E KANIKAPILA KAKOU 2026: Week 8 ~ Makana & Friends

Summoning his broad influences and kumu lineage, Makana weaves an intimate evening of uplifting and diverse song, stringing together mele and moʻolelo with newly-invented and handed-down slack key tunings, styles and untold stories. Rooted in all things Hawaiian yet ripe with cultural diversity, this rare performance draws from his beloved classics as well as unheard, unreleased repertoire. Join Makana for a night of music to kindle the flames of culture, resilience and a path forward.

Makana has dedicated his life to perpetuating and expanding the realm of Hawaiian slack key guitar. A student of Bobby Moderow Jr. and slack key legends Raymond Kāne and Sonny Chillingworth, Makana’s virtuosic slack key guitar playing and instantly recognizable voice stand at the intersection of folk tradition and cultural avant-gardism. His songs have been featured on multiple Grammy-nominated records, his music is ubiquitous on social platforms (over 1 billion impressions) and his dedication to communities throughout Hawaiʻi has touched countless lives. The NY Times calls him “dazzling” and Esquire magazine has referred to Makana as “one of the greatest living players” of Hawaiian slack key guitar. His music transcends category and trend, and his onstage musical presence is- although purely acoustic- nothing short of symphonic. 

Makana, musician extraordinaire – singer – composer – slack key artist – storyteller – entertainer – man with a mission – a human being with kuleana – and then some. Every Makana performance is a unique experience and leaves you with a need for more. EKK Season 2026 will leave you with a desire for more of the same, more of the extraordinary. Tickets