Waimaka Helelei wins 2012 Nā Hōkū Hanohano: Slack Key Album of the Year!
In the late summer of 2011, legendary Hawaiian composer and slack hey guitarist Dennis Kamakahi met with his friend and student, Stephen Inglis to go over a few songs. Dennis was to be a guest artist on a solo album by Inglis. After hearing Stephen's compostion "Na Pua O Kalaupapa", the two discovered more and more mutual connections with friends and ohana at Kalaupapa. The late composer/activist bernard Punikaia was a close friend of both Dennis and Stephen Inspired by the growing theme of the new album, Dennis decided to compose two new songs about Kalaupapa. A duet album was born; Waimaka Helelei - Falling Teardrop