KŌWĀ 

The collection of songs on KŌWĀ tell the stories of the past five years of my life. The inspiration for this album initially started as a conversation about the longitudinal spectrum of the color blue. This concept evolved through conversations with my sister and my dear friend Bryan Kamaoli Kuwada about the color blue in Hawaiian culture . In my conversation with Bryan, we talked about how the word for blue changes depending on your relationship to the object you’re describing. This made me think that the spectrum I’m actually trying to convey in my music isn’t just latitudinal or longitudinal, it also included a third, intimate element of proximity-the one between myself and my experiences. This created this intervening space, KŌWĀ. My heartbreak, loss and grief were the foundation of my last two albums. Those albums were my medicine. KŌWĀ is different. This album was made after five years of deep reflection after being forced to slow down in 2020. Five years of putting my art on hold to be in the ocean, to surf, spend time with my ’ohana, travel the world with my friends and truly enjoy all of my life.

 My first single, Pīkake (produced by Calvin Canha), was the catalyst that initiated the recording of KŌWĀ. It was important to me to express my pilina (relationship) to music through different elements of sounds. My life expeirences are affirmed by using folk, r&b, reggae, country and contemporary Hawaiian genres. This was a huge reason why it was so important for me to work with Maori producer, Brandon Haru on this album. In 2020 I met Brandon in Aotearoa and I was instantly drawn to his talent. In 2025, I returned to Aotearoa to record this album with him along with my friends Dre Scot, JRoQ, and Lina Robins in the beautiful town of Taumarunui. 

KŌWĀ is a celebration of my life. It is my love letter to Moananuiakea. It is a snapshot of how much I am loved by my ’ohana and my friends. It is a testament of the power we all have within us when we choose to call upon our kupuna and lean upon our friends. KŌWĀ is how I chose to fill up the spaces in my life that were carved out by 2020.