About
Kainani Kahaunaele was raised by her grandparents in the rural community of Anahola, Kauaʻi surrounded by four generations of musical talent. Her love for Hawaiian music was infused at an early age, playing ʻukulele and harmonizing with her Kahaunaele, Pānui and Kaluahine families. Whether in church, on stage with the Kapaʻa High School Show Choir, at the backyard jam, or at the lūʻau, she was unknowingly in training as she was destined to share the music of her ancestors, her culture, and practices with a more global audience.
While earning her B.A in Hawaiian Studies with an emphasis in Hawaiian language at UH Hilo, this talented songstress started singing professionally and composing tradtional songs (haku mele) as Hawaiian language curriculum for ʻAha Pūnana Leo (a pioneering Hawaiian language revitalization program) that encouraged and promoted the documentation of our history through mele while also earning several Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards along the way.
They also produced her debut cd of original mele “Naʻu ʻOe” that garnered three Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards in 2004 for Most Promising Artist, Hawaiian Language Performance, and the highly coveted Female Vocalist of the Year that established Kainani as one of the most notable talents of her generation.
Kainani’s proficiency in haku mele attracted many renown artists such as Weldon Kekauoha, Aaron Salā, and Nā Leo to record her original mele while numerous hālau hula have danced her songs around the world. She has also recorded with many artists from Hawaiʻi including Kaumakaʻiwa Kanakaʻole, Kekuhi Kanahele and Shilo Pā. Also known for her warm dynamic vocal abilities, Kainani’s charming voice amplifies the imagery of the songs, enabling delightful encounters with the poetry she delivers.
In her latest cd release “ʻŌhai ʻUla”, Kainani and her Wish List Band team up with award winning producer Shawn Pimental and engineer Michael Grande to present an impressive collection of new original mele that depict ancestral practices, honor genealogies and storied locales, reveal deep romances, and offer up some traditional and contemporary musical styles sure to please any music lover.
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RECORDED MUSIC CREDITS WITH ASSOCIATED RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS
“Hula Leʻa Presents: Nā Haku Mele O Hawaiʻi”, Mākuakāne Music, ©2010
• Composer of 1 mele, “Kukui”
• Lead Vocalist
“ʻŌhai ʻUla”, Kainani Kahaunaele, Māhuahua Music & Koops2 Entertainment, ©2010
• Composer of 9 mele
• Lead and supportive vocals, musician
Merrie Monarch Hula Festival 2009, Hilo, Hawaiʻi
• Featured mele “Lei Hoʻoheno”, winning womens’ hula performance by Hālau Keʻalaokamaile (Kumu Hula Kealiʻi Reichel)
“E Hula Mai Kākou”, Nā Leo, ©2008
• Composer of 1 mele, “E Huli Hoʻi Mai”
• Nominated for Haku Mele Award, Nā Hōkū Hanohano, 2009
“Nāpoʻona Mahina”, Aaron Salā, Hula Records, ©2008
• Composer of 2 mele, “Hiʻialoleimakua” and “Pulupē Ka ʻIli”
• Pulupē Ka ʻIli nominated for Haku Mele Award, Nā Hōkū Hanohano, 2009
Kamehameha School’s 88th Annual Song Contest “Ola ka ʻŌlelo ʻŌiwi O Ka ʻĀina Celebrating Hawaiian Language Revitalization”, Kamehameha Schools DVD, ©2008
• Featured Haku Mele, “Ka Hīnano O Puna” sung by women of the class of 2009
“Ka Lehua ʻUla”, Weldon Kekauoha, ʻŌlelo Records ©2007
• Composer of 1 mele, “Lei Hoʻoheno”
• Nominated for Haku Mele Award, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2008
Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts official and winning song Nā Hōkū Pio ʻOle (composed by Keola Donaghy) ©2007
• Lead Vocalist
“He Mele, Songs From Kauaʻi Community Radio’s Talk Story Series”, Various Artists, KKCR ©2006
• Composer, producer, musician and vocalist on 1 mele “Sweet Makani”
“Talk Story: Ka Hanauna Hou, The New Generation”, Kainani Kahaunaele, Kauaʻi Community Radio’s Talk Story Series, KKCR ©2004
• Composer, musician, vocalist and storyteller on all tracks
“Moemoelutionary Music”, Moemoeā, Quiet Storm Records ©2004
• Composer, vocalist of 1 track “Wahi A Kahiko”
“Hula Big Island Style”, Various Artists, Palm Records ©2004
• Composer, musician and vocalist on 1 track, “I Waipiʻo”
Merrie Monarch Hula Festival 2004, Hilo, Hawaiʻi
• Featured mele “Ka Hīnano O Puna”, winning women’s’ hula performance by Hālau O Kamuela (Kumu Hula Kauʻi Kamanaʻo & Kunewa Mook)
“Kanaka Maoli”, Weldon Kekauoha, ʻŌlelo Records ©2003
• Nominee, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2004
• Composer of 3 mele “Ke Aloha No Waipiʻo”, “Ke Alahele ʻŌpuʻupuʻu”, “He Mele No Anuhea”
• Back up vocals on 3 tracks
“Haʻi Kupuna”, Kaumakaʻiwa Kanakaʻole, Hula Records ©2003
• Nominee, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, Winner of Haku Mele award, 2004
• Duet and back up vocals on 3 tracks
“Naʻu ʻOe”, Kainani Kahaunaele, ʻAha Pūnana Leo ©2003
• Winner for Traditional Hawaiian Album, Hawaiʻi Music Awards, March 2004
• Nominated for 7 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and winner of 3 awards: Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Language Performance, and Most Promising Artist of the Year, 2004
• Composer of 11 mele
• Vocalist, producer, arranger, musician
“With Aloha From Hawaiʻi”, United Records ©2002
• Lead Vocals on 1 track “The House I Live In”
“Kuʻu Lei Mokupuni”, ʻAha Pūnana Leo ©2002
• Producer
• Musician
“Nā Leo O Ke Kula Niʻihau O Kekaha”, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, ©2001
• Winner for Religious Album of the Year, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2002
• Producer
• Musician, back up vocals
“ʻĪnaʻi ʻElua”, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, ©2001
• Winner for Hawaiian Language Performance, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2002
• Composer of 3 mele
• Producer
• Musician, lead and back up vocals
“Leave Some Land” Shilo Pā, Poi Boy Records, ©2000
• Nominated for Reggae Album of the Year, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2001
• Composer and producer of mele “He Kuamuamu” on title track
• Vocals on title track
“Nā Hīmeni Hoʻomaikaʻi I Ke Akua”, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, ©2000
• Winner for Religious Album of the Year, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2001
• Producer
• Musician, back up vocals
“Cronies Bar & Grill Compilation 1”, Oki Leo Productions, ©1999
• Nominated for Compilation Album of the Year, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2000
• Co-producer (with group Kahikina)
• Composer of mele “Nani Pololū”
• Musician, lead and back up vocals
“Īnaʻi”, ʻAha Pūnana Leo, ©1999
• Nominated for 3 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 2000
• Composer of 16 mele and mele oli
• Producer
• Musician, lead and back up vocals, chanter
“Kekuhi”, Kekuhi Kanahele, The Mountain Apple Company (Female Vocalist of the Year, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, 1999), ©1998
•Back up vocals on “Poloʻai ʻO Keʻelikōlani”
