Five-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winners Waipuna (Kale Hannahs, David Kamakahi, and Matt Sproat) will be embarking on a quick, what I like to call “all over the place” tour of the mainland next month, including a few stops in cities they haven’t visited on prior tours.
 
The tour begins October 15th in Chicago, then moves to Northern California the next day, followed by a stop in Southern California and then up to Seattle – or as Kale says, “traveling 10,000 miles in 7 days”! (See the poster for complete tour information.)
 
The group began in 2007 as a collaboration between two talented musicians - Kale Hannahs and Matt Sproat – who were looking to create a fresh, new sound in Hawaiian music after many years on the Hawaiian music circuit. In 2011, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner David Kamakahi joined the group, adding a fullness to Waipuna’s already-distinctive sound.
 
Kale is a veteran of the music scene, earning a reputation as a steady bass player and vocalist. A former vice president of the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) and founding member of the award-winning group 'Ale'a, he has played and recorded with many of Hawai'i’s talented musicians including Napua Grieg, Robi Kahakalau, Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole, Weldon Kekauoha, Sean Na'auao, Cody Pueo Pata, Aaron Sala, Hoku Zuttermeister, Holunape, Maunalua, Nā Palapalai, and more.  

Although born and raised on O’ahu, Matt is from the famous Sproat family of North Kohala on Hawaiʻi Island. He began his music career playing Hawaiian music in Waikiki and on the cruise ship S.S. Independence, and in 2003 won the Big Island falsetto competition and was featured in the “Aloha Festivals Falsetto Winners Volume 5” CD. He, too, has performed with some of the best musicians Hawaiʻi has to offer, and has dedicated himself to mastering his craft as a Hawaiian musician specializing in the art of falsetto singing, continuing his family’s tradition of perpetuating the Hawaiian culture through music.
 
A master ʻukulele player, David’s ʻukulele and his vocals add a richness to Waipuna’s music, and his addition to the group created a fullness that added even more depth to what was already a unique, exciting sound. Like Kale and Matt, David is a Kamehameha Schools graduate, where he won the Pono Beamer Award for Excellence in the field of Hawaiian music. He studied with ʻukulele grand master Eddie Kamae, and was a featured artist and vocalist on a number of albums from the age of 15. He, too, has performed and recorded with many of Hawaiʻi’s greats, including his late father Rev. Dennis Kamakahi, and Mike Kaawa, Herb Ohta, Jr., Jon Yamasato, and many more. He won a 2005 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for his debut solo album “Paʻani”.
 
Waipuna released their first album ("Mana’o Pili") in 2009 as a duo. David’s addition to the group in 2011 helped add that extra something to the group’s sound that contributed to the recognition their second album ("E Ho’i Mai") received at the 2012 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, where they took home three awards, including Group of the Year. Their 2012 single “Merry Christmas Darling” was awarded Single of the Year honors, and their 2013 EP “Nāpili” garnered two more awards. They released their third full-length CD "E Mau Ke Aloha" in 2014.
 
The trio is in great demand by various hula hālau (groups) all over Hawai’i (and Japan) to perform at events such as the prestigious annual Merrie Monarch Festival and the Keiki Hula Competition, and they travel frequently to Japan to perform for thousands of loyal fans all over that country.  Their prowess in performing Hawaiian music, as well as their beautiful harmonies, make them instant fan favorites wherever they go, so if you live near any of the cities where they’ll be performing on this tour, don’t miss your chance to see them live!
 
Here is a video of them performing "Kamehameha Trilogy" – an instant hit from their “E Ho’i Mai” album - from an appearance on Maui in 2013.​

ʻUkulele virtuoso  Andrew Molina, a finalist in  the 2014 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards'  ‘Ukulele Album of the Year category for his debut album “The Beginning,”  has announced a west coast tour beginning September  24 in San Diego.

From the island of Maui, Andrew began playing the ʻukulele when he was 13 years old and hasn't looked back. His love and passion for the instrument shows in his playing, and he composed eight of the 11 songs on his debut CD. He is always trying to find a way to take the ʻukulele to the next level,  playing a mixture of pop, Hawaiian, rock and a little bit of jazz. He plays regularly at a variety of venues on Maui has  appeared on the TV show Pakele Live, at the Gabby Pahinui Waimānalo Kanikapila,  and more.  Don't miss this  talented, up-and-coming musician! For more information, visit his website.

Barry Black, Loa Greyson (Tini Grey), and Joe Tolo, contestants on NBC's The Voice in seasons 5, 7, and 8 respectively, have a common bond other than being contestants – they are all of Samoan ancestry. This, and their love of music, drew them together to form a lasting friendship, which ultimately led to the idea of coming together to do a three-city tour. Although they met with varying degrees of success on The Voice, they have each continued their musical journeys: pursuing music full time, or on a part time basis worked around school and day jobs;  writing and recording albums, singles, and EPs; making music videos; playing live gigs.

Their short tour, set for October 8, 17, and 21 and centered in or near where each member of the trio currently lives, will consist of separate sets wherein each will perform their preferred style of music, with Black concentrating on the soul and R&B for which he is known throughout Las Vegas; Greyson, the smooth folk/pop that has made him a staple at venues like Downtown Disney in Anaheim; and Tolo, the pop and R&B he loves so much. The three will join together at the end of each concert to perform a traditional island song, taking them back to their roots.

Born in American Samoa, Barry Black (Amisone) grew up in Las Vegas and began making a name for himself as an up-and-coming soul and R&B singer while still in college. The singer-songwriter was soon playing all over Las Vegas, both solo shows and with his band, and opening for the likes of John Legend. His music is influenced by his Island roots, but he also loves jazz, reggae, and other genres. His duet of “I Wish It Would Rain”  with Preston Pohl during the battle rounds on The Voice was a fan favorite. He has released an EP, “Lost and Found,” and is working on a full-length album.

Born into a musical family – his father is the revered Samoan folk/pop artist Jerome Grey  and brother Taumata Grey is a member of the group Common Kings - Loa Greyson, under his nickname “Tini” Grey, began his music career in Hawaii with the popular Polynesian R&B vocal group “Reign,” with whom he released one album in 2001.  Influenced not only by his father, but also by a diverse list of R&B,  Motown, Soul, Folk, Hawaiian, and Pop artists, Greyson created his own blend of all of those genres, with some acoustic rock and Polynesian added to the mix. A full time musician, the singer-songwriter has released an EP and two full-length albums to critical acclaim, as well as several singles and music videos .  

The youngest of eight children, Joe Tolo and his family moved to California from Samoa when he was four years old. His entire family sang and played instruments, so it was only natural that Joe follow in their footsteps. After studying nursing for three years at CSU Hayward, he took a year off to pursue his music dreams and participate on The Voice. His soulful performance of "To Love Somebody"  during the Blind Auditions earned him a chair turn by Christina only 15 seconds into the song (followed later by Blake). He recently returned to college to complete his degree, but has also written the songs he plans to record on his debut EP. 

The 2015 Beyond The Voice Tour schedule is:

October 8 – San Francisco, CA, Neck of the Woods (406 Clement St), 9pm (21 and over)

October 17 - Las Vegas, NV, The Olive Hookah Lounge (3850 E. Sunset Rd), 9pm

October 21 – Carson, CA, Sol Venue (313 East Carson St), 8pm 

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased through Greyson’s website at: http://loagreyson.com/beyond-the-voice-tour