079: Farming and Grammy Awards with George Kahumoku, Jr.

Four-time Grammy award-winning musician talks about how being an entrepreneur and living with ancient Hawaiian values brings him success.

Guest Biography

There's a reason he's been called Hawaii's Renaissance man: George Kahumoku Jr. is a multiple Grammy Award & Na Hoku Hanohano Award winning master slack key guitarist, songwriter, world-traveling performer, high school teacher, artist and sculptor, story-teller and writer, farmer and entrepreneur. He hosts a weekly show on Maui called George Kahumoku Jr's Slack Key Show: Masters of Hawaiian Music.

George is currently living on Maui with his wife, Nancy, at a beautiful upland farm on the pristine north side of the West Maui Mountains. He recently retired from 40 years of teaching at risk kids, art, ceramics, guitar & ukulele at private and public schools over the years including the historic Lahainaluna High School and directing the inception of the Institute of Hawaiian Music at UH Maui College.

Farming being in his blood, George now spends quality time maintaining his 3-acre farm growing fruit and vegetables, dry-land taro (for his famous home-made poi) and tending his goats, chickens, ducks, and miniature horses. True to his Hawaiian heritage, wherever he goes George always brings bundles of fresh produce to share with friends and students.

"George Kahumoku, Jr. is one of the great Hawaiian slack key guitarists, as well as a wonderful composer, songwriter, song interpreter, vocalist, and storyteller."  – George Winston

"Mr. Kahumoku assumed a natural role as the evening's host, peppering the show with charming, picaresque stories ("I grew up with 26 cousins in the same household," went the setup to one of these), and speaking with ease about the origins of the songs. Before singing "I'll Remember You," a beloved Hawaiian standard, he recalled his debt to its songwriter, who gave him his first break at age 11. At every turn he got a richly chiming tone from his acoustic guitar and favored a light, easeful flow of rhythm." – Nate Chinen, New York Times

Show notes: http://www.inspiredmoney.fm/079

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why being an entrepreneur makes you a better musician.
• Get a glimpse George's morning routine that starts at 3 AM.
• How Hawaiian values can help you live better in the modern world.

Find more from our guest:

• kahumoku.com
• slackkeyshow.com
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Instagram

Books:

• A Hawaiian Life by George Kahumoku, Jr.
• Nana I Ke Kumu (Look to the Source) volume I by Mary Kawena Pukui
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

Mentioned in this episode:

• Masters of Hawaiian Music calendar
• Sam Kapu, Jr.
• Kui Lee
• Hoʻoponopono

Runnymede Money Tip of the Week:

• The Power of an Email List

Thanks for Listening!

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Special thanks to Jim Kimo West for the music.