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Royal Hawaiian Troubadors

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NASHVILLE! Ke ho’olohe nei ‘iau i ke mele o Amelika. This town has a good time, and the Country Music Hall of Fame is incredible. The only thing it’s missing is an exhibition of Hawaii’s role in getting the whole damn thing started! But that’s going to change. #kaulapiko #mekiasmartin #nightofsovereignstrings #cfmartin #hawaiianmusic #nashville #musiccity #namm #gruhnguitars #eartrumpetlabs #kauaifolkfest #mekiasmartinfilm

Mekia’s Martin documentary filmshoot at the C.F. Martin Guitar Company Museum with Chris Martin IV, Dick Boak, Tim Teel and the Kimokeo Duo!! So humbled that the stars aligned and this gathering was possible. Introducing the first recreation of Mekia Kealakai’s signature model from the Martin Custom Shop, in over 30 years of playing, building and restoring guitars I can say absolutely, this is one of the finest guitars I have ever heard. In the hands of father & son duo, Kamuela And Ka’ihi Kimokeo it is pure magic. Mahalo mahalo mahalo. #mekiasmartin #dreadnought #martinguitars #iolanipalace #kaulapiko #acousticguitar #nazareth #hawaii #hawaiianmusic #olelohawaii #kawaihaugleeclub #slackkey

Traveling across the continent, in Buffalo NY location of the 1901 Fair where Mekia and his orchestra played from May-November. Research gets very hard at times, tracking down events from over a century ago seems impossible with so much buried in time and “progress”. Then a random scrapbook on a dusty shelf makes the looking all worthwhile. #mekiasmartin #cfmartinguitar #hawaiiantroubadours #stringband #alohaaina #nightofsovereignstrings #dreadnought #iolanipalace #kaulapiko

I am honored and thrilled to be flying to Nazareth Pennsylvania to pickup the official recreation of Mekia Kealakai’s Martin guitar! I will be interviewing Chris Martin IV, whose grandfather C.F III met Mekia in 1915 during a concert in Elmira NY where Mekia was leading his band, “The Kealakai Royal Hawaiian Sextette”. They began designing the “Kealakai” model Martin guitar, an extra large jumbo guitar capable of filling the Vaudeville concert halls and traveling tent shows Mekia was performing at as he tirelessly crisscrossed the continental United States. The Kealakai model in time became known as the Dreadnought, and the rest as they say, is history. This guitar will be coming home to Hawai’i and will be featured in the Bishop Museum exhibition I am curating with historian DeSoto Brown set to open Spring 2020, the 100 year anniversary of Mekia’s return to Hawai’i to lead the Royal Hawaiian Band. We will be filming with @kamuela_music at the Martin factory, playing some of Mekia’s mele, and giving thanks. Mahalo Mekia, mahalo Hawai’i, mahalo Ke Akua. #mekiasmartin #nightofsovereignstrings #cfmartinguitars #martinguitar #vintagemartin #fretboardjournal #hanahoumagazine #dreadnought #mekiasmartinfilm #chickenskin #guitarplayer #steelguitar #josephkekuku #kamehamehaschools #bishopmuseum #kauaifolkfest #kauaioldtimegathering

So stoked to meet John Troutman- author, historian and curator at the Smithsonian American History Museum. The Kona Historical Society Post to John and Alan Akaka for a lecture series and seminar on conservation of music. What an amazing group of hard working folks! #konahistoricalsociety #iolanipalace #smithsonianmuseum #kikakila #americanrootsmusic #soundtracks #steelguitar #martinguitar #ukulele #hawaiianmusic #musicinmotion #nightofsovereignstrings

Thumbing through old photos in an antique shop in Kealakekeua and find this postcard! The Mr. Bill Griffin fellow Saloon Pilots alum. #whatarethechances #cachevalleydrifters #givensmandolin

KR Strings is Hawai’i's premier restoration studio for fine vintage stringed instruments. Founder Kilin Reece, specializes in the restoration, repair, design, and building of ukuleles, guitars, and mandolins. His work has been featured in Hawaiian Airlines Hana Hou! magazine and the Fretboard Journal and he is currently working as the historical research consultant for a book and documentary film in collaboration with the Martin Guitar Company illuminating the long running history of collaboration between Hawai’i and America’s oldest string instrument company.

KR Strings

150 Hamakua Drive,

Kailua, HI, 96734

808-387-4583 krstrings@gmail.com