Hawaii slack key guitar master and singer Cyril Pahinui was recovering Tuesday after undergoing lung surgery at the Queen’s Medical Center.
His condition was not life-threatening, according to a post to his Facebook page.
“His condition was worse than expected and so the recovery will be slow and hard,” the post said. “We will fill his room with Hawaiian music, which is his life force and has helped him through each day of this challenge.”
Pahinui, 65, was exposed to several chemicals, including Agent Orange, during his service in the Vietnam War on the front lines, another Facebook post explained. “This exposure has impacted his lungs and heart for many years,” it said. “And although he quit over 10 years ago, smoking certainly did not help.”
His right lung had collapsed and fluids filled the lining. Doctors at Queen’s drained the lung and tried somewhat aggressive medical procedures, a post said.
The son of slack key guitar legend Gabby Pahinui, Cyril Pahinui has performed at Carnegie Hall twice. He has contributed to three Grammy Award-winning albums, received several Hoku Hanohano Awards and recorded on more than 35 Hawaiian music releases.
The Ninth Annual Gabby Pahinui Waimanalo Kanikapila will be held April 23 at Waimanalo Beach Park.
The Facebook page said Pahinui’s surgery had been set for 11 a.m. and was expected to take about two hours.
“Aloha kakahiaka, we send our aloha to all of you this morning as we prepare for this critical lifesaving surgery,” a post said.
An online message from Pahinui said he spent the time before the surgery with his doctors, listening “to the tunes of Ledward (Kaapana) and my dad, Gabby.”
