Kalani Pe‘a

 Kalani Pe‘a’s fourth release, Kuini, garnered his fourth GRAMMY win in Regional Roots, following his first three wins from his first three releases. “Kalani Pe‘a goes four-for-four,” declared the Honolulu Star Advertiser. He also won two Na Hoku Awards, including the coveted Male Vocalist of the Year, bringing his total wins to five. All his albums hit iTunes— Kuini at #1 —and Billboard’s World Music Charts. His debut album, E Walea, made Hawaiian music history as the only album ever to win both a GRAMMY and Na Hoku Award. His holiday Purple Hawaiian Christmas release won him the Na Hoku in 2023. The Maui News praises his “distinguished …flair for Hawaiian language composition, a talent for fusing traditional and contemporary elements into his music and his wide, expressive vocal range.” 

Pe‘a made his New York debut in February 2020 at a sold-out performance at Jazz at Lincoln Center for Lincoln Center’s American Songbook, the first and only Hawaiian artist to be featured on the series. He returned to New York in 2024 for Carnegie Hall’s Musical Explorers program, for a full week of sold-out performances. Committed to his Hawaiian culture, in 2019, he made the first of several appearances at the prestigious Merrie Monarch hula competition, with an original song for winning Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela. 

Self-described as “Hawaiian contemporary soul,” Pe‘a’s is garnering awards and recognition: Native Arts & Cultures Foundation Fellowship, Artist in Business First Peoples Fund Leadership Fellowship, Distinguished Alumni Award by his alma mater Colorado Mesa University, which is also naming its new music studio for him, and WAA Native Launchpad Artist. He was just inducted into the inaugural Maui Nui Hall of Fame.