by Craig HarrisA master of the slack key guitar, Ledward Kaapana has been one of Hawaiis most influential musicians for nearly three decades. A founding member of Hui Ohana, a group he formed in the early-1970s, with his twin brother, Nedward, and a cousin, Dennis Pavao, Kaapana was instrumental to bringing the slack key traditional to stages around the globe. Launching a solo career in 1983, Kaapana has continued to garner acclaim for his improvisational melodies and falsetto vocals. The Honolulu Advertiser called Kaapana, friendly, generous, self-effacing, a little kolohe (rascally) and a flat out genius at just about any stringed instrument that can be finger-picked. Born on the southeastern shore of the Big Island, in the shadow of the Kilauea volcano, Kaapana grew up without tlectricity, television and telephones. As a youngster, he was inspired by the playing an uncle, Fred, who had taught himself to play slack key guitar. Kaapana conti...