Makana, with Shilo Pa

Makana is a singer, composer and master of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar tradition. Esquire Magazine refers to him as “the greatest living player”, and The New York Times calls him "dazzling".

As a child he learned directly from the legends of the art form, including Bobby Moderow, Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaʻoleohelemanu Kāne and Sonny Chillingworth.

Makana's style honors the rich legacy of Slack Key Guitar by both perpetuating the many family traditional lines as well as pioneering new ways of playing. His original music has been featured on three Grammy- nominated albums, including the soundtrack of the Academy-Award winning film The Descendants. Guitar Player Magazine ranked him as one of the top 3 guitarists in America, and the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts recognized his contributions to the art with the Slack Key Legacy Award.