Amy Hānaiali‘i is respected for her incredible vocal as well as stylistic range. She received formal training in European classical music, jazz, blues, American standards and pop, and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater.

Yet it was her beloved tutu (grandmother), Jennie Woodd, who inspired her to continue with Hawaiian music and arranged for a meeting with the legendary Genoa Keawe. “Aunty” Genoa introduced Amy to the ha‘i falsetto style, a genre of music whose popularity was waning. Amy’s embrace of ha‘i and her seemingly effortless gift for its daunting vocal demands brought this specialized form to a new generation, to be celebrated once again. Combining these artistic styles and training makes her a fluently diverse entertainer and creates an immediate and profound connection with her audiences.

Noted one New York Times review: “The high point…was a passionate rendition of John Fogerty’s ‘Have You Ever Seen the Rain?’ Offered as a mystical hymn to a guardian spirit, it carried almost as much weight as Creedence Clearwater Revival’s stirring original version.”

She has earned 18 prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawai‘i's Grammys), including Song of Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Hawaiian Album of the Year. Her 2nd album, Hawaiian Tradition, was the first Hawaiian language album to place on the World Billboard Charts. She currently serves as Board President of the Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts, producer of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards which recognize excellence in all genres of music from Hawai‘i.

Her vocal power makes for riveting performance in all genres. Amy has performed duets with Willie Nelson and Michael McDonald and opened for such legends as Carlos Santana in Germany, Joe Cocker, Wayne Newton, Arlo Guthrie, The Beach Boys, Ernie Watts, and many more. She has toured extensively on the East and West Coast, Germany, Japan, and China.

In fall 2014, Napa Valley winemaker J.W. Thomas Group launched a wine release in her honor, Hānaialiʻi Merlot, complex, rich and flavorful, followed by releases of a champagne, chardonnay, and pinot noir. The label features her tattoo, which carries symbols of her family’s ‘aumakua (ancestral guardian deities).

Her family and artistic genealogy might have foretold her present successes. Grandmother Jennie Napua Woodd was one of the original “Royal Hawaiian Girls.” Woodd's many credits include being the choreographer on all of the major Hawaiian motion pictures in the 1930's and ‘40's, helping define America's perception of popular Hawaiian music and dance at the height of its popularity. Performing at the Lexington Hotel in New York City, Jennie met Amy's grandfather, Lloyd B. Gilliom, who played first trumpet with Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye and also played with Tommy Dorsey.

Amy Hanaiali‘i has come full circle. Her singing reflects her Hawaiian roots along with her jazz and pop music lineages, and her vocal prowess allows her talent to shine across the spectrum.