George Kainapau has been played on NTS in shows including Reimagining Country w/ Jamal Khadar, featured first on 1 November 2022. Songs played include Hookipa Paka Hula.

Hawaiian falsetto singer George Kainapau was born in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii on May 22, 1905. He died in Seal Beach, California on September 14, 1992. Known as Hawaii's Falsetto King, George began singing at the Volcano House in the 1920's. He recorded "Hilo Hanakahi" with Sol Hoopii and Andy Iona on January 18, 1929 at age 23. That was his first recording.

George became a falsetto phenomenon in the ’30s. “Once microphones got…