Kamalei Kawaʻa Releases Debut Album Mānaiakalani, Free Celebration Jan. 17

Kamalei Kawaʻa, a four-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner, Grammy nominee and Season 25 The Voice top-20 finalist, released his first solo Hawaiian album Mānaiakalani on Dec. 31, 2025. The 13-track record, now available on streaming platforms, frames its songs around honoring ʻāina, ʻohana and the cultural practices that shape contemporary Hawaiian identity. The title track’s video premiered the day before the release on Dec. 30.

The new album marks a deliberate cultural statement from an artist whose musical and hula roots inform his work. Kawaʻa’s career accolades have given him local and national visibility, and Mānaiakalani presents that profile in service of traditional songs, language and values. The record’s themes align with ongoing community efforts to sustain Hawaiian language, hula and stewardship practices that are central to island life.

A free public CD-release celebration is set for Jan. 17, 2026 at Four Seasons Resort Maui, with a pre-show beginning at 6 p.m. The event creates a direct opportunity for live engagement around the album and for community members across the islands to connect with the music in person. While the concert takes place on Maui, Big Island residents can access the album immediately through major streaming platforms and may travel for the free event if they choose.

For Big Island County, the release underscores the role of local artists in cultural preservation and in shaping how Hawaiian traditions are presented to wider audiences. Kawaʻa’s profile, bolstered by national exposure on The Voice and nominations at major awards, can draw attention and visitors, which has implications for cultural programming, venue partnerships and county arts funding priorities. The album release highlights the intersection of artistic practice, cultural education and economic opportunity for the islands’ creative sector.

Mānaiakalani’s emphasis on ʻāina and ʻohana also speaks to ongoing conversations about stewardship, language revitalization and the institutional support needed to sustain cultural practices. County leaders, cultural practitioners and educators may view the album as a catalyst for collaboration on public events, school programming and community workshops that reinforce Hawaiian traditions.

As the album circulates and the Jan. 17 celebration approaches, observers will watch how local institutions and audiences respond to a high-profile Hawaiian release that blends performance, hula roots and cultural framing with broader visibility on the national stage.