George Kahumoku Jr.’s “Maui Slack Key Christmas” CD will be released on Nov. 1. The illustration/design was created by Mort Krajec of Lahaina.

NAPILI – George Kahumoku Jr., host of the weekly “Slack Key Show-Masters of Hawaiian Music” at Napili Kai Beach Resort, is releasing his newest CD, “Maui Slack Key Christmas,” on Nov. 1.

Presale orders are being taken at kahumoku.com/maui-slack-key-christmas-pre-sale.

This unique and personal collection of holiday songs features four originals, some of Kahumoku’s favorite traditional hymns and Christmas classics, all featuring him singing with his distinctive, 12-string guitar style of Hawaiian slack key.

His original songs include “Christmas Eve at Keawala’i,” inspired by holiday services performed at this popular Makena church; “On Maui This Christmas Day,” a song about his love of his farmland and animals; “Kaukini Christmas,” an instrumental created while gazing over his Kaukini Ridge farm’s beautiful pastures; and “December is the Season,” a fun song based on a poem immortalizing their flock of goats and sheep that were all giving birth at the same time in December. It’s a song that will become one of your family’s Hawaiian holiday favorites.

The CD has Kahumoku’s favorite classics from his youth: “Keiki Kane Ho’okani Pahu” (Little Drummer Boy) and “Po La’i E” (Silent Night). He also included his Spanish favorite, “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano, as well as the soulful Maori song “‘O?Oe?Io” by Luke Morgan, and the beautiful Hawaiian hymn “Ua Mau” (Hosana) by Moses Keale.

Hawaiian Christmas songs round out the collection with “Mele Kalikimaka Ia ‘Oe” by Alice Namekelua and “Aloha Kalikimaka” by Eddie and Myrna Kamae.

“I’ve always enjoy playing Hawaiian Christmas and religious songs,” stated Kahumoku, “which makes me especially excited about sharing these songs in my first solo Christmas CD.

“I was inspired by holiday memories both from my childhood and from playing last year for Kahu Alika’s beautiful Christmas Eve service at Keawala’i Church.”

Kahumoku will be sharing songs from “Maui Slack Key Christmas” in his upcoming Hymns of Hawaii Holiday Tour on the Mainland this December with Richard Ho’opi’i and Kawika Kahiapo.

Maui Slack Key Christmas will be available for pre-order at kahumoku.com/maui-slack-key-christmas-pre-sale/.

After Nov. 1, the CD will be available locally at Lahaina Music, LahainaTown Action Committee Gift Store, and Request Records in Wailuku.

This newest release, plus a wide selection of his CDs, can also be purchased online at Kahumoku.com, Mele.com, and at the weekly Wednesday night Slack Key Show at Napili Kai Beach Resort.

For more information, call 669-3858 or go to www.SlackKeyShow.com or www.Kahumoku.com.