Dennis David Kahekilimamaoikalanikeha Kamakahi, born March 31, 1953, in Honolulu, was a Hawaiian slack key guitarist and recording artist. He began his professional music career in 1972 as a member of Na Leo O Nu'uanu, releasing their debut album Ia 'Oe E Ka La Volume 1. Kamakahi's breakthrough came with Eddie Kamae and the Sons of Hawaii (1974–95), during which he composed around 500 Hawaiian language songs. He released his first solo slack key guitar CD, Pua'ena, in 1996. In 2007 and 2008, Kamakahi won two Grammy Awards for Best Hawaiian Album for Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar. He was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2009. Kamakahi continued to perform until his death from lung cancer on April 28, 2014.
