Just when you thought you’d missed catching HAPA performing live …
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Barry Flanagan and Keli'i Kaneali'i, who fostered the groundbreaking sound elevating HAPA to one of the most recognized names in Hawaiian music, return for an unprecedented sixth show at 7:30 p..m. Sept. 29 in McCoy Studio Theater at Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului.
This show follows five consecutive sold-out concerts at the MACC, featuring the bandmates in reunion after a gap of 17 years.
"This continues to be an unprecedented run," says MACC President and CEO Art Vento, "The public's demand for these shows just continues to swell. We have a new wave of ticket buyers for every show as well as those who say they must see it again."
The duo's name, HAPA, translates as "half-Hawaiian" -- an appropriate moniker as Kaneali'i is of South Pacific ancestry and Flanagan hails originally from New Jersey. Yet together, they emit a rainbow aura that is altogether island inspired.
The two first met in 1983 and spent the next decade honing their distinctive sound -- an update of traditional Polynesian textures and rhythms peppered with elements of pop and world music.
The group's self-titled album, released in 1993, remains the top-selling recording by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music, sweeping all six nominated categories at the Hawai'i Music Awards the following year.
In 2007, Honolulu Magazine acknowledged the album as No. 31 of the 50 all-time greatest recordings with the original song "Lei Pikake" acknowledged as one of the 50 all-time greatest songs.
If you haven't had the immense pleasure of seeing these two masters perform, don't miss this golden opportunity. You never know if there's a No.7 show in HAPA's future (although wouldn't be surprising).
Tickets are $35, $45 and $65 (plus applicable fees) and available to the general public on Sept. 4. For tickets and more information, call 242-7469, visit www.mauiarts.org or head to the box office.