The Show
Family band Kapena shows the deep connections between the Hawaiian music tradition and ʻOhana in their performance from their home in Kāneʻohe. Their feel-good songs are abundant with layered harmonies, infusing contemporary and reggae sounds with the Hawaiian music bandleader Kelly Boy grew up with. This intimate episode demonstrates how Hawaiian music is uniquely embedded in the culture of family, and vice versa.
“Live from My Den” is a digital series available on Variety.com showcasing some of today’s most extraordinary artists performing live from the creative spaces of their homes, studios, and cities most meaningful to them. The special Hawaiian edition showcases Native Hawaiian artists in their celebrated spaces, their connection to the land, and the traditions of Hawaiian music. Read the article and watch Kapena’s full episode here.
Family band Kapena shows the deep connections between the Hawaiian music tradition and ʻOhana in their performance from their home in Kāneʻohe.
Kapena
The intergenerational group first formed in the ‘90s by band leader Kelly Boy De Lima with brothers Timo and Tiva Tatofi. The trio released multiple albums that dived into the heritage of traditional Hawaiian music. In the early 2000s, Kapena regrouped, and Kelly Boy’s three children joined the collective, writing new music and continuing their success. Their 2017 release as a family band garnered them four Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards including Album of the Year and Group of the Year. Kapena proves that the heritage of traditional Hawaiian music continues to transcend time.
