Jake Shimabukuro is a Hawaiian ukulele virtuoso and composer 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.
Dennis Pavao, was one of several Hawaiian musicians who, during the 1970s, led a Hawaiian music renaissance, reviving Hawaiian music, especially "ka leo ki'eki'e," or Hawaiian falsetto singing. Along with his cousins, Ledward and Nedward Kaʻapana, Pavao started the group Hui ʻOhana. Hui ʻOhana became the premier falsetto group in Hawaiʻi. After the breakup of Hui ʻOhana, Dennis Pavao moved on to pursue a solo career.
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.
Teresa Bright is a native-Hawaiian entertainer who plays 'ukulele and guitar. Her music is popular in Japan as well as in Hawaii and the United States mainland. Much of her repertoire features lyrics in the Hawaiian Language, but she has an extensive jazz and hapa-haole repertoire as well.
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". He is also owner of CK Music Co.
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 Kaho‘āno 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.
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.
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.
Hawaiian Lullaby is the album by Haku Collective. It was released on May 24, 2019.
Kolohe Kai is a Hawaiian reggae pop musical group formed in 2009 by singer-songwriter Roman De Peralta.
Walter Aipolani, known as Bruddah Waltah, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist of Hawaiian music. He was born in Keaukaha near Hilo, and moved to Oahu as a child with his family. In the 1980s, he began playing gigs in Waikiki. He was called the Father of Hawaiian Reggae as he and bands he played with, such as Island Afternoon, popularized Hawaiian-style reggae music in the 1980s and 1990s.
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.
