Kuana Torres Kahele

Kuana Torres Kahele is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and modern-day leader of traditional Hawaiian music, celebrated for his solo albums as well as his work with the band Na Palapalai. He was born in Hilo, Hawaii, on September 7, 1978, and co-founded Na Palapalai as a 17 year-old in 1995. Kaona, the band's 1999 debut, became a popular record with audiences and critics alike, winning Na Palapalai the honor of "Group of the Year" at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (the Hawaiian equivalent of the Grammy Awards) in 2000. While continuing to release albums like 2002's Makani ʻOluʻolu and 2006's Ka Pua Hae Hawaiʻi with the group, Kuana Torres Kahele also launched a solo career. 2011's Kaunaloa, his solo debut, charted at Number 2 on the Top World Albums Chart and won five Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. He continued his solo career with 2012's Hilo for the Holidays and 2013's Kahele, then began releasing a multi-volume series of native Hawaiian music, Music For The Hawaiian Islands, in 2014. By 2019, seven volumes had been released. Still an active member of Na Palapalai, Kahele earned a hit in both Norway and Canada with 2021's "Lava," a track from his 2021 solo release Nani Waiʻale.