HAPA Returns to the MACC After Popular Demand

Renowned Hawaiian music duo HAPA is slated to perform at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center at the end of the month.

The name “HAPA” is inspired by the band members’ ethnic mix- Keli’i Kaneali’i, of South Pacific ancestry, and Barry Flanagan, originally from New Jersey.

After first meeting in 1983, the duo spent a decade honing their distinctive sound, an update of traditional Polynesian textures and rhythms incorporating elements of pop and world beat.

“The public’s demand for these HAPA – The Original shows has been insatiable,” MACC president Art Vento said in a press release.

“For the last six months, the last Sunday of the month seems to have evolved into ‘HAPA @the MACC in the McCoy Studio Theater’! Keli’i and Barry sound as great as ever, they haven’t skipped a beat after all these years.”

HAPA’s self-titled debut album, released in 1993, remains the top-selling recording by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music.

That album swept all six nominated categories at the 1994 Hawai’i Music Awards, and in 2007 the album was hailed by Honolulu Magazine as one of the 50 All-Time Greatest Hawaiian Recordings of All Time with the original song “Lei Pikake” acknowledged as one of the 50 All-Time Greatest Songs.

The concert will be held on Sunday, Oct. 27 at 7:30 pm in McCoy Studio Theater.

Tickets are now on sale. For more information, click here.