“Henry Kapono has clearly become the most prolific and profound island entertainer of his era – and there’s no stopping him.”
Favorite Entertainer of the Year, Henry Kapono is a performer who has it all – vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, composer, publisher, music director, producer, and multiple honors and awards, including a Grammy nomination. He has taken home 21 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawai‘i’s “Grammy”), including Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Best EP, Contemporary Album of the Year, Compilation of the Year, Anthology Album of the Year, and is the recipient of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards for Favorite Entertainer of the Year.
Henry has recently celebrated several milestones. In 2023, he celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the music of Cecilio & Kapono with a Lifetime Party Concert Tour in the Pacific Northwest and two Hawaiian Islands.
Since 1993, Henry’s legendary weekly afternoon concert “Duke's on Sunday,” on Waikiki Beach is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a fall US tour and Waikiki Beach Party. “Duke's on Sunday, is streamed live to tens of thousands of fans worldwide each Sunday, from 5pm to 6pm HST on Kapono’s Facebook Page and archived on Kapono’s YouTube channel in its own playlist for those who cant make it in person.
Ever evolving, he is currently the Music Director for the upcoming film, Shaka - the Movie, and Co-Producer of a full-length documentary film on the pop-culture of music in Hawaiʻi.
Growing Up
Known as Henry "Kapono," the Hawaiian word for righteous, Henry is pure Hawaiian, born and raised in Kapahulu, a small town outside Waikīkī . He started singing in a children's church choir at age 5. His athletic abilities earned him a baseball scholarship to the renowned Punahou Academy (President Obama’s alma mater) and a football scholarship to the University of Hawai‘i.
Unfortunately, injuries prevented a professional football player's career but profoundly moved him toward his passion for music and fully realized his potential as an artist. Though he had no formal musical training, "My Dad taught me how to play the ‘ukulele.” says Henry. “I saw a friend of mine play guitar one day and fell in love with the sound of it. He taught me a few chords, and I've been hooked ever since.”
The Love for Music
“If my music makes you dance, then do it. If it makes you sing, then sing it. If it makes you want to know more about Hawai‘i’s culture, then Welcome To My Paradise!” ~ Henry Kapono
“I was at a Kawaiahao church youth camp at Camp Erdman. During a campfire gathering, a friend of mine, Godfrey, was playing his guitar, and it sounded so amazing. He noticed how intently I was watching as he played, then turned to me and offered me to play his guitar. I was hesitant and said, “no thx, I don’t even know how to play, but it sounds so cool.” Well, that was when he showed me my first chord, the D major. I played it, and it felt amazing. At that moment, I was hooked. I had to have a guitar,” Henry exclaimed with excitement!
Godfrey will always cherish those moments, “Kapono was so focused and very passionate about his music.” Godfrey remembers Henry’s sister Pua, being a very good teacher at Waikiki Elementary School, and “she felt the Mana in Kapono and nurtured him, motivating that supernatural power in him.” Henry’s sister Pua did see how much it moved him, and she bought Henry his first guitar, as well as his second and third…and that was it. Henry listened to everything that moved his soul and spent hours learning the craft.
Starting his music career, henry Toured with a local rock band in the late 60s, Henry ended up stranded by the promoter in Vietnam. He and the band spent two years performing for the troops in Vietnam and Thailand before returning to Hawaiʻi. The experience left him with a lasting commitment to peace, a deep appreciation for life, and compassion and aloha (love) for all people—themes that continue to resonate in his music.
CECILIO & KAPONO
L to R: Cecilio Rodrigues & Henry Kapono circa 1970s
Henry’s career soared to the forefront of Hawaii’s music scene in the ‘70s with the duo Cecilio & Kapono (aka C&K). Henry rose to immense popularity with the phenomenon of C&K as half of the duo with Cecilio Rodriguez. Together, they helped forge the sound of 70s’ music of Hawaiʻi, with laid-back contemporary rock that voiced the feelings of an entire generation. C&K became the first Hawaiʻi group to achieve a national recording contract with Columbia Records, performing and touring alongside Hall & Oats, Loggins & Messina, Frank Zappa, Crosby Stills & Nash and many more. Together C&K recorded 13 albums, giving contemporary and folk-rock—and Hawaiian music—a new perspective.
“Cecilio and Kapono were Hawaiʻi’s answer to Simon and Garfunkel…for several generations of listeners, those songs embody the sound of Hawaii, at least in part.”
HENRY KAPONO
Henry’s music evolved into a successful solo career in the mid-'80s, paving the way to work with some of the country's most famous producers, such as Joe Thomas of Sound Stage, John Houlihan of 20th Century Fox, and Grammy winner Michael McDonald. His solo career resulted in 20 albums, a Grammy nomination and 21 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawaiʻi’s versions of the “Grammy”), including: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Best EP, Compilation of the Year, and Anthology Album of the Year. In 2021 he earned Contemporary Album and Favorite Entertainer of the Year. The legacy of Kapono’s music was featured in the 2017 Grammy Museum Exhibit in Los Angeles and the Hawaiʻi Convention Center and relaunched as a digital program digitally for the 2021 Asian Pacific Islander Month.
With over 150K loyal followers and fans, Henry continues to tour, playing to sold-out crowds across the globe in theatres, festivals, concert and music halls. Henry is a self-administered singer-songwriter and has collaborated with many respected musicians such as; Mick Fleetwood, Michael MacDonald, America, Kenny Loggins, Daryl Hall & John Oats, Big Mountain, Third World, Chicago, and Tower of Power. Several becoming life long friends, including Jimmy Buffet, who covered Kapono’s popular, original song “Duke’s on Sunday.”
Kapono is highly sought after in the music community for his creative vision, rich voice, and mastery of the guitar from acoustic to electric. His unique blend of rock and blues is widely respected and has garnered a large, well-respected following in the music industry as well as audiences world-wide.
Additionally, Kapono has authored the children’s book, A Beautiful Hawaiian Day, and has appeared in major motion pictures, films, television shows, and commercials.
“Traveling on his lifelong path of Aloha, Henry continues to create a soundtrack of our lives, contributing to the common good with kindness, commitment, and unwavering passion for his home…”
Henry is equally known for his philanthropic efforts and lifetime commitment to his beloved Home in the Islands, and in recognition of these efforts, June 2, 1997 was proclaimed Henry Kapono Day by Honolulu City & County Mayor, Jeremey Harris.
In an effort to pay to pay it forward, this iconic Musician, Songwriter & Producer launched the Henry Kapono Foundation in 2018 has also reached the 5th Anniversary of the Henry Kapono Foundation, established in 2018 “To Support and Empower Hawai'i's Music Industry to Thrive Through Programs, Grants, Education & Resources.”
