Kuana Torres Kahele (born September 7, 1978) 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 ûukulele, guitar, ipu, and bass (to name a few). The majority of his lyrics are written and performed in the Hawaiian language. After learning Kane Hula and Haku Mele (Hawaiian composing) in his teens, in 1995 Kahele co-founded NàPalapalai, a Hawaiian music group that has released a number of albums. Several have charted in the top five on the Billboard Top World Albums chart, and the group has won a large number of NàHÃ
ÂkÃ
« Hanohano Awards, including Group of the Year.
Kahele released his first solo album, Kaunaloa, in 2011, which reached No. 2 on the Top World Albums Chart and won Kahele five NÃÂ HÃ
ÂkÃ
« Hanohano Awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year. He has released several charting solo albums since, and in 2014 released two volumes from his Music for the Hawaiian Islands series. Also in 2014 Kahele voiced the lead character in Lava, an animated short film by Pixar. Kahele regularly teaches cultural workshops around the world. In Japan he runs the Kuana School of Hawaiian Music & Culture, teaching 200+ students in Tokyo, Fukuoka and Osaka.
Discography
Group albums
- 1999: Akoni And Da Palapalai Patch: Kaona
- 1999: Johnny Lum Ho: HÃÂlau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua
- 2002: NàPalapalai: Makani ûOluûolu
- 2003: NàPalapalai: Hula Leûa Magazine Vol. 3 (Japan)
- 2004: NàPalapalai: Keûala Beauty
- 2006: NàPalapalai: Ka Pua Hae Hawaiûi
- 2007: Johnny Lum Ho: Canût You Hear Me Calling?
- 2007: NàPalapalai: Disneyûs Hawaiian Album (E Komo Mai)
- 2009: NÃÂ Palapalai: Nanea
- 2010: NÃÂ Palapalai: Best Of NÃÂ Palapalai
- 2012: NàPalapalai: Haûa
- 2018: NàPalapalai DVD: Hoûopili Hou
- 2020: NÃÂ Palapalai: Back To The Patch
- 2020: NÃÂ Palapalai: Ka Nani Vol. 1
- 2020: NÃÂ Palapalai: Ka Nani Vol. 2
- 2020: NÃÂ Palapalai: Greatest Hula Hits
Solo albums
- 2011: Kaunaloa
- 2012: Hilo for the Holidays
- 2013: Kahele
- 2014: ûOhai Aliûi (Single)
- 2014: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 1 Hawai'i Keawe (Hawai'i Island)
- 2014: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 2 Kahelelani (Ni'ihau)
- 2015: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 3 Pi'ilani (Maui)
- 2015: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 4 ManookalanipÃ
 (Kaua'i)
- 2017: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 5 LÃÂnaûikaûula (LÃÂnaûi)
- 2017: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 6 ûÃÂina Momona (Molokaûi)
- 2018: Back To Hilo For The Holidays
- 2019: Music For The Hawaiian Islands: Vol. 7 KÃÂkuhihewa (Oûahu)
- 2021: Nani Waiûale
Filmography
See also
References
External links