For four-time Grammy winner Kalani Peʻa, morning starts with coffee and admiring the outdoors. On Sunday, Feb. 2, Peʻa won the Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album. This is Peʻa’s fourth Grammy.
Peʻa grew up in Hilo, Hawaiʻi and started singing at just two or three years old. But the singer songwriter, who now lives on Maui, was already dreaming of a Grammy in high school, the artist shared in an acceptance speech for the award earlier this month.
“I’m so honored to be one of the vessels, the waʻa … in this Pacific, leading the way in Hawaiian music and perpetuating Hawaiian language and music and hula in this capacity,” Peʻa told Aloha State Daily. “I'm so grateful to showcase my artistry through music composition and being able to write about people and places I love and more so honor the matrilineal powers of the universe: our mothers, your grandmothers, and our aliʻi, our monarchy. It's so amazing to win my fourth Grammy on my fourth Hawaiian album. I am so honored.”
The singer and songwriter spoke with ASD while getting ready to start a Midwest and West Coast tour.
What is a typical day like? My typical day is I wake up and I thank God and the gods for giving me the life of being who I am — this authentic Native Hawaiian married gay man who lives life to the fullest and is happily married to my manager of 16 years, my kāne, the love of my life. I just wake up, and I make the best coffee the world. .... It is called Kauaʻi Pie [from Lappert’s Hawaiʻi]. It's my favorite coffee in the world. And it’s in a purple bag because purple is my favorite color in the world. ... I look at my lānai out of the house that I own and I look at the mountains and I look at what God and the gods have given me — this beautiful life here on Maui where my ancestors and forefathers have roamed for [generations]. ... I sit with my coffee every morning and I think to myself: ʻShould I start composing a song? How can I create a poem of how beautiful Hawaiʻi is to me and why Hawaiʻi defines who I am.’
What are some of your biggest musical influences? First, my mother and my father. They're both very musically inclined. My family really values family traditions and cultural practices and my family values music. Music is perpetuated in my household on both sides, but mostly my dad's side. But my mom is my huge influence. She's like those dance moms. She put me in all the talent shows, karaoke competitions. I did all the state competitions. ... She knew I had the talent, and I'm so glad that we have moms and dads who are the biggest fans.
Tell us about your new album, “Kuini.” What is your favorite song? So “Kuini” means queen, and I'm honoring the women who have shaped who I am today, whether it's my mother or my grandmothers or your family, your mother or grandmothers. I also stated in my acceptance speech that I honor Queen Emma, the wife of King Kamehameha IV. She established Queen’s hospital for the Native Hawaiian people so that [medical care] is free and accessible during the kingdom of Hawaiʻi, which medical should be free. And I honor and acknowledge Kihawahine, the protector of Lahaina, the goddess of Lahaina. Because we live here on Maui and I have family members who lost everything in the wildfires, I wanted to honor the people of Lahaina. My favorite track is actually “Kuini” ... I wrote this song for my childhood friend, Leialoha Ka'ula. She has been my childhood for 30 plus years. She's a single mother. She is a kumu hula, an educator. She's a hula practitioner, a beacon of light for the Hawaiians that are living in diaspora in the continent USA. She gifted me these shell necklaces called Niʻihau. They're like gold. They're like diamonds to us. ... I cried when she laid it on me. And I talk about my favorite lei, which is the maile lei, which I wore the gold maile lei that was done for me from Maui Diver's Jewelry [to the awards ceremony for the Grammy]. ... And I honor my love for my people, for lāhui. I honor the love that I have for Leialoha, who is my kuini, and I honor the people who have been part of my life.
Do you have any favorite bands or artists you want to give a call out to that are also inspiring? Well, my husband and I have seen Beyonce 12 times live in concert. I was able to touch her in the front row before I became a professional Grammy award-winning artist. When I was a teacher, I bought a ticket. It was nearly $800. We were in Los Angeles, and I was able to grab her sweaty palms, and I was able to touch her and say, ʻI touched Beyonce.’ So I'm a fan of Beyonce, and I love her very much. She's one of the greatest entertainers alive.
What inspires you? Watching kids or watching adults or teenagers just be comfortable in your own skin. Never allow anyone to define who you are. ... I'm a modern, innovative Hawaiian and our ancestors and forefathers were very innovative and modern. We were all about building relationships with people all over the world. King David Kalākaua got on that steam boat and built relationships with emperors and presidents. He traveled the world. He brought in the first light bulb and running toilet and electricity in ʻIolani Palace before the White House. We had one of the first color-printed newspapers in the Hawaiian language before any of the big newspapers today that we hear of. And so my kupuna, my ancestors, are all about innovation and all about developing a great collaborating effort with people around the world. I'm all about: Be yourself, be true to yourself.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
