HAPA, named after the Hawaiian slang term for “ethnically mixed,” was formed in 1983 by Barry Flanagan and Keli‘i Kaneali‘i, and later joined by Nathan Aweau and Charles Ka‘upu. The group offers the audience majestic Hawaiian sounds of the oli (chant), mele (song), the elegant movements of the sacred dance (hula), mixed with the exhilarating innovative resonance of kiho-alu (slack-key guitar). HAPA’s debut CD (released in 1993) is the biggest-selling CD by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music, and established them as the most recognized name in this genre.
