Raymond Kaleoalohapoinaʻoleohelemanu Kāne, born on October 2, 1925, was an American guitarist known for his mastery of the slack-key guitar. He developed a distinctive style characterized by ki ho'alu tunings and a unique plucking technique using only his thumb and index finger of his right hand. His early career included releases such as Party Songs, Hawaiian Style, Vol. 2 (1959). Throughout the 1970s and beyond, Kāne released several notable albums including Master Of The Slack Key Guitar (1988), Punahele (1994), and Hawaiian Sunset Music, Vol. 1 (1997). In 1987, he received a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the highest honor in folk and traditional arts in the United States. Kāne died on February 27, 2008.
