Leonard Kwan

Leonard Keala Kwan was a renowned Hawaiian slack key guitarist, known for his creative and influential contributions to the genre. Born in 1931 in Honolulu, he began his musical journey at a young age, learning from his family members and playing in various bands. Kwan was one of the first artists to take slack key music outside of Hawaii in the late 1940s and released some of the first ki ho'alu singles in the 1950s. His 1960 album, "Slack Key," also known as "the red album," was the first Hawaiian album to feature all instrumental slack key tracks, marking a significant milestone in the genre's history.

Kwan's career spanned almost six decades, during which he collaborated with notable musicians and released several albums, including "The Old Way" and "Ke'ala's Mele." He was recognized for his contributions, receiving the Bank of Hawai'i Ki Ho'alu Award in 1993 and being named a Living Treasure by the City and County of Honolulu in 1994. Kwan's music and legacy continue to inspire generations of slack key guitarists, including Ledward Kaapana and George Kuo.

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