Ever since he was a teenager, slack key virtuoso Makana has remained faithful to his mission of sharing the musical teachings of mentors Sonny Chillingworth and Bobby Moderow Jr. with audiences. The artist originally known as the Ki Ho‘alu Kid has long shunned fame and fortune in favor of building a reputation of giving back to his community and serving as a voice for others.
That will all change next year after Makana, 38, takes six months to travel the world and reconnect with friends before a one-way ticket sends him to Los Angeles. He said a recent magazine feature was the signal he needed to realize his time in Hawaii was coming to an end.
MAKANA
WHERE:
Blue Note Hawaii, 2335 Kalakaua Ave.
WHEN:
6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday (doors open at 5 and 8:30 p.m.)
COST:
$17 (kamaaina)-$40
INFO:
bluenotehawaii.com; call 777-4890 for kamaaina tickets
“This past July, I got my first cover of Frets magazine, which is the acoustic version of Guitar Player, and they did a six-page feature on slack key guitar,” he said. “It took me 30 years to get to this: Sonny and Bobby gave me the torch. Now I’m going to L.A. to make slack key huge there as well.”
Before he leaves, Makana will headline two performances at Blue Note Hawaii this weekend. He took a few minutes to talk about his final Hawaii gig for the foreseeable future, what he plans to do during his self-imposed time off from music and how the death of Ernie Cruz Jr. will affect the Hawaiian music landscape.
Star-Advertiser: How far removed is Makana of 2016 from the Ki Ho‘alu Kid of your teenage years?
Makana: I think the difference between that kid and me is that that kid didn’t have the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I think it’s important for us to divorce ourselves sometimes. That’s what I’m doing right now. I’m going to go discover myself again. My own closed mind is causing me suffering.
As much good as I’m able to do and however many people I’m able to inspire, I think I have a lot to unlearn right now. That’s why the change of environment. That’s why the one-way ticket.
Q: Why have you decided to leave Hawaii?
A: There are so few people to collaborate with here. Who’s pushing the boundaries? Hawaiian music has really become background for hula again. It’s not representing all of what we have to offer.
If you go back to the Hawaiian renaissance, we had instrumentalists on the class of Bela Fleck. These world-class bluegrass, country pickers, we could stand with them. But now?
Q: Before you end up in Los Angeles, you mentioned spending some time traveling. What are your plans?
A: I don’t know for sure, but here’s what’s on the list. In Uruguay, my friend is doing a surf hostel down there. And then I want to go to Cambodia. I’m going to London to check out a new model for record labels. And I’m going to Italy and Greece. I’ve been putting off these trips for, like, 10 years.
One thing I learned when I was really young was to build relationships with people, treat people right, be very generous and it’ll come back to you. I’m very blessed that I have friends everywhere. I’m never without. I don’t have a plan, but people are calling.
Q: Do you still consider yourself a slack key guitarist first and foremost?
A: It would be unrealistic for anyone to fully understand my art. What I love most about where I am artistically is that everyone knows not to expect anything. And they’re good with that. It took so much effort to cultivate that and so much sacrifice.
I have made a career of being a virtuoso, not as a hit song maker. This new aspect of my career is going to be song-based. For me, you don’t get more fans by getting better and better on guitar. Right now, the only way for me to grow my audience and career is to release these songs. I’m going into a very different chapter of my art.
I don’t believe in being one thing. There’s a balance. You’ve got to be open to life and exploring what is coming through you. I don’t let fear dictate my choices. I need the freedom, you know?
Q: What was it like helping out with the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign earlier this year?
A: It was exhausting. Any campaign is just barely trying to survive. I don’t care who you are. Bernie is one of the most beautiful people of our time. I’m proud to have supported him.
I think the most relevant statement I can make about U.S. politics is that I’ve realized all my opinions aside, the situation we’re in is a perfect reflection of the situation our nation is in.
I think (Republican presidential candidate Donald) Trump has done a great service by revealing how sick this country is. He made it impossible for us to ignore. I think it’s important for us to be honest with ourselves.
Q: Care to say a few words about the loss of Ernie Cruz Jr.?
A: There’s a lot to say. Me, Ty Cummings and Shawn Ishimoto, we all used to cruise Waikiki (as kids) and Ty and I would scrap over who got to be Ernie. … He was my idol and I tried to emulate him.
Ernie was always available. You always came first. Ernie was just in service. He was just the most humble. He always had a smile for you, even if he was suffering. He’s so different than me. If I’m going through something, you can tell. Not Ernie. He was always living aloha, all the time.
The Ka‘au Crater Boys and the music Ernie did on his own, it’s in the fabric (of Hawaiian music). He’s foundational. You don’t get into this and not get a dose of Ernie.
Q: What can fans expect at the Blue Note this weekend?
A: With this show, it’s a different show for me because what I wanted to show the people on Oahu is what I do when I’m gone.
This is going to be so different than when I did the Moana’s 150th anniversary, the Kahala’s 50th, the Royal Hawaiian or the Sonny Chillingworth tribute. Those are my Hawaiian productions. That’s what I love doing, but it’s not all I do.
Am I going to play Hawaiian music? Totally! Will I play slack key? Of course!