Ledward Kaapana and friend playing just for fun at Kailua Beach.

Mom and I were hanging out on the beach with the boys while Dave was at work yesterday. I went for a jog and came back to find two guys playing beautiful music about 3 feet from us! Mom and I exchanged looks like “How in the world do we get this lucky?” When they took a break between songs I was like “Thank you! We LOVE Hawaiian music! So…are you famous?” Turns out he was indeed – Grammy Award-winning Ledward Ka’apana and his friend were the two guys gracing our afternoon. So despite increasing hunger and thirst, we were determined to stay as long as they did. Richard brought us some food and drinks and we enjoyed playing in the water with the duo’s incredible slack key and falsetto dancing around us. Led’s family is from the Big Island – the Kalapana area which is now nearly covered with lava – and he grew up around music. His family would hang out and have days-long bbqs where the whole family would break out instruments and just play. His sister sings with him now at Kona Brewing Company on Sundays I think. Click on the picture above for one of our favorite pieces – Wahine Ilikea, by Rev. Dennis Kamakahi. The whole story behind that song is amazing, too.