Maunalua

Formed in 1993, Maunalua (Bobby Moderow, Jr., Kahi Kaonohi, and Richard Gideon) released their self-titled first album in 2000 - and promptly won the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award (the Hawaiian Grammy®) for “Hawaiian Album of the Year.” Their second album (Kuleana), released in 2003, brought Nā Hōkū awards for both Group and Favorite Entertainer of the Year, and their third (Ho'okanaka, released in 2007) and fourth (He Inoa, released in 2015) albums won still more Nā Hōkū Awards, each for Group of the Year.

All strong vocalists, the group is known for its tight harmonies accentuated by Moderowʻs falsetto and prowess with slack key guitar. Long a favorite with audiences all over Hawaiʻi, as well as a number of foreign countries and the continental U.S., their always-entertaining performances range from fun, high-energy songs to sweet and soulful ballads, interspersed with banter between the three group members and with the audience. Whether performing for hundreds at inauguration festivities for then newly-elected President Obama in 2009, or for a few dozen people at a backyard paʻina (party), Maunalua never disappoints.