With the recent release of their 6th album, "Maui", Hapa's Barry Flanagan and Nathan Aweau embrace the wider cultures of the pan-Polynesian South Pacific in this wide-ranging performance. Flanagan describes the most recent work as "A soundtrack for 21st century Polynesia where native art, history and music are pulled together by the powerful force of Maui." Charles Ka'upu’s stirring chants and stories mesh with Kawena Chun’s dramatic and graceful Hula to add cultural sinew to Hapa's strong musical bones.

With a pulse and energy that make it entirely of today, Hapa's groundbreaking music connects firmly to the Polynesian past, featuring poetic ballads about the sea, the lushness of the land, and favorite chiefs all told through melodies rich in harmony and backed by virtuoso guitar. Add their signature dose of American acoustic folk/rock, Celtic and world influences and you have the essence of what Hawaii and Hapa music is: "beautiful, fragile, spiritual, powerful" ---LA Times.

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Hapa "that's Barry Flanagan and Nathan Aweau" will bring Hawaiian music to a mainstream audience when the group performs at the Hollywood Reporter/Billboard Film & TV Music Conference in Beverly Hills Nov. 15. It'll mark the first time an Island act gets such a boost. Flanagan and Aweau will be joined by chanter Charles Ka'upu and a hula dancer. ... Wayne Harada — The Honolulu Advertiser (11-05)

"Hawaii's hottest group!" ----Billboard Magazine

"Hawaii's Super Group"----Elle Magazine

"HAPA: MAUI' is an instant classic and solidifies the group's standing as a titan of the genre. They haven't missed a beat."
----Mike Schneider, KCSN-FM, Los Angeles, "Hawaiian Eye"

"Hapa is a troupe of individuals who, through the power of Hawaiian music,chant and dance, create self-worth, dignity and respect for all people."
----Stevie Guitar Sparks

"HAPA: MAUI is majestic, the music and packaging are aurally and visuallystunning, reflecting a link to the past while soaring mightily into thefuture"
----Wayne Harada, Senior Entertainment Writer, Honolulu Advertiser

“A masterful guitarist” ----Stephen Stills

“Virtuoso!” ----L.A. Times

“...An iron fist in a velvet glove”
----San Francisco Chronicle

“...One of the world’s premier guitarists”
----Oregon Daily Emerald

"In the Name of Love is one of the year's best albums."
----John Berger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

"It is not an overstatement that In the Name of Love actually encompasses the past, present and future of Polynesian music."
----George Powell, San Francisco Examiner Magazine

"Hapa explores the rich possibilities of Hawaiian music and then some, blending a variety of pop and world music styles."
----Joel Selvin, San Francisco Chronicle

"If Maui were music, it would sound like these guys."
----Wallace Baine, Santa Cruz Sentinel

"Flanagan showed off such a combination of dexterity and soulfulness that he brought to mind some mid-Pacific amalgam of Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins and Wes Montgomery."
----Cary Darling, The Orange County Register

"...Nathan Aweau, Male Vocalist of the Year, 2003...You can't get any betterthan this..."
----Wayne Harada, Honolulu Advertiser

"Hapa's compelling, drastically reworked version of [U2's] 'Pride' is a powerful rendition featuring chiming acoustic guitars, muscular percussive work and, most significant, Charles Ka'upu's hypnotic, urgent chants."
----John Roos, Los Angeles Time
 
"Complex, sophisticated and flawlessly conceived and engineered, In the Name of Love is as elaborate and visceral as today’s Hawaii."
----Susan Dixon, Kauai Times

"A two-man music factory...Hapa’s new album, Surf Madness is ambitious, diverse and imaginative."
----John Berger, Honolulu Star-Bulletin

"Hapa combines a bracing blend of American folk and Polynesian lilt that proved absolutely breathtaking."
----Cary Darling, The Orange County Register

"Hypnotic, liquid guitar runs woven around clear, tenor Hawaiian vocals and immaculate harmonies driven by poetic lyrics exulting the rapture of the Hawaiian landscape and history--that’s Hapa."
----Mark D. Moss, Sing Out!

"Hapa is a troupe of individuals who, through the power of Hawaiian music, chant and dance, create self-worth, dignity and respect for all people."
----Japan World Music News

"It is not an overstatement that In the Name of Love actually encompasses the past, present and future of Polynesian music."
----George Powell, San Francisco Examiner Magazine

"For an introduction to the lighter side of Hapa, an album released last year of surf-rock numbers, Surf Madness, is highly recommended."
----John Roos, Los Angeles Time

"Barry Flanagan represents just how far hawaiian music has traveled and how compelling its appeal is."
----Sharla Manley, Honolulu Magazine