Kalama's Quartet, active from the 1920s to the 1950s, was one of Hawaii's most celebrated pre-World War II bands, known for their virtuosic instrumentation and smooth vocal harmonies. The group was led by Mike Hanapi, a Honolulu-born musician who transitioned from being a jazz saxophonist to a steel guitarist. Hanapi's early exposure to the slack key style of guitar occurred during his time in Chicago, where he performed at the Chicago Exposition in 1910. He later received vocal training at the New York Conservatory of Music and performed with the Paul Specht Orchestra.

The group originated as the Hanapi Trio in 1926, formed by Hanapi with ukulele player William Kalama and harp-guitarist Bob Nawahine. The addition of guitarist/vocalist Dave Kaleipua Munson in late 1927 transformed the trio into Kalama's Quartet, despite the later inclusion of a second steel guitarist, Bob Matsu, in 1928.

Kalama's Quartet was renowned for their silken vocal harmonies, with Hanapi alternating between tenor and falsetto, complemented by Kalama on tenor, Munson on baritone, and Nawahine on bass. They recorded several tracks for OKeh Records between 1927 and 1931 and concluded their recording career with four tracks for Victor in January 1932. The group disbanded shortly thereafter, and its members faded into obscurity, except for Hanapi, who opened a music school in Hawaii in 1938 and later joined the Royal Hawaiian Band as a saxophonist until his death in 1959.

Their music, which includes a collection titled "Early Hawaiian Classics 1927-1932," remains a testament to their contribution to the Hawaiian music scene, especially in popularizing the slack key guitar style.