www.hapa.com

Hapa has been sharing the majesty of the Hawaiian Islands with audiences all over the world for over twenty-five years. Founded by native New Yorker Barry Flanagan in 1983, Hapa, a term used to describe a person of mixed heritage, has evolved to include award-winning Kuma Hula, Charles Ka’upu, a specialist in the tradition of oli, or Polynesian chant, and Nathan Aweau, a multi-faceted musician and a staple in the Hawaiian music community.

Hapa's wide breadth of musical acumen stems from the diversity of its members’ experiences. While rooted in the language and chord structure of mele (traditional song) the group incorporates elements of jazz, Americana, rock, and folk. The result is a catalog of soothing melodies and transformative rhythms.

Flanagan’s interest in the slack-key guitar led him to Maui in the early ‘80’s, where he fell in love with the peace, tranquility, and richness of the art community on the island.  The singer/songwriter immersed himself in learning the musical traditions of the islands and was heralded for his ability to adapt the Hawaiian language to popular tastes, winning the Haku Mele Award for “Lei Pikake,” now a classic love song.  Joined by Charles Ka’upu in 1993, the group started to take form as a foremost interpreter of Hawaii’s musical heritage by incorporating oli and hula.

The group’s self-titled debut album was released in 1993 to wide critical acclaim, winning six Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, the Hawaiian equivalent of the GRAMMYs, and, to this day, maintaining the title of the highest-selling CD by a Hawaiian group or duo.  In 1999, the group released Namahana.  2005 saw the meteoric success of their third full-length album, Maui, and the addition of Nathan Aweau, an accomplished musician and vocalist. Hapa was featured in Rolling Stone Japan, The New York Times, and was profiled as part of a documentary series for National Geographic, including special performances by the artists in Washington, D.C.  

Hapa brought their unique musical approach to the Grove on June 27, 2010, presenting a melding of the group's cultures. With traditional melodies overlaying folk bass lines, southern rock rhythms and vocals, Hapa transported the Stern Grove Festival audience to the islands for an afternoon.