Paniolo Slack Key

Paniolo Slack Key - “Cowboy Slack Key”; ‘paniolo’ comes from ‘españoles’ meaning ‘Spaniard’ – it is the Hawaiian word for ‘cowboy’. These are songs about gods, goddesses, male and female chiefs, and the beauty of Hawai’i and all the surrounding islands. Some are even about cowboys. Mountains, flora and weather patterns figure prominently in the poetry of the lyrics.

George Kahumoku, Jr. has been playing and performing Slack Key guitar all of his life while also farming and ranching. He comes from a family of paniolo, fishermen and farmers. He is an older musician and has a very strong wobble in his voice. Nonetheless, his voice and playing are relaxing in small doses.

Hawaiian slack key (ki ho'alu; pronounced kee-hoh-AH-luu) is an open tuning achieved by loosening or slackening the strings so that it matches the singer’s voice.

– FCC Compliant: YES
– Recommended Tracks: 8, 14, 17, 18
– Track Reviews: All these songs are low-key and mellow.
1. (4:55) He Mele No Na Lio - “A Song For The Generous Ones”; thanks and praise for Chief and Queen of Hawai’i
2. (3:27) Kilakila 'o Haleakala - “Majestic Haleakalā”; about beautiful mountain Haleakalā of Maui
3. (5:08) Kona Kai 'opua - “Cloud Banks over Kona”; about great clouds and pretty sea around Kona
4. (6:00) Maika'i Kamakani 'o Kohala - “Thirsty Breezes of Kohala”; about wonderful wind and rain of Kohala
5. (4:09) Moloka'i Nui A Hina - “Great Hina of Moloka`i”; Hina was a goddess and the mother of Molo-kai, an ancient chief of Maui (melody is from "Tenting Tonight", an old school song)
6. (4:16) Ka 'opae - “The Shrimp”; about eating shrimp and drinking kava with a loved one
7. (6:03) Pu'uanahulu - about Pu'uanahulu, a beautiful cliffy part of Hawaii
8. (3:17) Paniolo Slack Key - “Cowboy Slack Key”; quiet guitar solo
9. (2:37) Kilakila Na Roughrider - “Famed Are The Roughriders”; lyrics about the brave Hawaiian paniola (cowboys) carrying the banner of victory and keeping the cattle from ‘plunging’; three Hawaiian paniola competed in the 1908 Wyoming rodeo, one won World champion, another placed 3rd, both were inducted into the Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1999 (see song 12)
10. (2:44) Waialae - land section on Oahu; about a lover drenched in dew coming to visit at night
11. (4:03) Ku'u Pete - “My Pete”; Pete is an agile and nimble pet donkey who is also very stubborn; very calm song considering how perturbed the owner is about this donkey who plops down and won’t move
12. (2:17) Waiomina - “Wyoming”; about Waimea paniolo Ikua Purdy (1st place win at 1908 Cheyenne Wyoming rodeo - average roping time was 56 seconds) and Archie Kaaua (who came in 3rd)
13. (3:04) Kupa Landing - “Cooper Landing”; about a nice place to visit, it has yodeling birds
14. (1:53) Moani Ke'ala - “Wind-borne Fragrance”; about a frustrated lover left waiting; fancy pickin’ on the guitar
15. (3:57) Ku'u Hoa Hololio - “My Friend With Whom I Ride Horseback”; about sweethearts riding horseback together in the evenings
16. (3:21) Ulupalakua - about Ulupalakua: ‘home of the cowboys’, cold mountain air, and the scent of ginger
17. (3:27) Miloli'i - travel song starting in Miloli'i on a donkey, then Waikiki on an elephant, SF on a plane, Honolulu on a steamer, then back to the donkey (composed in 1930’s: elephant was Daisy, a popular animal at the Honolulu Zoo)
18. (3:01) Pi'iholo Sunset - inspired by a horseback ride at Pi’iholo Ranch, a mountain summit on Maui; quiet guitar solo