Hawaii's relaxed island lifestyle is undoubtedly reflected in the local music scene. Musicians in Hawaii use loose guitars and ukuleles to create simple melodies full of emotion, and they master a delicate balance that is consistent with history and tradition while keeping an eye on contemporary styles and tastes. Here's the list of 10 Hawaiian musicians we should know.
Israeli Kamakawiwo'ole
Israeli Kamakawio'ole began performing at the Steamboat Lounge in Waikiki, where his parents worked. Invited by a scheduled music performer to play his Hawaiian quadrilate on stage, Israel quickly developed a love and passion for music. In 1976, Israel and friend Jerome 'John' Koko formed the five-piece band, Makaha Sons of Ni'iahu. However, in 1993, Israel decided to begin his solo career by releasing his first indie album Facing the Future, which remains the world's best-selling Hawaiian music album. In 2005, Future Facing was the first Platinum-certified Hawaiian music album to sell more than 1 million copies. He has received international acclaim and recognition for his popular rendition of "Flowing Through the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World". His music has become featured in national commercials and hits such as blockbuster 50 first dates. After his tragic death in 1997, his gentle voice made him a mainstay of Billboard World Charts.
Ledward Kaapana
Ledward Kaapana grew up in a small rural town on Hawaii's Big Island without electricity or television. As a form of entertainment, his family and neighbors will host a post-flower party and play live music. That's why Kaapana first learned to play a loose guitar. Capana formed the musical group Hui Ohana with his twin brother Ned and cousin Dennis Pava. They released their first album in 1973 and produced 14 best-selling albums, after which Kaapana independently starred as a solo artist. His first album, Limawera, won the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Instrumental Album of the Year (Hawaii's equivalent of a Grammy Award). In 2006, Kaapana's Ki Ho'alu: Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar was nominated for the Grammy for Best Hawaiian Music Album. Kaapana's mastery of the slouch guitar, his iconic baritone, and his dedication to music and culture makes him a living legend.
Tang Hao
Born on Oahu, Don Ho began performing in his family restaurant and lounge, named Honey's, after his mother, after retiring from the Air Force. Ho attracts visitors with his amiable contagious personality, carving out a musical image that locals and tourists flock to see him perform. Once he started working with his accompanist The Ali'is at The Duke Kahanamoku Club, he became part of Waikiki's nightlife. Ho plays the organ while singing pop music with his deep, silky bluff. He released his single "Tiny Bubbles" in 1966, became an international star, and became a popular icon, in line with television shows such as Johnny Carson and Andy Williams and his own TV show on CBS. Tang Haoxiu. He died of heart failure in 2007, but he is still revered as a seminal figure in contemporary Hawaiian music.
Keali'i Reichel
Born and raised in Maui, Keali'i Reichel blends contemporary Hawaiian music with traditional Hawaiian carols. He released his first album, Kawaipunahele, independently in 1994. The album was an immediate success and won five Na Hoku Hanohano Awards with great fanfare, including Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Hawaii Album of the Year. His most recent album, Ke'alaokamaile, was released in 2003 and ranked first on Billboard Chart's Top World Music album. In addition to selling concerts in Honolulu, Reichel performed at Carnegie Hall and opened concerts for LeAnn Rimes, Celine Dion, and Sting. In 1980, he founded his own hula school, Halau Ke'alaokamaile, as a way to further spread and practice his passion for the Hawaiian language, which led him to pursue music first.
Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson was born on Oahu and his first love was the ocean. His father, Jeff Johnson, was a professional surfer and showed him his way at a young age. In the 17-year-old Pipeline Masters surfing competition, he became the most qualified person to participate in the final. However, after a traumatic surfing accident, he quit the race and put his energy into music. He is a self-taught guitarist who released his first album, Bushfire Fairytales, in 2001. His third album, Between Dreams, was released in 2005 and made him a household name. The album, which includes singles such as "Banana Pancakes" and "Better Together," is number two on Billboard Chart's Top 200 albums. A prolific musician with nine albums, Johnson has made his place in the world of music by sticking to his roots, using his soft, clumsy, beach-wandering rhythms and acoustic instruments to spread the laid-back island lifestyle he grew up with.
By Leo Pilimehana
Na Leo Pilimehana is a contemporary Hawaiian music group made up of three childhood friends: Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima and Angela Morales, which means 'sound blends together in warmth'. When they entered the Hawaii Statewide Draft with the original song "Local Boys," they made a major breakthrough in 1984. At the time, it became Hawaii's best-selling single and earned them the first Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Singles of the Year. Building on that momentum, they released their first album later that year, also local boys. It will take them 9 years to release their second album, Friends, in 1993. The interruption gives members time to go to college and start a family. However, they made a prolific comeback, releasing 23 CDs, winning a total of 22 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, and founding their own record label, NLP Music, cementing their position as one of the island's top female Hawaiian music groups.
Jack Island Bag
A ukulele prodigy, Jake Shimabukuro began his career at local cafes around Honolulu before signing with Epic Records in 2002. He received national recognition when he posted the cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on YouTube. It spread rapidly, garnering over 13 million views. This gives Shimabukuro the opportunity to collaborate with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffet, Cyndi Lauper and Ziggy Marley. His appearance amazed the audience with Good Morning America and the Today Show and the opportunity to perform for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Show in 2009. His relaxed, vibrant classical rock style blended with the traditional sound of the ukulele made him a winner of numerous Na Hoku Hanohano awards, including Album of the Year and Artist of the Year.
Willie K.
Willie Kahaiakli'i grew up in Maui and began entertaining audiences at the age of ten when his father's band performed. As a singer, songwriter, and entertainer, K is not limited by musical genres, playing a wide variety of music, including Hawaiian, jazz, country, and opera. He released his first album, Kahaiakli'i, which won four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 1992, including Album of the Year, Most Promising Artist of the Year and Male Singer of the Year. He performs or opens for music giants such as BB King, Santana, Willie Nelson, Prince and Jimmy Buffet. His versatility as an artist has made him an enduring force in mainstream and the Hawaiian music scene, always flouting boundaries and expectations while sticking to the traditional music he grew up with.
Queen Liliuokalani
Queen Liliuokalani was the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian kingdom before she was overthrown in 1893. While known for her unwavering commitment to her people and country, she was also a prolific composer and composer who wrote some of the most groundbreaking Works of Hawaiian music that are still sung and performed today. Chief among them is the song 'Aloha 'Oe'. Originally intended to be a love song, it has become a melancholy song and has evolved into a symbol of Hawaii's lost cultural identity after the U.S. government was overthrown and eventually annexed. Queen Liliuokalani used composing as a means of comfort. During her imprisonment at Iolani Palace, she used her own music to express her injustices and tried to preserve the history of her people, translating Hawaiian songwrites or "Kumlipo" and transcribing "Aloha River." She will use her art to fight for and inspire her people in a way that will remain a respected and respected figure in Hawaiian history.
Anuhea
Anuhea Jenkins featured Hawaiian music in the storm as a budding star. Her passion for music prompted Anuhea to drop out of school to pursue her dreams. Her first self-titled album was released in 2009 and earned her a pair of Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for the most promising artist and album of the year. She drew inspiration from Bob Marley, Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz to create her unique soul and relaxed Hawaiian melodies. Anuhea was ranked second on the Billboard Charts Top World album. In 2011, she performed a packed stadium in a ProBowl halftime show. Her most recent EP, Shoulders, was released in February 2016.