Kuana Torres Kahele

Kuana Torres Kahele
Born (1978-09-07) September 7, 1978 (age 46)
Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician
  • record producer
  • dancer
  • educator
Instruments
Years active1995-present
Labels
Websitekuanatorreskahele.com

Kuana Torres Kahele (born September 7, 1978)[1][self-published source] is an American musician, vocalist, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and educator from Hilo, Hawaii. Known primarily for his original acoustic compositions, Kahele arranges traditional Hawaiian music as well, performing and recording with instruments such as ʻukulele, guitar, ipu, and bass (to name a few). The majority of his lyrics are written and performed in the Hawaiian language.[2] After learning Kane Hula and Haku Mele (Hawaiian composing) in his teens, in 1995 Kahele co-founded Nā Palapalai, a Hawaiian music group that has released a number of albums.[3] Several have charted in the top five on the Billboard Top World Albums chart,[4] and the group has won a large number of Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including Group of the Year.

Kahele released his first solo album,[5] Kaunaloa, in 2011, which reached No. 2 on the Top World Albums Chart[6] and won Kahele five Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year.[7] He has released several charting solo albums since, and in 2014 released two volumes from his Music for the Hawaiian Islands series.[8] Also in 2014 Kahele voiced the lead character in Lava,[9][10][11] an animated short film by Pixar. Kahele regularly teaches cultural workshops[12] around the world. In Japan he runs the Kuana School of Hawaiian Music & Culture, teaching 200+ students in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Osaka.

  1. ^ "Homepage - Kuana Torres Kahele". Kuana Torres Kahele. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  2. ^ "Try Wait: 'Holidays' caps busy year for Kahele - Honolulu PulseHonolulu Pulse". Honolulu Pulse. December 10, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  3. ^ "Na Palapalai | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  4. ^ "Na Palapalai - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  5. ^ "Kuana Torres Kahele's solo venture is a tribute to his hanai mother". Honolulu Pulse. August 12, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  6. ^ "Kuana Torres Kahele | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  7. ^ meghan (May 29, 2012). "Big Island's Kuana Torres Kahele wins big at Na Hoku Hanohano Hawaii music awards". Hawaii Magazine. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  8. ^ "Island Mele: Kahele steps up with 'Hawai'i Keawe' - Honolulu PulseHonolulu Pulse". Honolulu Pulse. April 14, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  9. ^ Mizutani, Ron (August 19, 2014). "Local singer on lead role in new Disney/Pixar animated short 'Lava'". KHON2. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "An Exclusive First Look at the Upcoming Pixar Short 'Lava'". Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  11. ^ "Torres-Kahele, Greig star in Pixar short "Lava"". Hawaii Tribune-Herald. Retrieved January 3, 2017.
  12. ^ "Honolulu Museum of Art » Music of Hawai'i: Kuana Torres Kahele". www.honolulumuseum.org. Retrieved January 3, 2017.