Legendary Slack Key Guitarist Dennis Kamakahi Passes Away

Slack key guitarist Dennis Kamakahi lost his battle with lung cancer on Monday at the age of 61. He was part of the Hawaiian music scene for decades.

He joined Eddie Kamae and The Sons of Hawaii back in the 1970s, and also went on to compose music.

Kamakahi’s son David said his father passed away at The Queen’s Medical Center at 4:30 p.m. peacefully, and with family by his side.

Dennis Kamakahi was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer.

Last month, many of his fellow musicians got together and played at a fundraiser for him at Willows Restaurant.

Last night, the Hawaiian music community and his fans are mourning his loss.

“We’re in Waikiki performing tonight and we get a text that Uncle Dennis Kamakahi has passed on and man I’m up on stage and I’m dedicating him songs,” said Kelly Boy De Lima of Kapena. “His legacy lives in all of us musicians from the islands. We’ve played his songs, we’ve recorded his songs, so yeah it burns really deep, and the music community has lost a true son of Hawaii, definitely.”

“I think everyone looks up to Dennis Kamakahi in some way, whether it’s trying to create that same kauna that he had or just his lyrics and melody he strung together was so beautiful, and he really is a legend,” said Hawaiian entertainer Skyler Kamaka.

Kamakahi won a number of awards including three Grammys, multiple Na Hoku Hanohano awards, and he was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2009.

In 2013, he was the first modern Hawaiian music composer to have his six-string slack key guitar accepted into the Smithsonian National Museum of American History’s permanent collection.

Kamakahi composed more than 500 songs throughout his career and his music has been featured in numerous films, including “The Descendants” and “Lilo & Stitch 2.”

In addition to being a musician, he was also a Reverend.

His son says they haven’t made funeral arrangements yet.

But certainly a big loss for the music community and for Hawaii as a whole.