From a young age,  I was taught the rugged lifestyle of a Western Cowboy in the quiet ranching town of Waimea.

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In the heart of Waimea lay a fifty eight acre ranch called 'Hale Kea Farms' which my father was the general manger.   The property included Anna's pond and a quarter of a mile of the river flowing down to Anna's Ranch, the foothills of Hoku 'Ula (Buster Brown) and the lowlands touching Kawaihae road.

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Hale Kea Farms owner William T. White III had a profound influence on my life.  Bill founded Hale Kea in 1978 and my father began as the general manager.  I was eight years old at the time and we lived in the annex quarters next to the main house where the Whites resided.  Bill was a Navy Seal and Stanford graduate who introduced me to many things I might have never seen living on an island.  He came from the Irvine family in California and moved his family from Laguna Beach, California.

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Bill was a cowboy at heart and most of the farm operations revolved around cattle, horses and roping events.  In addition, there were some avocado and orange orchards as well as a beautiful rose garden.  We, as caretakers and stuards along with a host of other workers, transformed this enormous estate into a farm and ranch.   My Father was on call around the clock and had the responsibility of protecting, cultivating and expanding Bill's vision for the future. 

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There was never a dull moment at Hale Kea.  I can remember my father waking me in the middle of a cold rainy night to recover our horses that got loose and were running through town.   On one occasion we got rustled and my father was on a mission to confront the culprits and recover our cattle.   

 

I soon recognized the differences of the Paniolo in contrast to the Western cowboy.  By participating in rodeos, ropings and cattle drives, I watched legends such as Sonny Kekealani and Billy Bergin in action.  The Hawaiian cattle were polled Herfords meaning they did not have horns.  Bill imported Santa Getrudis cows and a Texas longhorn to produce horned cattle for roping.  The Paniolo rode in a traditional tree saddle.  

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The Hawaiian Cowboy

​In the 1800's shortly after cattle were introduced to the Big Island, they ravaged the land running wild and free.  To solve this problem the king of Hawaii requested Spanish vaqueros to Hawaii and teach the skills of ranching cattle.   Along with their beautiful saddles, horses and tack they brought the guitar.  After they left, we developed our own tunings which 'slacked' the tension of certain strings, hence the name 'slack key' or ki ho' alu.

 

​This musical style is a unique genre originating in Waimea.   Slack key is characterized by deep droning bass lines with simple relaxed melodies flowing on top.  The sound is a mix of western music with a unique sonic footprint unmistakably 'Hawaiian'. 

My musical journey began with the guitar in 1988 while I was attending the University of Oregon.  Prior to this I had never been interested in playing any musical instrument but rather into surfing, fishing and sports.​  Eugene, Oregon opened my eyes to the vast possibilities of life beyond Hawaii and I never imagined that I would be a Musician.

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By teaching myself music theory and standard tuning of

E A D G B E, I gravitated to old blues and classic rock styles of music. The hobby of music gave me a space to express myself, always coming back to learn the vast intricacies the guitar ​has to offer.​

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Although I do not actively practice ki ho' alu, I can achieve the same sounds and feel of slack key while playing in standard tuning. This gives me the freedom and efficiency to push the boundaries of jazz, country, blues and any other modal sounds, all while keeping a foundation of Hawaiian music.  The magic and beauty of ki ho' alu lies in the tunings, some passed down through generations of Hawaiian families.   

 

The late Hawaiian music legend Gabby Pahinui once said 'I play the way I feel'.   In its purest form, music connects me to my soul and deepest emotions of life.  Like the surfer who dances with a wave, music allows me to resonate on a deeper understanding of self.   Music is the language that allows me to spiritually connect with my fellow man.

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