The Steel Guitar Forum

Thanks for posting Tod. We don't often hear the players from Hawaii on this forum.
They are great entertainers.

You're right, Jim. Hawaiian players don't get much attention on this forum and they all play beautiful music on lap top steel. Bobby Ingano, Jeff Au Hoy, Alan Akaka, Isaac Akuna, Greg Sardinha, Casey Olsen, Derrick Mau and many others. Including Herbert Hanawahine,-who just passed away on Oct 30. RIP Herb.

Love it! Can anyone tell me what song Jeff Au Hoy and band are playing at the 22 min mark? I don’t thing they announce it.

That would be "Mapuana" Joe. You usually hear it in B11 tuning.

Thanks Chuck. I figured it was B11 with all the straight bar playing. Love the song. I’ll see what versions I can find.

Wally Pfeifer mentioned Casey Olsen.
That's Billy Hew Len's grandson.

Wally Pfeifer wrote:You're right, Jim. Hawaiian players don't get much attention on this forum and they all play beautiful music on lap top steel. Bobby Ingano, Jeff Au Hoy, Alan Akaka, Isaac Akuna, Greg Sardinha, Casey Olsen, Derrick Mau and many others. Including Herbert Hanawahine,-who just passed away on Oct 30. RIP Herb.

Well, I certainly listen to Hawaiian steel players more than I listen to players of any other style.

For me, Hawaiian steel playing is the "gold standard".

David M Brown wrote:
Well, I certainly listen to Hawaiian steel players more than I listen to players of any other style.

For me, Hawaiian steel playing is the "gold standard".

Yeah, David. I have only been playing lap steel for about a year now after playing pedal steel for 7 years. I haven't played my pedal steel in 6 months! find myself listening to more Hawaiian players than western swing or country players. Somehow, the Hawaiian players have more soul. Just my perspective.

Joe Cook wrote:

David M Brown wrote:
Well, I certainly listen to Hawaiian steel players more than I listen to players of any other style.

For me, Hawaiian steel playing is the "gold standard".

Yeah, David. I have only been playing lap steel for about a year now after playing pedal steel for 7 years. I haven't played my pedal steel in 6 months! find myself listening to more Hawaiian players than western swing or country players. Somehow, the Hawaiian players have more soul. Just my perspective.

Well, they did invent playing lap steel guitar, originally called the "Hawaiian" guitar. Plus the Hawaiian vocal style affects the way the locals play steel.

I always took my cues from Hawaiian players. They just appealed to much more. I’m glad I learned in that style and it definitely helped my love for the instrument develop even more..

Jeff Au Hoy is mesmerizing 🤠

There's so many different styles of Hawaiian steel. Almost as many as there are players.

My favorite player is Jules Ah See, but with the talk of "vocal style"...in Hindustani music we would call it "gayaki ang"...I think of Andy Iona. I know, that vibrato is super dated, but man, he just sings with songs like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzLSRu7K5pk

I guess its Hollywood Hawaiian, but I still love it. Not even a Hawaiian tune (apparently from an obscure 1930s musical...I have the sheet music).