“The Hawaiian Grateful Dead” —Bill Kreutzmann, The Grateful Dead

Kanekoa is one of Hawai‘i’s most fun live music experiences. Taking the ‘ukulele into new territory, this award-winning band fuses eclectic roots with flavors of reggae, blues, funk, jazz, Hawaiian, and island music with jamband energy. Live audiences rave over their soulful originals and insightful covers with interpretations unmistakably their own.

“The band is amazing” says Mick Fleetwood.

These ‘ukulele masters draw inspiration from the Hawaiian roots of this instrument and their love of multiple music genres as they erupt with jam-band energy, creating a unique style they call “Hawaiian jam-rock”. Pushing the envelope of Hawai‘i’s 4-string instrument, soulful singer Kaulana Kanekoa on rhythm uke, phenom Vince Esquire shredding on lead ‘ukulele, and master of the U-Bass Don Lopez, are joined by Travis Rice on cajon which rounds out their distinctive sound. Original songs mix with jamband interpretations that never fail to surprise and delight audiences and fans.

“These guys scare me, they are that good” —David Hidalgo, Los Lobos

Photo by Aloha Growers