Stacie Ku‘ulei shares love for the isles with ‘Sweet Baby’
Local vocalist and lyricist Stacie Ku‘ulei picked up a Na Hoku Hanohano Award last year for her Christmas single, “A Hawaiian Christmas.” Read more
Island Mele
Taimane explores her heritage with ‘Hawaiki’
Taimane, who dedicated the album to her late mother, mentions in the liner notes that her mother was Samoan. With that knowledge, listeners can be prepared for lyrics that refer to Samoa rather than Hawaii. Read more
New compilation celebrates Hawaiian falsetto tradition
The 13-track album showcases past winners of the Ho‘opi‘i festival: Pomaika‘i Krueger (2009), Po‘okela Wood (2010), Ezra Kau‘i Krueger (2011), Joshua No‘eau Kalima (2012), Micah Hoapili DeAguiar (2013), Grant Kaimana Kono (2014), Kamalei Kawa‘a (2015), Gregory Kahikina Juan (2016), Kason Gomes (2017) and Kama‘ehu Kawa‘a (2021). Read more
New Keauhou album showcases trio’s talents
Keauhou — Zachary Alaka‘i Lum, his brother Nicholas Keali‘i Lum and Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio — made history in 2017 when the trio’s self-titled debut album swept the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards with wins in all nine categories in which they were nominated. Read more
Rolando Sanchez, the king of tropical music in Hawaii, returns with new single
Rolando Sanchez has been “El rey de la musica tropical en Hawai” (“The king of tropical music in Hawaii”) ever since he brought contemporary Latin “salsa” music to mainstream Honolulu nightclub audiences in the late 1980s. Read more
Island Mele: Daniel Ho releases live album; Art Umezu honored in compilation release
Daniel Ho holds a unique place in Hawaii’s music history with six Grammy Awards for his work as a record producer and recording artist, received during the seven years that Hawaiian music had its own category. Read more
Napua Greig at ‘Home’ with country music
We might soon see Napua Greig on the national country music charts: A song on her newly released album, “Home,” shows that Greig, a multi-Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner, is ready and worthy of notice in Nashville. Read more
Island Mele: New releases from Greg Sardinha, Kulaiwi, Storm
Steel guitar master Greg Sardinha expected his new instrumental full-length album to be out by summer’s end and that the four Christmas bonus tracks would have plenty to time to reach the ears of radio station programmers. Read more
Ho‘aikane comes full circle on new release; Molokai-based duo High Watah releases new single
This milestone album brings Ho‘aikane full circle and opens a new chapter of its multidecade history. Ho‘aikane started out in the 1980s playing “back porch” slack-key music. Read more
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Isle musicians Kanekoa, Uncle Tadashi & Da Boyz and Chardonnay share unique styles with new singles
John Cruz won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for his first locally recorded album, “Island Style,” in 1997. Read more
Kalani Pe‘a’s new album delivers depth, style
Kalani Pe‘a holds an important place in the history of Hawaiian music. In 2017 he became the first Hawaii-resident artist to receive a Grammy Award after the award for Hawaiian music was eliminated in 2011. Read more
Review: Kala‘e Camarillo’s new single celebrates a mother’s love
Born and raised on Maui, Kala‘e Camarillo comes from an extended family of talented musicians. Read more
From instrumental tracks to modern Hawaiian songs, Hawaii musicians turn out new tunes
From livestreaming performances with virtual tip jars to socially distant outdoor concerts, Hawaii recording artists have come up with innovative ways over the past year to bring their music to the community. Read more
Reviews: Filipino, Hawaiian cultures merge on ‘Kawili’ album; Storm does metal rock remake of Cher’s ‘Dark Lady’
In the 19th century, Hawaiians adopted and adapted many non-Hawaiian musical instruments. Read more
Reviews: Albums from Ka‘imi Hanano‘eau and Lance Takamiya explore Hawaiian music, slack key guitar tunes
Is Hawaiian music a specific type of musical performance — Hawaiian language lyrics supported by acoustic guitar, ukulele, “stand-up bass” and steel guitar — or is it any type of music sung in the Hawaiian language? Read more
Reviews: From metal to a moving tribute, local musicians The Midnight Skulls, Paul Dunlap Jr. and Sean Na‘auao release new material
Vocalist/graphic artist Barry Lasit is the key figure in this spin-off project by Gerald K. Gonsalves and Tin Idol Productions. Read more
Reviews: New releases from The Late Ones, Men in Grey Suits, Kimo Kahoano and Kamuela Kahoano
“Babylon exists, I see her every day. In the eyes of my brothers. She leads them astray. Anything a man desire, she grants I. Confusing I and I with wicked lie.” Read more
Reviews: Stuart Hollinger returns with rock, Big Island duo Lavender brings fresh sound
Two-time Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner Stuart Hollinger (best rock album in 2014, 2016) is back with his fourth collection of original rock. Read more
REVIEW: Strength shines through on isle albums
Letting go of a dead-end romantic relationship can be surprisingly difficult even with the knowledge that letting go is the right thing to do. Read more
Island Mele: Debut Jawaiian song from Tiara Gomes and upbeat track from Uncle Tadashi & Da Boyz
Talent contest winner Tiara Gomes partners with contest-sponsors Maoli in making her debut as a recording artist with this seductive Jawaiian/pop original. Read more
Island Mele: 5 Hawaii musicians get into the spirit with new Christmas recordings
Christmas has been celebrated in Hawaii for more than 150 years, and music is an important part of marking the holiday island-style. Read more
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