If you want to absorb the history and culture of Hawai‘i, head to a nearby SLACK KEY-GUITAR PERFORMANCE, a musical style unique to the Hawaiian Islands.
In the 1800s, PANIOLO (Hawaiian cowboys) learned roping from Mexican vaqueiros brought to the island by King Kamehameha III. These mainland wranglers also brought with them their style of guitar playing. The Hawaiian paniolo began loosening the strings and adapting the sound to local music. From there, kī hō‘alu , or slack key, was born. If you’re not lucky enough to stumble across any backyard KANIKAPILA (Hawaiian for “play music”), you can check out the sound at places around the island, including: KINGS’ SHOPS CENTER STAGE WAIKOLOA TUESDAYS, 5 P.M.