Kalani Pe'a's latest recording “Kuini” has been nominated for a Grammy. Courtesy photo

Maui’s Kalani Peʻa was just nominated for another Grammy Award for his latest recording “Kuini” in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. His previous albums — “E Walea,” “No ‘Ane’i” and “Kau Ka Pe’a” — have all won Grammys.

Recorded in Kula at I-Vibe Studios, “Kuini” paid tribute to some influential Hawaiian women, as well as honoring Lahaina. Peʻa was in Portland, Oregon, when he got the Grammy news.

“I cried when I heard I got the nomination,” he said. “I was on a mental health solo vacation. I needed time away to refocus because of this new heath lifestyle change, losing 133 pounds and having bariatric surgery and all of that.”

Introduced in 2012, the Regional Roots category includes Hawaiian, Zydeco, Cajun and Native American artists.

Other contestants for the 2025 award are Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles with “Live At The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,” Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock and Soul with “Back To My Roots,” the New Breed Brass Band and “Live At The 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,” and The Rumble with “Stories From The Battlefield.”

Around 60 albums were submitted for the category consideration, and Peʻa was the only artist selected from Hawaii.

“It’s all about networking,” he explained. “I have networked in advance with songwriters, musicians, engineers and producers who are members of the Recording Academy. It means a lot because this is Maui’s first Grammy nomination for (producers) Michael Casil and Wailau Ryder. They worked on my album.”

Recently performing at the free three-day Lahaina Festival at the Royal Lahaina Resort, he sang his new song from “Kuini,” “Malu Ulu ‘A’o Lele,” which was composed for the people of Lahaina.

“It was very emotional,” he said. “The purpose of this festival was to give back to the people of Lahaina. I stated how important it is to bring our families back on the land they own and ensure whatever settlement we go through our families are first.”

The 67th annual Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.