The Steel Guitar Forum

This is a You Tube clip with Dennis Pavao on a local Honolulu TV show "Hot Hawaiian Nights' from the late 1970's I'd guess. He *does* introduce the steel player at the clip start, but he speaks so fast and in his lilting Hawaiian accent that I can't understand him. Anyone know who the steel player is? And what 'style' he is playing? The guy that posted the vid clip knew the sytle - which I have since forgotten, but didn't know the steeler.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1eCB_Fg ... re=related

Kalamaku Koanui is the steel guitarist. He's featured on the Padanus Club CD "E Hula Mai" among other releases. Looks like he's playing a doubleneck Gibson with one neck replaced with shrubbery. I'd call the style "Hawaiian" myself.

Thanks Brad - here is the essence of John Ely's reply that also verifies:

John thinks it's Kalama Ku Koanui on steel.


the style to me sounds like he listened to a lot of 'Feet' Rogers. Feet used chimes a lot for the call and response playing - check out the '5 faces' album - the Sons Of Hawaii red album. Lovely steel on there.