NA LEO PILIMEHANA

WITH HĀLAU HULA LANI OLA

Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8pm

Hawaiian Series is Sponsored by
The Hiland Foundation &
The Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund

Nalani Jenkins: Ukulele

Lehua Kalima Alvarez: Ukulele

Angela Escontrias: Ukulele

Expected Run Time
90-100 minutes without intermission

Nā Leo Pilimehana—meaning “voices blending together in warmth”—is the most popular, award-winning, and best-selling female Hawaiian group in the world. The trio—Nalani Jenkins, Lehua Kalima Alvarez, and Angela Escontrias—are childhood friends who have built a remarkable career while staying grounded in family, friendship, and community. They write, record, and perform their own music, run their own record label, and balance full lives as mothers, professionals, and active members of their communities.

Angela and Nalani met in first grade while playing ʻukulele at recess; six years later, they met Lehua at Kamehameha Schools. United by their love of music, they joined the concert glee club and, as high school seniors in 1984, won Hawai‘i’s Brown Bags to Stardom competition with their original song “Local Boys.” The single became the best-selling in Hawai‘i’s history, followed by their debut album Local Boys. Their earliest performances—Sunday and Monday nights at Chuck’s Steak House in Pearlridge—were far from glamorous, but marked the start of an enduring journey.

After a hiatus to pursue college, careers, and family life, the trio reunited in 1993 to release Friends, a Hōkū Award–winning album and major hit. Over the decades, Nā Leo has released 24 albums, earned 23 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, and achieved national radio success on the American Top 20 charts with “Poetry Man” and “The Rest of Your Life.” They have also been inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame and continue to perform to sold-out audiences in Japan, Hawai‘i, and across the United States. In 2024, they celebrated the 40th anniversary of “Local Boys” and their Brown Bags to Stardom win.

Beyond the stage, each member pursues individual passions. Angela performs at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa and is a mother, grandmother, entertainer, and certified health coach. Lehua, based in Las Vegas, works as a realtor, and when back in Hawai‘i can be found surfing or paddling in Waikīkī. Nalani manages the group’s label and tours, leads multiple business ventures, and recently earned a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership (Strategic Change and Innovation); she also spends time fishing, hunting, and farming on Moloka‘i.

Now in their fifth decade, Nā Leo continues to create and perform. Their 2018 album Beautiful Day earned Contemporary Album of the Year honors in 2019. With award-winning releases spanning the ’80s through the 2010s—and more music on the way—their legacy continues to grow.

Hālau Hula Lani Ola (“The School of Heavenly Life”) preserves and teaches traditional Hawaiian arts, including hula, mele, oli, and ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, with a focus on education, performance, and community outreach. Led by Kumu Puanani Jung, who carries the lineage of the esteemed Alama Sisters, the hālau honors Native Hawaiian traditions while fostering creativity. With 28 years of teaching, Kumu Puanani has guided performances at festivals and competitions, including the Merrie Monarch Festival, sharing Hawai‘i’s history, stories, and spirit with future generations.