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2009 Na Hoku award winner for "Best Slack Key Album of the Year," John Keawe is a songwriter and slack-key guitarist who was born on the Big Island of Hawaii, in the little town of Hawi in North Kohala. John grew up with rock and roll music and enjoyed listening to singer/songwriters.
After a four year tour in the Navy, John returned to his home and was drawn to the sound of Hawaiian slack-key. He listened and watched and taught himself to play this style of music. Through the years, he has developed his own distinct style.
About the same time, John began to perform publicly and also composing his own songs. Two of his early compositions "Ka`auhuhu Homestead" and "Big Island Magic" were chosen for album cuts on projects that involved various artists.
Of all his recordings, six were nominated for Hoku awards (which is the local music awards). The CD "Ho`onanea" won that award in 1994 for best instrumental performance. At the 1998 Hawaii Music awards, John won best slack-key artist for his" Mana`olana" CD. In 2003 , John received a Hawaii Music Award for "Aloha Kaikua`ana". He also won a Hoku Award for Ki-ho`alu which is a special award given to an artist for perpetuating the art of slack-key guitar.
In 2005, John was honored as a contributing artist on Hawaii's first Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album titled "Slack-key Guitar Vol. 2" by Palm Records.
Most recently, John's CD "Hawai'i Island Is My Home" won the 2009 Na Hoku award for "Best Slack Key Album of the Year."
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