ABOUT THE ARTIST
Paukūkalo native Kamalei Kawaʻa, born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawaiʻi, is a Native Hawaiian Singer-Songwriter, Musician, Recording Artist, Hula Dancer, and founding member of the award-winning and GRAMMY®-nominated Hawaiian quartet Nā Wai ʻEhā. His artistry embodies the heart of Hawaiian arts and culture. A GRAMMY® nominee, four-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner, and Top 20 finalist on Season 25 of NBC’s The Voice, Kawaʻa continues to unite generations through music and hula.
Raised in a Hawaiian family deeply rooted in hula and mele Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian music), Kamalei’s upbringing was filled with the sounds, stories, and traditions of his kūpuna (ancestors). Early exposure to Hawaiian music legends, contemporary Hawaiian artists, and global icons shaped his vocal style and deepened his understanding of melody, harmony, and storytelling. From a young age, he learned that mele (song) is not only a form of expression but a kuleana (responsibility) — to uplift, to teach, and to preserve.
As a proud ʻōlapa of the award-winning Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of Kumu Hula ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes, Kamalei’s experience in hula further grounded him in Hawaiian culture, teaching him to convey emotion, narrative, and connection through movement as well as song. His music reflects the values of aloha ke akua (love for God), aloha ka ʻohana (love for family), aloha ʻāina (love for the land), and aloha kekahi i kekahi (love and respect for one another). Through his songs, he demonstrates how music heals, uplifts, and connects us, carrying forward the spirit of aloha.
Blending traditional Hawaiian melodies with contemporary expression, Kamalei creates a sound that captivates the attention of his audience and moves listeners. His heartfelt compositions have resonated with audiences around the world — including artists such as Chance The Rapper, John Legend, Reba McEntire, and Dan + Shay, who were deeply moved by his performances on The Voice.
A proud husband and father, Kamalei continues to share the beauty and spirit of Hawaiʻi with global audiences. Through his music, he shares a piece of his heart and tells his story of life through his own lens — sharing it with the world as an ambassador for Hawaiian music, carrying forward the legacy of his ancestors while shaping the next chapter of Hawaiian music through mele, hula, and aloha.
REPRESENTING HAWAIʻI ON NBC 'THE VOICE'
"Hawaiʻi’s own Kamalei Kawa’a shines on NBC’s hit show The Voice"
“That’s the goal of being here, to represent all native people” - Kamalei Kawa’a
“...it means a lot to all oppressed peoples around the world & I think having you on here and representing pacific islanders, indigenous people, Hawaiians–-like people around the world. I think it’s really important...”- Chance the Rapper
“I love that you represent your people…that song touched my heart. Very spiritual to me." - Reba
“The whole demeanor with which you carry yourself with gratitude and in your spirit we feel that and it comes through in your voice as well.” - John Legend
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2024 Top 20 on NBC’s The Voice (Season 25)
2021 Nā Wai ʻEhā - GRAMMY® Nominee
Best Regional Roots Album
2020 Nā Wai ʻEhā - Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award
Hawaiian Language Performance Award (Lovely Sunrise)
2020 Nā Wai ʻEhā - Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award
Hawaiian Album of the Year (Lovely Sunrise)
2020 Nā Wai ʻEhā - Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award
Group of the Year
2019 Nā Wai ʻEhā - Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award
Most Promising Artist of the Year
2015 Richard Hoʻopiʻi Leo Kiʻekiʻe Falsetto Champion
2008 Master Hula o Nā Keiki
Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi – Kumu ʻIliahi & Haunani Paredes