Amy Hanaiali`i

Singer – Songwriter, Amy Hānaiali`i remains Hawai`i’s top selling female vocalist of all time. Hānaiali`i’s success as a recording artist speaks for itself and is evidenced by a multitude of awards and acknowledgements, including five GRAMMY® nominations for Best Hawaiian Music Album.

Amy’s albums have also garnered 22 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards – Hawai`i’s equivalent to the GRAMMY® awards. Hānaiali`i’s range of multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano wins, showcases her varied musical depth over the years prevailing in the following categories: Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Group of the Year, Christmas Album of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, and many others. Her diverse success, with cultural responsibility, provides clear recognition by Hawai`i’s music community and Amy’s fans that her musical appeal is universally accepted. All of Hānaiali`i’s albums have validated commercial success by consistently placing her at the top of the World Album Billboard charts.

Amy has played for sold out crowds in Europe, Japan, China, all across America and French Polynesia. Hānaiali`i’s Friends and Family album showcased a stunning duet with country music legend Willie Nelson. Alongside and recording with the best, Amy also has performed live and opened for renowned artists like Earth, Wind and Fire, Carlos Santana, Boz Scaggs, Diana Krall, Joe Cocker and many more, her upcoming release features a duet with Michael Mcdonald.

Hanaiali`i’s talent emerges from a disciplined blend of classical training, fusing powerhouse vocalists, and honoring her family through her worldly heritage and rooted ancestral responsibility.

After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from United States International University- School of Performing and Visual Arts in San Diego, Amy spent time with her paternal grandmother, International Hawaiian superstar – Jennie Nāpua Woodd.

Undoubtedly her world famous falsetto training and strict pronunciation lessons gave Amy a beloved respect of Hawaiian Culture and Music, making her grandmother Nāpua one of Hānaiali`i’s most influential people in her life.

Woodd, one of the original Royal Hawaiian girls in Waikīkī or Tūtūas as Amy affectionately calls her, helped shape the entertainment scene of Hawai`i as a Kumu Hula/Choreographer in Hollywood. Woodd worked on every Pacific-themed motion picture in the 1940’s and 1950’s and defines that cinematic genre. Also Woodd while performing on Broadway and the Lexington Hotel in New York City, met Tūtūmet Hānaiali`i’s grandfather Lloyd B. Gilliom.

He himself a musician who played trumpet and steel guitar with the likes of Sammy Kaye, Tommy Dorsey and other notable hands of that era—joined Woodd to build a rich tradition of Hawaiian Culture on both coasts of America. Amy is the caretaker and curator of much of the archived footage from this era and currently producing a show honoring the story of her lineage.

Ms Hānaiali`i is currently finishing up two epic projects. One with the legendary Willie K. A much anticipated reunion album set to release early next year…

Willie and Amy both well accomplished in their own right, are coming back together for this monumental album… Once again they will trail blaze through Hawai`i, Europe, east and west coasts..

Ms Hānaiali`i is also releasing a much loved solo project next year. Ms Hānaiali`i teamed up with accomplished producer Jason Miles from New York City. His many years of collaborating with Marcus Miller includes not only the Miles Davis projects, but also classic recordings by David Sanborn and Luther Vandross. Committed to pushing the envelope of sonic possibilities and bringing out the best in artists and musicians he vibes with, Miles has worked over the years with a proverbial who’s who of contemporary music: Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Michael Brecker, The Crusaders, Ruben Blades, Freddy Cole, George Benson, Joe Sample, Herb Alpert., Vanessa Williams, Grover Washington Jr, Lea Salonga are among his notable collaborations

Ms Hānaiali`i has also teamed up with veteran entertainer Michael Mcdonald on this project performing a soulful duet on the album.

Aside from the music community, Hānaiali`i has garnered accolades from the Pacific Business News as their “40 under 40 Business Person of the Year” award, recognizing not only Hānaiali`i’s talent, but also her business acumen needed to market her talent. Hānaiali`i has recently launched the Hānaiali`i Collection featuring a line of children’s clothing with legendary Hawai`i retailer Hilo Hattie. This collection and Hānaiali`i’s latest album, My Father’s Granddaughter, was inspired by her daughter, Madeline.

Albums

My Father’s Granddaughter

Amy Hanaiali’i and Slack Key Masters of Hawai’i

Nostalgia

Friends and Family of Hawai’i

Aumakua

A Hawaiian Christmas

Generation Hawaii

Pu`uhonua

Hanaiali’i

Hawaiian Tradition

Native Child