We like the buffet more than just steak and potatoes. Kaneali i is a native Hawaiian who grew up surrounded by his music-playing family in Honolulu s Papkolea Valley. The New Jersey-born Flanagan was working on his teaching credential in Colorado when he fell in love with Gabby Pahinui s guitar playing. Wanting to learn how, he packed up and moved to Maui in 1979. Flanagan and Kaneali i met at a 1983 Christmas party, where, legend goes, they improvised together and fooled partygoers who thought they were listening to a practiced act.
Polynesian culture is at the center of their existence and sound.
He composes in English, works with a Hawaiian language instructor on the translation and puts music to it. Flanagan adds that there s little outlet for traditional Hawaiian music sung in the native tongue in Hawaii. The big acts such as Makaha sons and Brothers Cazimero play the Waikiki Shell once a year. They say they play Hot Island Sounds, which, in my opinion, is reggae. Me, personally, if I m going to listen to reggae, I ll listen to Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff.