May edition of Hawaiian Music Series features Nāpua

The next Hawaiian Music Series of 2024 will take place on Thursday, May 30 at 6 p.m., at Hale Ho’ike’ike at the Bailey House in Wailuku. This free event will feature well-known local musician Nāpua Silva.

Nāpua, is a Hawaiian musician, vocalist, songwriter, record producer, hula teacher and educator from Maui.

Known primarily for her contributions as kumu hula of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, she arranges traditional Hawaiian music as well, performing and recording with instruments such as ʻukulele, ipu, and other traditional Hawaiian hula implements. She has released four solo albums, each earning a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award.

Nāpua’s hālau hula serves more than 200 Maui students, and has won awards including honors at the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Her solo album in 2017 Makawalu meaning “Eight eyes,” culminated several years of Nāpua’s research and composing, and features more original compositions than her other projects. The album encourages the listener to look beyond the surface. Nāpua took in her surroundings and her practices and wove them into 12 songs, and then into hula dances.

The album was nominated for 10 Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards, including Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Engineering (Hawaiian), Hawaiian Language, Graphics Award, Liner Notes, and Haku Mele (Composer).

“We are honored to have Nāpua for our Free Hawaiian Music Series this month,” organizers said.

This free concert has been a tradition for 16 years and is held on the last Thursday of every month.

Made possible by Lahaina Restoration Foundation with the support from the Maui County Office of Economic Development, the special location of this month is provided by Maui Historical Society.

Guests are invited to bring their own blankets, mats, and low-back beach chairs to enjoy the music on the lawn. Free parking is available onsite.

For more information, please visit https://lahainarestoration.org.