Kala Artist

Award-winning Hawaiian singer-songwriter Alii Keanaaina seamlessly blends traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music, captivating global audiences with his smooth falsetto, commanding full voice, and rich storytelling. Hailing from North Kona, Hawaii Island, Alii’s deep musical heritage traces back to his family's performances in the mid-century resort era and growing up under the guidance of his mother, a church choir director. After launching his career performing alongside his twin brother, Nui, Alii stepped brilliantly into the solo spotlight in 2010 by winning the revered Clyde “Kindy” Sproat Falsetto and Storytelling Competition.

He has since channeled his faith, love for family, and island culture into two acclaimed full-length albums: his debut release He Mele No (2012) and the profoundly intimate sophomore record Music and Me (2016). Known for crowd-pleasing hit songs like "Eo (Ke Kāhea O Ke Kahakai)" and "Mahina", Aliʻi's melodic journey has taken him on tours throughout the Hawaiian Islands, Las Vegas, and Japan, alongside launching popular mainland hula workshops.

As an official Kala Artist, Alii kicked off a major breakout chapter by opening the global Winter NAMM Show on behalf of the brand in 2018. For Aliʻi, the relationship with his instruments is vital to his expression: "Kala allows the artist to be an artist by providing a variety of quality instruments that fit the wide range of sounds and styles of each unique musician."