In this clip from the documentary "Kī Hōʻalu: Slack Key The Hawaiian Way," it opens with Aunty Alice Namakelua singing and strumming her guitar. Born in 1892 and known to everyone as Aunty Alice, she was a respected authority of the Hawaiian language and composer of over 100 songs. She was one of the first to teach slack key outside her family line—wanting to share her music as widely as possible. Through her music, Aunty Alice shared values both old and new. Today, her teachings live on. Her st

🌺 Experience one of the most soulful expressions of Hawaiian slack key guitar with “Liloa’s Mele” by the legendary Sonny Chillingworth. This piece captures the deep roots of Hawaiian storytelling through music — a mele (chant or song) that honors Ali‘i nui Līloa, a 15th-century high chief of Hawai‘i Island, remembered for his wisdom, leadership, and aloha spirit. Sonny’s playing blends intricate kī hō‘alu (slack key) tunings with heartfelt phrasing, evoking the sound of the islands, the rustle