Slack Key ʻOhana to perform at Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards

Slack Key ‘Ohana has been invited to perform at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards when they are handed out by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts this Saturday at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

Joining the ‘Ohana for their performance will be four-time Grammy-winning slack key guitar master George Kahumoku Jr. and three-time Nā Hōkū Award-winning ʻukulele player Brittni Paiva. Paiva has also invited Slack Key ‘Ohana to perform with her on her nominated song “Heartbeat Melody.”

Slack Key ‘Ohana’s video for “Nahenahe Ka Leo o Ka Wahine Uʻi,” a song from “Hawaiian Cowboy,” received a nomination in the Hawaiian Music Video of the Year category. The track was also on the first-round ballot for Hawaiian Single of the Year and won a San Diego Music Award this year for the Best World Music Song.

The “Hawaiian Cowboy” album captures the rich culture of the paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys. Stylistically, the nine original songs and four traditional Hawaiian classics offer a unique fusion of Hawaiian island sounds with country and Americana music. The Pacific Records release produced by Chris Hobson debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes world music albums chart when it dropped in April. Kahumoku Jr. performed on the title track and Paiva is featured on the set’s first single, “One More Day.”

“It’s such an honor for us to be performing at the Nā Hōkū Awards. It’s a dream come true for us to be able to play our song live for the first time with Brittni Paiva and George Kahumoku Jr. Having two Nā Hōkū award winners play on the ‘Hawaiian Cowboy’ album is incredibly special and we are super excited about performing with them at the awards,” said the band’s Brian Witkin. 

Slack Key ‘Ohana is a California-based family band comprised of Brian Witkin (guitar, lap steel and vocals), Carol Witkin (ukulele and vocals), Joe Witkin (bass, piano and vocals), who performed at the original Woodstock as a member of Sha Na Na; and Sean Witkin (drums and percussion). Pedal steel player Rand Anderson completes the lineup often augmented by Hulu dancers Alana and Allyssa Godoy.

Tracks from “Hawaiian Cowboy” have received airplay from such influential outlets as Hawai’i Public Radio and Nashville’s WMOT Roots Radio. The album, which also features ZZ Top’s guitarist and vocalist Billy Gibbons on the title cut, has been lavished with praise from media outlets from San Diego to the United Kingdom. 

Slack Key ‘Ohana maintains a busy concert calendar throughout California. They’ll play Tiki Oasis in San Diego on Thursday before flying to Hawai’i for the Nā Hōkū Awards. After the award show performance, the group will play a few shows on Maui, including an Aug. 6 date at Pro Arts Maui with Arlie Asiu in Kīhei. Returning to California, Slack Key ‘Ohana, which won the Best World Music Album at the San Diego Music Awards for its 2022 self-titled EP, will hit the Temecula Theatre stage in Temecula on Sept. 29. 

For more information, visit https://slackkeyohana.com.