Kolohe Kai

Kolohe Kai formed in Honolulu in 2006, with Kainoa Kahakau, Kaleo Kiheiwa, and Nalu Kahakai starting out as three friends making music together. Their name translates to 'mischievous ocean' in Hawaiian, which fits the relaxed, island-influenced sound they developed. They put out their first album 'Ehukai' in 2008, which included the song 'Cool Down' that helped get them noticed.

Their music blends Hawaiian, pop, and reggae elements into something that feels both specific to the islands and accessible to wider audiences. Songs like 'Genuine Love' and 'This Is The Life' have that easy, sun-soaked quality that became their calling card. They've released several albums since that debut, including 'No Place Like Home' in 2010 and 'Homegrown' in 2021.

In 2012, they dealt with a legal dispute involving their former manager, which could have disrupted their momentum. They came through it and kept making music, maintaining control over their artistic direction. Their catalog shows a steady progression without dramatic reinventions, just the kind of consistent output you'd expect from a band that found its groove early on.