 6, 2019, North Carolina Folk Festival, Greensboro NC
Fri, Sept 20, 2019, The Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena CA
2018 -With Mike Kaawa
Sun, Sept 30, 2018, The Triple Door, Seattle WA
Tues, Oct 2, 2018, Alberta Rose Theatre, Portland OR
Fri, Oct 5, 2018, Sweetwater Union High School, National City CA
Presented by AMSD Concerts
Sun, Oct 7, 2018, Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix AZ
Wed, Oct 10, 2018, Miners Foundry Cultural Center, Nevada City CA
Thurs, Oct 11, 2018, 142 Throckmorton Theatre, Mill Valley CA
Fri, Oct 12, 2018, The Palms Playhouse, Winters CA
Sat, Oct 13, 2018, Mildred Owen Concert Hall, Pacifica CA
Presented by Pacifica Performances
Sun, Oct 14, 2018, Montalvo Arts Center, Montalvo CA
2018 – Masters of Hawaiian Music: George Kahumoku Jr, Led Kaapana & Jeff Peterson
Sat, Feb 10 & Sun, Feb 11, 2018, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Vienna VA
Mon, Feb 12, 2018, WaR3House3, Swarthmore PA
Thurs, Feb 15, 2018, Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant, Minneapolis MN
Fri, Feb 16, 2018, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago IL
Sun, Feb 18, 2018, Music Box Cleveland, Cleveland OH
Fri, Feb 23, 2018, Café Stritch, San Jose CA
Wed, Feb 28, 2018, The John G Shedd Institute, Eugene OR
Fri, Mar 2 & Sat, Mar 3, 2018, The Triple Door, Seattle WA
Tues, Mar 6, 2018, The Sofia, Sacramento CA
Thurs, Mar 8, 2018, Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz CA
Fri, Mar 9 & Sat, Mar 10, 2018, The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Las Vegas NV
Sun, Mar 11 & Mon, Mar 12, 2018, California Center for the Arts, Escondido CA
Thurs, Mar 15, 2018, Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix AZ
Fri, Mar 16, 2018, Irvine Barclay Theater, Irvine CA
Sat, Mar 17, 2018, Daniels Hall, Denver CO
2017
Tues, July 11, 2017, SOhO Restaurant & Music Club, Santa Barbara, CA
Sat, July 15, 2017, Sweetwater Union High School, San Diego, CA
presented by AMSD Concerts
Sun, July 16, 2017, McCabe’s Guitar Shop, Santa Monica, CA
Wed, July 19, 2017, Don Quixote’s International Music Hall, Felton, CA
Thurs, July 20, 2017, Blue Note Napa, Napa, CA
Fri, July 21, 2017, The Palms Playhouse, Winters, CA
I Kona
Maunaloa Slack Key
Na Lei O Hawaii