Jake Shimabukuro is a ukulele virtuoso and composer from Hawaii known for his fast and complex finger work. His music combines elements of jazz, blues, funk, rock, bluegrass, classical, folk, and flamenco. Shimabukuro has written numerous original compositions, including the entire soundtracks to two Japanese films, Hula Girls (2007) and Sideways (2009), the Japanese remake of the same name.
PIMPBOT was an American ska punk band from Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. It was formed in 2001. Blending influences of reggae, dance-rock, hardcore punk, and rocksteady, the band was a local favorite, playing at many Honolulu venues. Pimpbot performed at the world-famous Wave Waikiki at the closing celebration, headlined the grand opening of the stage at Kemo'o Farms, and the popular Sunset on the Beach event at Waikiki Beach.
Kamuela Kahoano is a singer/songwriter, painter/visual artist and music producer from Honolulu, Hawaii. His music has elements of acoustic, folk, indie and alternative with Hawaiian influences. He performs solo and was formerly the lead singer of the band Analog(ic). He is an accomplished player of both the ukulele and guitar, playing both left-handed; he also plays the djembe. Kahoano claims many influences, including Coldplay, U2 and the Beatles.
Eric Lee is a Hawaiian musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. His work has appeared on more than 30 albums, including his work with The Kanile'a Collection, Nā Kama, The Ka'ala Boys, The Mākaha Sons, and his solo albums, Crossroads, Kawehilani, and his Twentieth Anniversary Anthology.
Karl Zinsman Jr. is a Hawaiian/ Reggae multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, music producer, graphic designer and manager. He is an artist/ producer and founder of the island music groups "Three Plus", "Hi-Town" and "The Brown Boys". Currently the owner of CK Music Co. LLC based out of Hawai'i Island.
The Throwdowns is an American Canadian pop-island-reggae-dance band from Maui, Hawaii, formed in 2009.
The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, occasionally called the Nā Hōkū Awards or Hoku Awards, are the premier music awards in Hawaii. They are considered to be Hawaii's equivalent of the Grammy Awards. "Nā Hōkū Hanohano" means "Stars of Distinction" in Hawaiian – "hōkū" means "star", "nā" makes it plural, and "hanohano" means "glorious, worthy of praises". The awards were founded in 1978 by radio personality Krash Kealoha of KCCN-AM, a radio station which focused on traditional Hawaiian music. He launched the first awards with the support of the owner of the radio station Sydney Grayson, and his fellow DJs Kimo Kahoʻāno and Jacqueline “Skylark” Rossetti.
Kimié Kauikeolani Miner better known as Kimié, is an Grammy Award nominated producer, American singer-songwriter and musician of Native Hawaiian and Portuguese descent. In November 2019 Miner earned her first Grammy Award nomination for the compilation album titled "Hawaiian Lullaby" as a producer along with producer Imua Garza. It was released in 2019 under her label Haku Collective. Hawaiian Lullaby was nominated in the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards under the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. Miner is an independent artist formerly managed by Kimo Kennedy of Arium Music and Kekoa Kapua of FR Management.
Natural Vibrations,, is a reggae band originally from Kahalu'u, Oahu, Hawaii, based out of San Diego, California with rock and pop influences. The band has received several awards at the Hawaii Music Awards and three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Kuana Torres Kahele is an American musician, vocalist, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and educator from Hilo, Hawaii. Known primarily for his original acoustic compositions, Kahele arranges traditional Hawaiian music as well, performing and recording with instruments such as ʻukulele, guitar, ipu, and bass. The majority of his lyrics are written and performed in the Hawaiian language. After learning Kane Hula and Haku Mele in his teens, in 1995 Kahele co-founded Nā Palapalai, a Hawaiian music group that has released a number of albums. Several have charted in the top five on the Billboard Top World Albums chart, and the group has won a large number of Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including Group of the Year.
Kūkahi Allan Nu’uanu Lee, professionally known mononymously as Kūkahi, is a Native Hawaiian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Kūkahi began writing music at a young age and performed in musical venues around the world throughout his early teens. After graduating from high school in 2015, he founded an independent record label that is distributed and funded by Makaliʻi Productions.
Easy Star Records is an American independent record label founded in 1996. Based in New York City, the label primarily produces and releases albums in the genres of reggae and dub.
Matt Sproat is a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning Hawaiian musician, singer, producer, and story-teller. He is a guitarist and singer with the Hawaiian music trio, Waipuna. He is the great-grandnephew of the legendary musician and story-teller Kindy Sproat, who was a 1988 NEA National Heritage Fellow.
Jaye Nāpua Greig-Nakasone, known professionally as Nāpua Greig, is a Hawaiian musician, vocalist, songwriter, record producer, kumu hula, and educator from Maui, Hawaii. Known primarily for her contributions as kumu hula of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, she arranges traditional Hawaiian music as well, performing and recording with instruments such as ukulele, ipu, and other traditional Hawaiian hula implements. She has released four solo albums, each earning a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award.
Kalani Peʻa is a three-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter of Hawaiian music. He released his first album, E Walea, in 2016, which won the 2017 Grammy award for Best Regional Roots Music Album. Peʻa released his second album, No 'Ane'i, in 2018, which won the Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
Ho'okena is a Hawaiian music trio which consist of the members Horace K. Dudoit, Chris Kamaka and Glen Smith. The group was created in 1986 and remains one of the longest lasting Hawaiian music groups. Ho'okena has been nominated for the Grammy Awards three times and has won multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Nā Palapalai is a Hawaiian music band, originally founded in Hilo, Hawaii. Founded by Kuana Torres Kahele, Kapulanakehau "Kehau" Tamure, and Keao Costa. The group arranges traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, performing and recording with instruments such as ukulele, guitar, ipu, and upright bass. The majority of the lyrics are written and performed in the Hawaiian language. The group has released a total of eight albums each earning multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, including Group of the Year. Several have charted in the top five on the Billboard Top World Albums chart,
Carlson Kamaka Kūkona, III, otherwise simply known as Kamaka Kūkona, is an American musician, vocalist, songwriter, record producer, kumu hula, and educator.
E Walea is the debut album by Hawaiian singer Kalani Pe'a. It was released on August 5, 2016.
A‘ea‘e is a Hawaiian music group composed of Keola Donaghy, Tarvin Makia, Kenneth Makuakāne, Māpuana Makia and Jeff Dayton. The group was established in 2022, and released its debut EP on December 30, 2022. The release included a vocal performance by Māpuana Makia. A‘ea‘e was entered in ten categories for the 46th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and a finalist in four categories. They were honored with two awards - Hawaiian EP of the Year and as Group of the Year at the Awards program held on July 1, 2023 at the Hawaii Theatre.
