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Hapa is an American Hawaiian music band known known for "pan-Polynesian" original and cover songs which blend elements of world music, pop music, and slack-key guitar. In 2007, the New York Times labeled Hapa "the most successful Hawaiian music group in recent history."

Biography
Hapa released its first CD in 1993 on the Mountain Apple Company record label, featuring the vocals and guitars of Barry Flanagan and Kauai native Kelii Kānealii (kuh-LEE ee, KON-ee-uh-lee ee). Flanagan brought evocative lead guitar and vocals to the group, while Kānealii focused on 12-string rhythm and lead vocals. The following year, their self-titled CD swept the 1994 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaiis equivalent of the Grammys) and went on to become the biggest selling CD by any group in the history of Hawaiian music. For the rest of the 1990's, Flanagan and Kānealii produced a wide variety of music, ranging from covers of classic Hawaiian surf songs to contemporary original melodies, adding their contemporary Hawaiian style to an even wider array of songs during live performances including favorites from the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel.

In 1997, the group released a recording of U2's Pride (In the Name of Love) which blended the song with a Hawaiian traditional mele (chant) from master chanter Charles Kaupu, and the result was an instant hit. Ka'upu frequently toured with Hapa thereafter, contributing chants to many songs, as well as hula and traditional Hawaiian ipu percussion. When Ka'upu died suddenly in 2011 at age 53 he was hailed as "Maui's cultural icon" and "a true Hawaiian master chanter."

In 2001, Kānealii left the group and Flanagan pursued other opportunities until meeting accomplished Hawaiian musician Nathan Aweau. In June, 2002, Aweau released his third solo recording project "E Apo Mai", which won two of the top honors from the Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts: Male Vocalist of the Year, and Song of the Year. After meeting Flanagan, Hapa was re-formed in June, 2003.

Aweau's wide range of vocals, including an award-winning Hawaiian falsetto, as well as his accomplished bass playing and newly honed rhythm guitar playing, instantly gave new life and dimension to Hapa. He also brought significant performing experience to Hapa after fifteen years as the musical director for Don Ho. With Flanagan's flair and lead guitar, Hapa set about creating the 7th Hapa album, Maui, which was released in 2005. The album featured three new Hawaiian language songs as well as covers of a Tahitian folk song, Papa E, and Bob Marley's classic "Redemption Song."

Hapa has been featured in many TV shows and feature films, and their music is ubiquitous in Hawaii. In the mid-2000s, they were featured in their own PBS Hawaii TV special, "Hapa Maui", which was narrated by Peter Fonda. The CD "Hapa Live" derives its 10 songs from that performance. And National Geographic kicked off their "Geo Sessions" music series with a profile of the group. In 2010, Hapa was cast as themselves in the Adam Sandler/Jennifer Aniston movie "Just Go With It" by director Dennis Dugan, who "said he was a big fan of the group since the first CD in 1993." In 2011, Hapa had a prominent presence in the successful reboot of the TV show Hawaii Five-0.

When Aweau decided to focus on his solo career again in 2010, guitarist/vocalist Ron Kuala'au joined Hapa founding member Barry Flanagan on tour in 2012 and is now a permanent part of the group. Flanagan credits Kuala'au with being "one of the main influences of the 'Hapa sound'" when the group first formed in the 1980s. Kuala'au was one of Flanagan's first Hawaiian guitar teachers. Singer/bassist Tarvin Makia joined Hapa for most of their 2013 tour.

Throughout Hapa's history, they have brought along a wide range of guest artists on tour, ranging from state-winning hula champions to additional guitarists. Some of the noted hula dancers who have toured with Hapa include Malia Ann Kawailanamalie Petersen, who won the title of Miss Aloha Hula in 2002 at the Merrie Monarch Festival, and Piilani Klein, who began performing with Don Ho at age 9.

Discography

 * Hapa (1992, Mountain Apple Company)
 * Hapa Holidays (1995, Mountain Apple Company])
 * In the Name of Love (1997, Mountain Apple Company)
 * Surf Madness (1997, Mountain Apple Company)
 * Collection (1998, Mountain Apple Company)
 * Namahana (1999, Mountain Apple Company)
 * Maui (2005, Hapa World Music, LLC)
 * Hapa Live (2008, Hapa World Music, LLC)
 * Malahini (unreleased)
 * Hapa Manoa Sessions (available at live concerts only)
 * Uakoko (available at live concerts only)

Collaborations, Compilations

 * Instrumental Peace (2002, Barry Flanagan solo project)
 * It’s a Slack Key World (2005)