In 2015, recording group *Ahumanu underwent a small transformation and has created a very exciting all female, Hawaiian music band.  Ahumanu was established in 2006 and released its first album (Ahumanu - The Gathering) under Ululoa Productions with immediate success as Nā Hōkū Hanohano and Grammy Award finalists that same year.  The original members of Ahumanu included Liz Morales, Joni DeMello and Bessie DeMello.  Their second release (Ahumanu - No Kuʻuipo), featured the duet of Liz Morales and Joni DeMello, and was also a finalist for the Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards, Group of the Year in 2012.  Ahumanu discography includes appearances on Ululoa’s Christmas Album, Wahine, and on Ata Damasco’s Award winning release - Somewhere Up Ahead. 

Family demands shifted the group a bit and Marja Lehua Apisaloma, recording artist and former singer with the group Reality from Oʻahu, filled in.  Marja and Liz met at a family reunion in 2014 and the connection was immediate and comfortable!  Jumping in on ʻukulele duties, Marja was a perfect fit with her contemporary feel and love for island music.  Joining the team for 2 years, was Reiko Fukino who, although an accomplished vocalist and guitar player, learned to play bass to round out the trio.  Together, this trio took to the circuit performing at many island venues for the next two years. 

Kekai Robinson, an accomplished chanter and Hawaiian feather lei maker, was learning to play the bass and would fill in for Reiko on occasion.  With Reiko’s departure to return to focus on her solo career and grandma duties, Kekai assumed full-time bass-playing kuleana for Ahumanu 3.0! 

With certainty, you will enjoy Ahumanu 3.0.  The extended play, Songbird, was created in a short time, as a marketing tool for the trio’s first trip to Japan, in 2017.  It is the self-produced debut album for the group which has led to many more opportunities including work on their next album, set to be released in 2019. 

Currently, this team performs regularly at the Grand Wailea Sunday brunch on the island of Maui.  You may also find them supporting various local and international hālau hula at several island hula competitions. 

The album Ahumanu - Songbird, is available at Native Intelligence, Hale Hōʻikeʻike, and is currently downloadable on popular download sites such as iTunes, CD Baby, YouTube, Spotify, etc. 

We are also available on Oʻahu at Na Mea Hawaii.

*Ahumanu would like to also acknowledge Nālei Pokipala (vocalist) who has also performed with Ahumanu over the past few years.