Cyril Pahinui - 6 & 12 String Slack Key

Cyril, son of the legendary Slack Key guitarist and entertainer Gabby "Pops" Pahinui, was born and raised on the island of Oahu, in the small town of Waimanalo.  Cyril first started tinkering with a guitar at the young age of seven.     "At the Pahinui homestead in Waimanalo, we often had backyard parties with `Pops' and `Ma', my brothers and sister, aunties and uncles and many friends," Cyril remembers.  "We would play music until the wee hours of the morning."  One of Gabby's best friends who was often there way the late great Slack Key guitarists Atta Isaacs, who was also one of Cyril's main influences.  Both Atta and Cyril are two of the greatest improvisers in the history of Slack Key.      When Cyril was 14 he used to hitchhike into Waikiki where he'd sneak into the balcony at the Queen's Surf Barefoot Bar to hear his dad play.  It wasn't long after that Cyril got the opportunity to begin performing with Gabby.  Cyril started performing professionally at 15, though he had to get