Hawaii, known for its stunning natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and laid-back lifestyle, has also been the birthplace of numerous talented and influential singers across various genres. From the traditional sounds of Hawaiian music to the contemporary styles of pop, rock, and reggae, the Aloha State has made a unique and significant contribution to the world of music. In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 famous singers from Hawaii, delving into their backgrounds, musical styles, and the impact they’ve had on the industry.
1. Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, affectionately known as “Iz,” was a Hawaiian musician, singer, and songwriter who became an international sensation with his soulful, ukulele-driven renditions of traditional Hawaiian songs and contemporary pop hits. Born and raised in Honolulu, Kamakawiwo’ole’s music was deeply rooted in his Hawaiian heritage and the islands’ unique musical traditions, blending elements of Hawaiian folk, reggae, and pop to create a sound that was both familiar and fresh. His most famous recording, a medley of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “What a Wonderful World,” became a global phenomenon, featured in numerous films, television shows, and commercials, and cementing his status as an icon of Hawaiian music. Despite his struggles with obesity and related health issues, which sadly led to his untimely death at the age of 38, Kamakawiwo’ole’s music continues to inspire and touch the hearts of listeners around the world, serving as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of Hawaii and its people. With his gentle voice, virtuosic ukulele playing, and ability to infuse even the most familiar songs with a sense of aloha, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole remains a beloved figure and a shining example of Hawaii’s musical soul.
2. Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his infectious pop hooks, retro-influenced sound, and electrifying live performances. With a career spanning over a decade, Mars has become one of the most successful and acclaimed artists of his generation, earning numerous accolades, including 11 Grammy Awards, 13 American Music Awards, and 14 MTV Video Music Awards. His music, which blends elements of pop, R&B, funk, and soul, showcases his powerful vocals, slick production, and ability to craft hits that appeal to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Mars’ most famous songs, such as “Just the Way You Are,” “Uptown Funk,” and “24K Magic,” have become global smash hits, celebrated for their catchy melodies, feel-good vibes, and ability to get people dancing. Beyond his musical achievements, Mars is also known for his dynamic stage presence, often drawing comparisons to legendary performers like James Brown and Michael Jackson, and his philanthropic efforts, using his platform to support various charitable causes and to give back to his home state of Hawaii. With his undeniable talent, genre-bending sound, and enduring influence on popular music and culture, Bruno Mars remains a shining example of Hawaii’s musical innovation and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State.
3. Bette Midler
Bette Midler, born in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a singer, actress, comedian, and author known for her versatile talents, bold personality, and enduring presence in the entertainment industry. With a career spanning over five decades, Midler has become a beloved and iconic figure, earning numerous accolades, including three Grammy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and three Emmy Awards. Her music, which encompasses a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, jazz, and show tunes, showcases her powerful vocals, comedic timing, and ability to infuse her performances with a sense of humor and heart. Midler’s most famous songs, such as “The Rose,” “Wind Beneath My Wings,” and “From a Distance,” have become timeless classics, celebrated for their emotional depth, soaring melodies, and ability to resonate with audiences of all generations. Beyond her musical achievements, Midler is also known for her successful acting career, including her iconic roles in films like “The Rose,” “Beaches,” and “Hocus Pocus,” and her philanthropy, using her platform to support various charitable causes, particularly those related to environmental conservation and LGBTQ+ rights. With her undeniable talent, larger-than-life personality, and enduring influence on popular culture, Bette Midler remains a shining example of Hawaii’s artistic diversity and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State.
4. Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson, born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, is a singer, songwriter, and musician known for his laid-back, acoustic-driven sound and his commitment to environmental activism. With a career spanning over two decades, Johnson has become one of the most successful and beloved artists in the genre of acoustic rock, earning numerous accolades, including two Grammy Award nominations and multiple platinum-selling albums. His music, which blends elements of folk, rock, and surf culture, showcases his mellow vocals, introspective lyrics, and ability to craft songs that capture the essence of Hawaii’s natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle. Johnson’s most famous songs, such as “Better Together,” “Banana Pancakes,” and “Upside Down,” have become staples of the acoustic rock genre, celebrated for their catchy melodies, positive messages, and ability to transport listeners to the sandy beaches and lush landscapes of his native Hawaii. Beyond his musical achievements, Johnson is also known for his environmental activism and philanthropy, using his platform to raise awareness about issues like plastic pollution, sustainable living, and ocean conservation, and donating millions of dollars to various charitable causes through his Johnson Ohana Foundation. With his undeniable talent, eco-conscious ethos, and enduring influence on popular music and culture, Jack Johnson remains a shining example of Hawaii’s musical innovation and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State’s values and natural beauty.
5. Don Ho
Don Ho, born Donald Tai Loy Ho in Honolulu, Hawaii, was a singer, musician, and entertainer known for his smooth baritone voice, charismatic stage presence, and influential role in popularizing Hawaiian music and culture throughout the world. With a career spanning over five decades, Ho became an iconic figure, earning the nickname “The King of Waikiki” and cementing his status as a beloved ambassador of the Aloha State. His music, which blended elements of traditional Hawaiian music, pop, and jazz, showcased his suave vocals, laid-back style, and ability to captivate audiences with his charm and humor. Ho’s most famous songs, such as “Tiny Bubbles,” “I’ll Remember You,” and “Pearly Shells,” have become classics of the Hawaiian music canon, celebrated for their catchy melodies, romantic lyrics, and ability to evoke the spirit of the islands. Beyond his musical achievements, Ho was also known for his business savvy, owning and operating several successful restaurants, nightclubs, and entertainment venues in Waikiki, and his philanthropic efforts, using his platform to support various charitable causes and to promote the preservation of Hawaiian culture and traditions. Despite his passing in 2007, Don Ho’s legacy as a pioneering figure in Hawaiian music and entertainment continues to inspire and influence new generations of artists, making him a shining example of Hawaii’s musical heritage and a proud ambassador of the Aloha spirit.
6. Keali’i Reichel
Keali’i Reichel, born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawaii, is a singer, songwriter, hula dancer, and cultural practitioner known for his mesmerizing performances, soulful vocals, and dedication to perpetuating traditional Hawaiian music, language, and dance. With a career spanning over three decades, Reichel has become one of the most respected and influential figures in contemporary Hawaiian music, earning numerous accolades, including multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s equivalent of the Grammy Awards) and a Grammy Award nomination. His music, which is deeply rooted in Hawaiian language and storytelling traditions, showcases his powerful vocals, poetic lyrics, and ability to evoke the mana (spiritual power) of his ancestors and the Hawaiian islands. Reichel’s most famous songs, such as “Kawaipunahele,” “E O Mai,” and “Maunaleo,” have become beloved classics of the Hawaiian music repertoire, celebrated for their emotional depth, cultural significance, and ability to connect listeners to the heart and soul of Hawaii. Beyond his musical achievements, Reichel is also known for his work as a kumu hula (hula teacher), cultural scholar, and activist, using his platform to promote the revitalization of Hawaiian language, arts, and traditions, and to advocate for issues like land rights and cultural preservation. With his undeniable talent, deep cultural knowledge, and enduring influence on contemporary Hawaiian music and culture, Keali’i Reichel remains a shining example of Hawaii’s artistic richness and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State’s native heritage.
7. Yvonne Elliman
Yvonne Elliman, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, is a singer and actress known for her powerful vocals, versatile musical style, and successful career on both the pop charts and the Broadway stage. With a career spanning over four decades, Elliman has become a beloved figure in the music industry, earning numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award and a Tony Award nomination. Her music, which encompasses a wide range of genres, including pop, rock, disco, and musical theater, showcases her dynamic vocals, emotive performances, and ability to adapt to different musical styles and settings. Elliman’s most famous songs, such as “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” from the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “If I Can’t Have You” from the film “Saturday Night Fever,” and her duet with Eric Clapton, “I Shot the Sheriff,” have become iconic hits, celebrated for their timeless appeal, memorable melodies, and ability to showcase her incredible vocal range and power. Beyond her musical achievements, Elliman is also known for her successful acting career, including her roles in the film adaptation of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and the Broadway production of “Jacque Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris,” and her philanthropic efforts, using her platform to support various charitable causes and to give back to her home state of Hawaii. With her undeniable talent, multi-faceted career, and enduring influence on popular music and culture, Yvonne Elliman remains a shining example of Hawaii’s artistic diversity and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State.
8. Na Leo Pilimehana
Na Leo Pilimehana, formed in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1982, is an all-female Hawaiian music trio known for their exquisite harmonies, contemporary Hawaiian sound, and influential role in the Hawaiian music scene. Consisting of Nalani Choy, Lehua Kalima Heine, and Angela Morales, Na Leo Pilimehana has become one of the most successful and beloved groups in the history of Hawaiian music, earning numerous accolades, including multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards and a Grammy Award nomination. Their music, which blends elements of traditional Hawaiian music, pop, and R&B, showcases their stunning vocal arrangements, heartfelt lyrics, and ability to create a fresh, modern sound that appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Na Leo Pilimehana’s most famous songs, such as “Local Boys,” “Friends,” and “I Miss You My Hawaii,” have become classics of the Hawaiian music repertoire, celebrated for their catchy melodies, relatable themes, and ability to capture the essence of life in the islands. Beyond their musical achievements, the members of Na Leo Pilimehana are also known for their commitment to mentoring and nurturing the next generation of Hawaiian musicians, teaching workshops and classes, and using their platform to promote the preservation and perpetuation of Hawaiian music, language, and culture. With their undeniable talent, innovative sound, and enduring influence on contemporary Hawaiian music, Na Leo Pilimehana remains a shining example of Hawaii’s musical excellence and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State’s artistic heritage.
9. Amy Hanaiali’i
Amy Hanaiali’i, born and raised on the island of Maui, Hawaii, is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for her powerful vocals, eclectic musical style, and dedication to perpetuating and innovating Hawaiian music. With a career spanning over two decades, Hanaiali’i has become one of the most acclaimed and influential figures in contemporary Hawaiian music, earning numerous accolades, including five Grammy Award nominations and multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Her music, which blends elements of traditional Hawaiian music, pop, rock, and jazz, showcases her dynamic vocals, virtuosic guitar playing, and ability to push the boundaries of the Hawaiian music genre while staying true to its roots and spirit. Hanaiali’i’s most famous songs, such as “Palehua,” “Poliahu,” and “Hallelujah I Love Him So,” have become beloved classics of the Hawaiian music repertoire, celebrated for their emotional depth, musical sophistication, and ability to showcase the richness and diversity of Hawaiian culture. Beyond her musical achievements, Hanaiali’i is also known for her commitment to environmental activism, using her platform to raise awareness about issues like conservation, sustainability, and climate change, and to promote the protection and preservation of Hawaii’s natural resources. With her undeniable talent, innovative spirit, and enduring influence on contemporary Hawaiian music and culture, Amy Hanaiali’i remains a shining example of Hawaii’s artistic brilliance and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State’s musical legacy.
10. Anuhea
Anuhea, born Rylee Anuheake’alaokalokelani Jenkins in Makawao, Hawaii, is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist known for her soulful vocals, reggae-influenced sound, and positive, uplifting messages. With a career spanning over a decade, Anuhea has become one of the most promising and influential figures in the new generation of Hawaiian music, earning acclaim for her fresh, contemporary take on the island sound and her ability to connect with audiences around the world. Her music, which blends elements of reggae, pop, R&B, and Hawaiian music, showcases her smooth vocals, catchy melodies, and ability to craft songs that celebrate love, unity, and the beauty of the Hawaiian islands. Anuhea’s most famous songs, such as “Higher Than the Clouds,” “Simple Love Song,” and “Come Over Love,” have become fan favorites, celebrated for their feel-good vibes, romantic lyrics, and ability to transport listeners to the sandy beaches and lush landscapes of her native Hawaii. Beyond her musical achievements, Anuhea is also known for her commitment to philanthropy and community service, using her platform to support various charitable causes, particularly those related to youth education, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation. With her undeniable talent, infectious positivity, and growing influence on the Hawaiian music scene and beyond, Anuhea remains a shining example of Hawaii’s musical future and a proud ambassador of the Aloha State’s next generation of artists.
In conclusion, these ten singers represent the rich and diverse musical landscape of Hawaii, showcasing the state’s enduring contributions to American and global popular music. From the traditional sounds of Hawaiian music to the contemporary styles of pop, rock, and reggae, Hawaii has produced a remarkable array of talented and influential artists who have captured the hearts of audiences around the world with their unique sounds, heartfelt performances, and embodiment of the Aloha spirit. As the Aloha State continues to nurture and inspire new generations of musical talent, we can look forward to many more incredible voices and stories emerging from its enchanting shores and leaving their mark on the world stage.
Edward Tomlin is a frequent contributor to Singers Room. Since 2005, Singersroom has been the voice of R&B around the world. Connect with us via social media below.
