Born Charles Kapono Kahahawai, Jr. in 1921 in Kaka'ako, Oahu, he was renamed "Charles Philip Pahinui" by his hanai parents, Philip and Emily Pahinui. Self-taught, he began his career at ten as a bass player. He graduated to guitar early on, and for some forty years played the club circuit in Honolulu. Gabby credited his more than ten years with Andy Cummings and His Hawaiian Serenaders as "a big influence on my life." As early as the 1940s he recorded singles with Andy Cummings on the Bell label, singing and playing both steel and slack key guitar. Gabby was one of the first to record a slack key album when he teamed with steel guitar artist, Alvin "Barney" Isaacs, Jr. in the late 1950s. It was Gabby's 1970s album with Sons of Hawai'i, however, that catapulted him to fame and the attention of concert promoters. By his death in 1980, Gabby Pahinui had become - and remains - an important force in contemporary Hawaiian instrumental music. His legacy is not only the consummate skill of his playing, but also the special spirit evident in his musical performance. Known as the King of the slack key, master of the steel guitar and Lord of the folk singers, Gabby Pahinui is in many ways—the naked soul of Hawaii.
Kanahele, George (Eds.) (1979). Hawaiian Music and Musicians. Honolulu, HI: University of Press of Hawai’i p. 284-284.
Harry B. Soria, Jr. Hall of Fame Advisory Board Archivist
Todaro, Tony. (1974) The Golden Years of Hawaiian Entertainment. Honolulu, HI: Tony Todaro Publishing p.288.