Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 36, Number 8, 1 August 2019 — Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarist Bla Pahinui dies at age 76 [ARTICLE]

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitarist Bla Pahinui dies at age 76

POKE NŪHOU NEWS BRIEFS

James Daniel "Bla" Pahinui passed awat at age 76 in his home in Mokuleia, O'ahu. He was the second-born son of famous Native Hawaiian artist Gabby Pahinui and like others in his family, Pahinui was known for being a skilled musieian and singer. Being left-handed, Pahinui's style of guitar playing was "upside down and backwards." He was considered one of the best left-handed slack key guitarists of his time and recorded both solo albums and collaborations with friends and family, such as the 1969 Sunday Mānoa album "Hawaiian Time." In 2017, Pahinui was given the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts Lifetime Achievement Award for his musical accomplishments. He is survived by his wife, Kathleen Pahinui, his daughter Brandy Clark, his brother Philip Pahinui, and sisters Margaret Pahinui Puuohau and Madelyn Pahinui Coleman.