Harris Center: Spring 2019

KALANI PE‘A
continued
Ahuna, “His voice will take you to the heavens. His passion for
music will have you rockin’ in your seat.“
A fluent Hawaiian speaker and graduate of Hawaiian language
school Ke Kula ‘o Nāwahīokalani'ōpu'u, Pe'a went on to illustrate
and publish five Hawaiian language children’s stories. He taught
at Kamehameha Preschools in Kona, followed by eight years as
a Hawaiian resource coordinator for Kamehameha Schools on
Maui, creating curriculum and teaching Hawaiian culture with
a science focus.
He now has the opportunity to focus on his music full-time. He
was honored by the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives with
an official proclamation in 2017: “It is vital that Native Hawaiian
culture and the arts be perpetuated for future generations:
Kalani Pe’a is a torchbearer and we recognize his accolades,
accomplishments, and continued work on behalf of Native
Hawaiians.
Photo: Antonio Agosto
ARTIST BIO
KALANI PE‘A
Kalani Pe'a sings everything from classical, musical, ballads,
R&B, soul and, of course, Hawaiian music, displaying his
wide-ranging talents as a songwriter and music composer. It
started at age four when Pe'a was diagnosed with a speech
impediment; his mother Pua Leonard “introduced my son to
singing and music to help him pronounce his words.” Leonard
and Pe'a’s father Arthur (Ata) Pe'a, who comes from a musical
family, encouraged Kalani to take vocal lessons and choir. By
the time he was 8 years old, Pe'a was winning numerous talent
competitions statewide.
At age 18, he won Brown Bags to Stardom, and won first place
in the National Association Teachers of Singing Competition
in Colorado/Wyoming chapter, in men’s classical and musical
divisions, while a student at Colorado Mesa University
(Mesa State College), where he received his degree in Mass
Communications. “From speech therapy to being a college
graduate in communications,” noted Pe'a’s father with humor,
“Kalani can’t stop talking and singing.”
In the process of planning his debut album, Pe'a contacted
Dave Tucciarone, a 13-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-Winning
Engineer and Producer based in Honolulu. “I had to travel every
weekend from Maui to meet Dave for seven months, and just
sing my heart out,” Pe'a noted. The hard work paid off with the
2017 Grammy® win, followed by his first Na Hoku Award. This
successful collaboration continued with Kalani’s second CD,
No ‘Ane‘i [We Belong Here], garnering rave reviews and a 2019
Grammy Nomination. Raves award-winning vocalist Darlene
Honolulu Magazine quoted Kalani relating to his Hawaiian
cultural foundation: “From a Hawaiian perspective, we don’t
believe in just Kūlia I ka Nu’u, striving for the highest mountain
and you get to the top and that’s the end. We continue to soar
and continue to climb. In Hawaiian, we call it ‘akahi a ho’omaka,
the beginning of every journey. We don’t believe there’s a start
and finish line, like a marathon. This is just the start for me, even
though I’ve been singing for nearly 30 years.”
BAND
AIAU KOA, guitar, is known for his performances with many of
Hawai‘i’s leading artists, including Keali‘i Reichel and Kalani
Pe‘a. He is also an instructor and practitioner of the martial
arts style of Ai Pilau Kenpo, drawn to its heart and soul that
exemplifies the spirit of "ohana" or family.
KALANI MILES, guitar, was raised in Hawai‘i among many
diverse cultures, including his own Samoan background. An
accomplished guitarist, he has come to appreciate various
genres of music, old and new, traditional and contemporary.
WAILAU RYDER, bass, was born on O‘ahu but grew up in the
Puna region of the Hawai‘i Island. One of his major influences
was his aunt, the well-known musician and Hawaiian educator
Lei'ohu Ryder. He is also a gifted vocalist and slack key guitarist.
GUEST HALAU (hula group)
ALOHA POLYNESIA, kumu hula (artistic directors) Tyra Stone &
Cheryl Cook. Aloha Polynesia is a professional Polynesian dance
troupe that has performed extensively in the Sacramento, Reno,
Tahoe, and San Francisco areas for the past 30 years. In addition
to hula, they perform dances from across the Pacific Islands.
Kalani Pe‘a Artist Representative:
Pasifika Artists Network
Karen A. Fischer
1-808-283-7007
karen@pasifika-artists.com
https://www.pasifika-artists.com
40 2018-2019 SEASON PROGRAM GUIDE www.harriscenter.net