King Ben Nawahi

"King" Bennie Nawahi (July 3, 1899 - January 29, 1985) was an American steel guitar master from Hawaii, well-known throughout the country in the 1920s and 30s. Celebrated as a virtuoso during his lifetime, his body of work has not garnered the accolades as have other Hawaiian musical stars of the era. Benjamin Keakahiawa Nawahi was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, one of 12 children. While not of royal birth, Nawahi came by the title in the way many show business personalities do for their particular genre. Nawahi learned to play in the parks of Honolulu for pennies, often teaming with Sol Hoʻopiʻi, who would become his rival for the title "King of the Hawaiian Guitar", along with that of Sam Ku West. Bennie was also known as "King of the...