Slack Key ‘Ohana

Slack Key 'Ohana (@slackkeyohana) is a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (Hawaiian Grammy®)-nominated band performing harmony-rich original songs in the Hawaiian, Hawaiian-country and Hawaiian-pop styles, along with its own interpretations of traditional Hawaiian classics.

Formed in 2020 in California, Slack Key ‘Ohana embodies the true meaning of the word “’Ohana” in Hawaiian: family. On lead vocals, slack key guitar and lap steel is lifelong musician and Ovation Guitars endorsed artist Brian Witkin. On vocals and ʻukulele is his mom, Romero Creations (ukuleles) – endorsed Carol Witkin. On vocals, U-bass and keyboards is his dad, Joe Witkin. Joe performed at the original Woodstock Festival in 1969 as a founding member and original keyboardist for Sha Na Na, and is a Kala U-Bass- endorsed artist.

Slack Key ‘Ohaha is joined for some performances by pedal steel virtuoso Rand Anderson, and by Brian’s brother, Pacific Records artist Sean Witkin on drums. Hula dancers, sisters Alana and Allyssa Godoy (more ‘Ohana!) round out performances with beautiful Hula.

In 2021, Slack Key ʻOhana recorded its first EP, featuring a Romero Creations Grand Tenor Koa on every song. It also featured pedal steel player Rand Anderson. Released on Pacific Records, the self-titled EP debuted at #2 on the iTunes World Music charts and subsequently earned the group the 2022 San Diego Music Award for “Best World Music Album” and a live performance at the awards ceremony at Humphrey’s By The Bay.

In August 2022, Slack Key ‘Ohana performed a 50-minute set at San Diego’s Tiki Oasis, one of the largest recurring nationwide island music and Tiki festivals. The set was recorded live and released as a full-length album, “Live at Tiki Oasis”, this time debuting at #1 on the iTunes World Music charts and garnering another SDMA nomination. Riding the wave of the increasing popularity of Hawaiian music, Slack Key ‘Ohana performed over 100 shows in 2022, and quickly gained a firm foothold in its genre. Prominent island music festivals played included PIFA (Pacific Islander Music Festival, San Diego), Alohana (Palm Springs), and the Slack Key Festival at Redondo Beach, CA.

For 2023, Slack Key ‘Ohana released an original single, “Nahenahe Ka Leo o Ka Wahine Uʻi”, earning an additional SDMA award for "Best World Music Song”. The band again performed over 100 shows, including returns to Tiki Oasis, Alohana, and the Slack Key Festival at Redondo Beach, and a new festival addition, Tiki Caliente (Palm Springs). In September, they performed at the inaugural Slack Key Festival at The Shops at Wailea, Maui, a fundraising event following the Lahaina fires. There, they appeared alongside Hawaiian slack key notables George Kahumoku, Jr, Kevin Brown, and Anthony Fluke.

Slack Key ‘Ohana’s latest full length studio album, “Hawaiian Cowboy” was released on April 5, 2024, and again debuted at #1 on the iTunes World Music Charts. Recorded at the state-of-the-art, invitation-only Studio 606 owned by Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), this album includes guest artist performances by George Kahumoku, Jr, Brittni Paiva, and ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons

The lyric and translation video for Slack Key ‘Ohana’s 2023 single release “Nahenahe Ka Leo o Ka Wahine Uʻi” has been nominated for a 2024 Na Hoku Hanohano (“Hawaiian Grammy”) award, with winners announced at the Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts award ceremony in Honolulu on August 3, 2024. Slack Key ‘Ohana will attend the ceremony and perform for the distinguished audience, reprising their song “Hawaiian Cowboy”, and joined on stage as on their record by multiple Hanohano winners Brittni Paiva and George Kahumoku, Jr.