Revisiting Taiko Leaders PJ and Roy Hirabayashi and Slack Key Guitarist Ledward Kaapana

We kicked off our celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by going into the archives for excerpts from two great podcasts with cultural powerhouses and 2011 National Heritage Fellows taiko drum leaders Roy and PJ Hirabayashi and slack key guitarist Ledward Kaapana. The Hirabayashis discuss founding San Jose Taiko, creating a distinctly Asian-American art form, and their commitment to collaboration and community-building. Kaapana remembers the centrality of music during his upbringing in a small Hawaiian village (and the month-long house parties!), the unique aspects of Hawaiian music and music-making, and his joy in playing with guitarists across genres. There’s music, singing, and drumming!

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