Like the Hawaiian Islands themselves, Hapa’s Pan-Polynesian music is an amalgam of influences ranging from ancient genealogical chants to the strummed ballads of Portuguese fisherman, Spanish cowboys, and the inspired melodies and harmonies of the traditional church choirs of the early missionaries. Add to this a dose of American acoustic folk/rock, and you have what the Maui Times has described as the "most exciting and beautiful contemporary Hawaiian music the world knows!"
Often styled the "Sound of Maui", the music created by Hapa (Barry Flanagan and Nathan Aweau) evokes a place that many critics have referred to as heavenly. The overriding quality of their music is one of beauty and serenity, found in the majestic tones of the oli (chant), mele (song), the elegant movements of the sacred dance known as hula, and the exhilarating innovative sounds of virtuoso slack key guitar. Hapa’s self-titled debut CD released in 1993, swept the 1994 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s equivalent of the Grammy’s), becoming the biggest selling CD by a group or duo in the history of recorded Hawaiian music. In 2006 the group’s recording, Hula, won the best album award and in 2007 Nathan Aweau won as best male vocalist of the year. Hapa’s ground breaking music has established them as the most recognized name in Hawaiian music internationally since their debut release, with sold-out shows from Tokyo to New York. This will be Barry and Nathan's 3rd appearance at The Shedd's Jaqua Concert Hall.