Hapa

Hapa, founded in 1983 by Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i, represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of contemporary Hawaiian music. The name, meaning 'half' or 'part' in Hawaiian, reflects the duo's mixed heritage and their musical mission: blending traditional Hawaiian 'mele' and slack-key techniques with Western folk-rock sensibilities.

Their 1993 debut album became a cultural phenomenon in the islands, sweeping the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and becoming the best-selling Hawaiian album of its time. Flanagan's guitar style is highly technical, influenced by both the masters of slack-key and the fingerstyle precision of artists like Lindsey Buckingham. The group's vocal arrangements often feature intricate polyphony and a seamless transition between English and Hawaiian lyrics. Critically, they are credited with modernizing the genre without sacrificing its spiritual core, influencing a generation of island artists to explore fusion. Their career arc includes collaborations with rock legends like Stephen Stills, further cementing their position as a bridge between the Pacific and the global folk mainstream.