FROM THE EAST SIDE OF HAWAI ISLAND, SEAN IS A SLACK-KEY ARTIST WITH DEEP FAMILY ROOTS BACK TO KALAPANA, HAWAII. KALAPANA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS UNIQUE STYLE OF HAWAIIAN MUSIC AND KĪ HŌʻALU (SLACK-KEY) REMINISCENT OF THE OLD DAYS OF HAWAII. THERE, SEAN WAS ABLE TO LEARN THIS STYLE OF MUSIC FROM HIS UNCLE, HAWAIIʻS LEGENDARY ARTIST LEDWARD KAAPANA AND IN TURN HAS BECOME A TOP SLACK-KEY ARTIST IN HIS OWN RIGHT.

YOUTH

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, SEAN WAS BORN AND RAISED IN the small town of OLAʻa in the district of puna. in his youth, he spent a good amount of his childhood at his grandma’s house in kaimū, KALAPANA — where there was always family gatherings and parties going on every weekend. when not doing yardwork or helping the ʻohana around the house, sean would race across to the next house to listen to the music being played, by cousins, aunties, and uncles.

THIS UNIQUE SOUND CALLED KĪ HŌʻALU OR HAWAIIAN SLACK-KEY was played often in kalapana and passed down from generation to generation in the old style of learning or — “watch and donʻt ask.” sean grew to admire his cousin ikaika marzo, a puna born NATIVE AND slack key artist, who played at every party and get together. sean took every opportunity to watch his cousin play, and practice to see if he could replicate it. eventually, sean developed a great ear for music AND at a young age was able to learn slack-key on his own. NATURALLY, SEAN WOULD EVENTUALLY DISCOVER THE MUSIC OF HIS UNCLE, THE LEGENDARY SLACK-KEY MASTER LEDWARD KAAPANA, WHO WAS ALSO IKAIKA’s teacher AND MAJOR INFLUENCE. THE MUSIC OF HIS UNCLE WOULD PLAY A HUGE ROLE IN SEAN’S MUSIC STYLE, AS HE WOULD DEVELOP HIS OWN “KOLOHE” STYLE AND CHARISMA INTO HIS MUSICAL PERSONALITY.

INFLUENCE

SIMILAR TO HIS UNCLE AND COUSIN. THIS PLAYFUL EDGE ALLOWED SEAN TO DEVELOP GREAT RELATIONSHIPS AND MUSICAL ACCORDS WITH MANY OF HAWAII’S ENTERTAINERS, AS MANY GRAVITATE TO HIS PLAYFUL CHARM AND ENERGY. sean has since performed alongside and shared the stage with many of hawaii’s finest recording artists and musicians including: nathan aweau, nā palapalai, jerry santos, LEDWARD KAAPANA, SONNY LIM, KEVIN BROWN, THE MĀKAHA SONS, GARY HALEAmAU, WELDON KEKAUOHA, KAINANI KAHAUNAELE, IKAIKA BLACKBURN, JEFF PETERSON, GEORGE KAHUMOKU, KAWIKA KAHIAPO, HIʻikua, makana, and many more.

IN ADDITION, SEAN HAS ALSO WORKED ON PROJECTS WITH HAWAIIʻS TOP PRODUCERS AND ENGINEERS SUCH AS: KAMAKOA LINDSEY-ASING, WAILAU RYDER, SHAWN PIMENTAL, AND MICHAEL CASIL ALL AMONGST HAWAIIʻS BEST.

LEGACY AND REACH

TODAY, SEAN PERFORMS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND VENUES WORLDWIDE, FROM HOME IN HAWAII, TO THE MAINLAND, TAHITI, AND JAPAN SHARING HIS MUSIC FOR OVER A DECADE. HE CONTINUES TO CREATE A LEGACY FOR HIMSELF AND SET NEW STANDARDS FOR HAWAIIAN MUSIC AND SLACK KEY. HE HAS INSPIRED A WHOLE NEW GENERATION OF UP AND COMING SLACK KEY PLAYERS TO CONTNUE IN HIS FOOTSTEPS TO KEEP THIS STYLE OF MUSIC ALIVE AND THRIVING.