Hawaiian Legacy Foundation: Eddie & Myrna Kamae

Interview with Dennis Kamakahi and William Kuwalu

Interview with Dennis Kamakahi and William Kuwalu. Video starts with scenic shots of Waimea Canyon, Kauaʻi. In the first interview Kamakahi explains his spiritual experience at Kokeʻe and the feeling he gets as the mist comes up the valley of Kalalau. He also talks about what inspired him to create the song "Kauai O Mano." Kamakahi then shares how he learned to play music from his grandfather; a "kupuna style" of learning by watching. He says that "It was a slow but enjoyable process." At the end of the interview Kamakahi talks about playing music with Fred Punahoa (Fred Punahou) and his unique playing style. The next interview is conducted in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi with William Kuwalu. Kuwalu explains learning to play kī hōʻalu by listening to his mother and relates how she would lock the door to her room and play the guitar in wahine slack key style while his father would paʻi ipu (beat a gourd) and the children would listen by the window. Kuwalu also describes the seven types of kī hōʻalu. Kuwalu's brother, Joseph Kuwalu Kaili, sits next to him during the interview; both were born on Niʻihau.

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