Pahinui Jam Session Back For Eighth Year

In the pavilion dedicated to his memory, some 150 of Hawaii’s best musicians will gather from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday for the eighth annual Gabby Pahinui Waimanalo Kanikapila at Waimanalo Beach Park.

The free public jam session strives to honor and preserve the area’s rich musical heritage as it pays tribute to a uniquely talented man whose hospitality, charisma and slack-key artistry once attracted up to a hundred musicians each weekend to “continuous jam sessions” at the Pahinui ohana’s Hawaiian homestead hale, located near the park.

Pahinui died in 1980, as have many of the bright lights who once came to his parties to sing and strum along with The Master.

The 2015 kanikapila also plans music workshops, exhibits, cultural demonstrations, lomi lomi, crafts and food booths, as well as event T-shirts that help fund it. Shirts can be purchased that day or in advance. To order shirts or learn more about the kanikapila, visit gabbypahinui.com.

Key sponsors are the city, Windward CC, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and a grant from Hawaii Tourism Authority through its County Product Enrichment Program.