Henry Kapono reflects on new music, ahead of concerts

When Oʻahu-based singer and songwriter Henry Kapono Kaʻaihue, who goes by Henry Kapono, sings “Sailing,” he is performing a song he wrote for his father. The lyrics describe a man who is “skipper of the sea” and calls sailing “his first love, it keeps him so free.” The Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning artist just released the extended play “Summertime,” on July 11, and has several upcoming performances on Oʻahu.

“I always say that ʻSailing’ has been my favorite because I wrote it for my dad,” Kapono told Aloha State Daily. “When I was coming up, I was wanting to write a song for my dad because he taught me so much, and ʻSailing’ would probably be the song.”

His new extended play “Summertime” has six songs, including “Summertime,” “Lahaina,” and “Island Love,” among others. It was named by his wife who drew inspiration from the song by that name, he said.

Kapono grew up in Kapahulu and walked Waikīkī regularly with his father and brother where they would surf and say hello to the beach boys, including Duke Kahanamoku’s family.

“In the song ʻSummertime,’ I'm kind of mixing both past and present,” he said. “I love summer. Hawaiʻi is summer for me every day, all year long.”

Kapono performed for many years with Cecilio David Rodriguez, before launching a solo career. Now, he performs regularly from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Duke’s Waikīkī as part of a series called “Duke’s on Sunday.” For the last hour of each performance, music is livestreamed on Facebook. This weekend, Kapono will perform A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett on Sunday, Aug. 24.

The performance falls just ahead of September, which Mayor Rick Blangiardi declared Henry Kapono Foundation Month in 2024. Next month, is the foundation’s “We Are Friends” fundraiser on Sept. 28. Details.

Today, Kapono is helping the next generation of artists get their start through the Henry Kapono Foundation, which runs the On the Rise program to help launch the careers of young entertainers based in Hawaiʻi with professional shows, mentorship, masterclasses and publicity opportunities.

His advice for young artists?

“Be passionate about what you want to do,” he said. “Just listen to your heart. Anything is possible, and dreams do come true, but you need to put in need to put in the work and the effort to really be who you want to be.”

Follow Kapono on Instagram, YouTube or Spotify and get more information about upcoming performances on his website: henrykapono.com. Learn about his foundation’s events.

Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.