Inaugural FijiFest to celebrate the island music and legacy of Fiji, Nov. 21, 2026

October 11, 2026, 6:00 PM HST

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The music, influence, and legacy of George “Fiji” Veikoso will be celebrated at the inaugural FijiFest Hawaiʻi, a new annual music festival bringing together established and emerging artists at the Aloha Stadium parking lot on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Political leaders officially declared Sept. 13 as “Fiji Day” in Hawai‘i, marking a historic moment honoring Fiji. This milestone influenced the Fiji Foundation to come together and organize the FijiFest celebration.

Island music favorites High-Watah, Rebel Souljahz, The Artist Fia, Siaosi, Kaipo Kapua, iUnderground Konkushyn, Tenelle, Wavvy, and BET. Island classics Manaʻo Company, Ilona Irvine, Jeff Rasmussen, and Sista Robi Kahakalau are among the artists confirmed to perform, with additional performers to be announced.

The festival will run from 4 to 10 p.m.

Organized by the nonprofit Fiji Foundation, FijiFest is envisioned as an annual celebration of Fiji’s music and the generations of artists he influenced, mentored, and inspired. The Foundation’s mission is to perpetuate Fiji’s musical legacy by investing in the next generation of musicians through education and mentorship.

Throughout the evening, audiences will hear music from Fiji’s celebrated catalog alongside signature hits from the artists sharing the stage in his honor. The festival will bring together longtime friends and collaborators, established island music artists and emerging performers to celebrate both the music Fiji created and the musical community that he helped build.

Born in Fiji in 1970, Fiji moved to Hawaiʻi in 1987 and became one of the most recognizable voices in contemporary island music. His distinctive combination of reggae, R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and Pacific influences helped shape island music in Hawaiʻi and across the Pacific. His songs include “Sweet Darlin’,” “Sharin’ the Night,” and “Morning Ride,” and his 1996 album Born & Raised helped establish him as a major figure in island music. He won the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Male Vocalist of the Year in 1998 and received the Pacific Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021.

Beyond his own music, Fiji collaborated with, encouraged and mentored generations of musicians throughout his nearly four-decade career. That commitment to developing other artists remains central to the Fiji Foundation and FijiFest.

“FijiFest is about making sure Fiji’s legacy keeps on living, growing, and inspiring,” said Del Fola, President of the Fiji Foundation. “Fiji gave us an incredible body of music, but he also gave his time, knowledge and encouragement to generations of artists. Through the Fiji Foundation and FijiFest, we want to continue what he started by supporting young musicians and creating opportunities for them to learn, grow, and carry island music forward.”

Fiji died in Suva, Fiji, in July 2025 at age 55. FijiFest will honor his legacy while looking ahead to the future of island and Pacific music, creating an annual gathering where established artists, emerging musicians and fans can come together around the music and community Fiji helped create.

FIJIFEST HAWAIʻI