KAUMAKAIWA & KULĀIWI
featuring Lehua Kalima, Kawika Kahiapo, Shawn Pimentalwith Pono Fernandez, hula
Saturday, March 29, 2025 AT 8PM
Hawaiian Series Sponsored by:
The Hiland Foundation
Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund
This performance is presented without an intermission.
Kaumakaiwa and Kulāiwi will be accompanied on stage by the dancers from Kumu Annette Lilinoe Ka’io and Kumu Anjelica & Kalani Viloria.
Kaumakaiwa is a remarkable singer, chanter, and dancer, bringing both immense talent and a profound connection to her Hawaiian heritage to the stage. She embodies the spirit of a modern Hawaiian while honoring the traditions of her ancestors. Performing since childhood, she has earned five Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards (Hawai‘i’s equivalent of the Grammys) and holds the distinction of being the first Hawaiian artist to perform at both The Dreaming—Australia’s premier indigenous cultures festival—and New York’s globalFEST.
Her artistic roots run deep in the hula traditions of the esteemed Kanaka‘ole family of Hawai‘i Island, whose cultural practices have been preserved and passed down through eight matrilineal generations. As the great-grandchild of Edith Kanaka‘ole—a pivotal leader of the Hawaiian Renaissance of the 1960s and ’70s—Kaumakaiwa carries forward a legacy that helped revive hula, Hawaiian language, and the arts, keeping them vibrant and alive for future generations.
Lehua Kalima, a founding member of the acclaimed trio Nā Leo Pilimehana, has been captivating audiences for over 30 years. Rooted in Hawaiian music and deeply influenced by folk and pop, she grew up immersed in both traditional Hawaiian melodies and Hapa-Haole (blending Hawaiian and English) music. As a songwriter and performer, she has penned and recorded over 35 songs, both with Nā Leo and as a solo artist.
With Nā Leo, Lehua has earned more than 20 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including an unprecedented three Song of the Year honors for her individual songwriting. Her solo work has also been recognized, earning a Nā Hōkū Award for her album Rising in Love. Committed to preserving and celebrating her heritage, she studied ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) to compose songs in the language of her ancestors. In recognition of her contributions to Hawaiian music and culture, she was honored with a Native Arts & Cultures Foundation Fellowship Award.
Shawn Kekoa Pimental is a five-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and Grammy-nominated music producer and artist. He has produced albums for numerous Hawaiian and reggae musicians and composed and produced music for Mike Post, Disney, and other award-winning projects.
A multi-instrumentalist, Shawn has showcased his talents on guitar, drums, bass, and vocals for many of Hawai‘i’s top recording artists, including Keali‘i Reichel, Nā Palapalai, Kaumakaiwa, Nā Leo, Rebel Souljahz, and more. His extensive experience as a musical director and band member has taken him on global tours with renowned artists such as Janet Jackson, Colbie Caillat, Maxi Priest, Steel Pulse, America, and Jack Johnson.
As the owner of Koops2 Entertainment, a record label representing both premier and emerging artists from Hawai‘i, Shawn continues to shape the island’s music scene. His latest venture, Seven Suns, brings together seven diverse and talented musicians—artists, producers, engineers, and backup performers—united by a mission to spread love, unity, and peace through music.
David “Kawika” Kahiapo has been a force in the professional music scene for over 40 years, contributing to more than 120 recording projects, including six of his own. A multi-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and renowned slack key guitar master, he is celebrated for his rich, velvety voice. He was also a featured artist on the Grammy-winning album Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2.
Hailing from Windward O‘ahu, Kawika draws endless inspiration from the breathtaking Ko‘olau mountain range, lush green valleys, and the vast ocean that surrounds his home. His love for music began in childhood, guided by the influence of his father and legendary mentors such as “Pops” Gabby Pahinui and Palani Vaughan. For Kawika, music is inseparable from his life—rooted in his deep love for the islands, its people, and ‘ohana, as well as his faith in Ke Akua (the Creator) and his commitment to preserving Hawaiian music and culture.
Pono Fernandez has been immersed in the art of hula since childhood, dedicating herself to its traditions with formal training and deep passion. An award-winning hula dancer, she has performed on stages worldwide alongside renowned artists such as Robert Cazimero, Hoʻokena, Kainani Kahaunaele, Nā Leo Pilimehana, and Hawaiian Style Band.
Beyond hula, Pono is a writer, scholar, educator, and student of traditional Hawaiian feather work. Performing with Kulāiwi allows her to intertwine these diverse passions, sharing her commitment to aloha ʻāina (love of the land) and elevating Hawaiian and Indigenous knowledge through her artistry.