The Green were the first local reggae group to reach any of Billboard’s mainstream charts. They will perform June 14 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Courtesy photo

Kicking off their four-island “Summertime Hawaii Tour ’25” on Oahu, The Green returns to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center on June 14 joined by New Zealand’s L.A.B, DJ Hapa Boy and reggae artists Johnny Suite and Chante.

“We get to play four of the islands and just be home,” The Green’s guitarist Zion Thompson said. “All our friends and my family get to see us play.”

With their enticing mix of reggae, electronica, blues and soul, L.A.B. is one of New Zealand’s most popular bands with their anthem “Controller” certified three times platinum.

“They’re great,” said Thompson. “They’re crushing it in New Zealand right now. I’m really looking forward to seeing them live.”

The Green comprises Caleb Keolanui (lead vocals), Ikaika Antone (keyboards, lead vocals), Brad “BW” Watanabe (bass), Jordan Espinoza (drums) and Thompson (guitar, lead vocals).

Among recent projects, the band opened their own store on Kauai. “It’s called the Green General,” said Thompson. “It has shave ice and some snacks, and we sell The Green merchandise, and some stuff that you can only get there. But our cool newest thing that we finally got up and running is our nonprofit.”

They founded the nonprofit Ka Ma’o to mentor aspiring musicians and help nurture the next generation of music industry leaders to help perpetuate Hawaii’s rich musical heritage. As part of this mission, they created the Lolena Music Program to preserve and perpetuate ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi by providing free professional recording opportunities at Ka Maʻo studios for artists across all genres.

“We’re really excited to have a nonprofit,” he said. “It’s for music education, but not just music, all the different aspects of the music business and the jobs that are needed. There’s so many jobs and hats to wear in the music industry. We’re trying to provide a resource for people to learn and also have access to other people in the industry outside of Hawaii. I really want to have more competent workers out there, and more of a representation of Hawaiian workers on the mainland with the aloha spirit. That’s a lot of what people like about us, The Green and other touring bands from Hawaii or from the Pacific. When there’s a lot of aloha spirit that we bring, it kind of takes the edge off. Ka Ma’o is going to have the ability to do a lot of things and help musicians.”

The Lolena Music Program’s first awardee, Mālie Lyman, just re-recorded the song “Ku’u Makamaka,” composed by her great grandmother, Genoa Keawe.

“She’s amazing, and her family,” said Thompson. “If you are a Hawaiian language speaker, or have a song that’s all in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, you get the chance to come and record it at our studio, and work on it all in Hawaiian in the studio. Our engineer, Brad, who is our bass player, he speaks Hawaiian. So the whole session is in Hawaiian. We really want to help protect and perpetuate.”

Formed on Oahu in 2009, The Green made history when they became the first local reggae group to reach any of Billboard’s major mainstream charts with their album “Hawai’i ’13” placing in both the Top 200 albums chart and Hot 100 Singles chart, besides debuting at No. 1 on the reggae chart. It won three Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Best Album by a Duo or Group, Best Reggae Album and Entertainer of the Year.

They are among the very first reggae bands from the Hawaiian islands to extensively tour the mainland, and superstar Bruno Mars selected The Green to open his three sold-out shows at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Arena in 2014 and his two sold-out dates at Aloha Stadium before 70,000 fans.

The Green’s most recent release, the “Summertime” EP, saw the band craft another collection of irresistible, uplifting songs. They followed up with the “Day by Day” collaboration with Kolohe Kai, encouraging daily positivity.

“We all love reggae,” he said. “At the heart of the band is reggae, but because we’re so different, we would bring different types of other genres into The Green’s sound. Maybe there’ll be a little more rock and blues and guitar coming from me, or soul R&B stuff or hip-hop. It’s a good kind of mix, but at the heart of it is reggae.”

Fans in the islands and beyond have been especially attracted to The Green’s music for the positive vibes they disseminate.

“I’m just so thankful to be able to play music as a living, and so thankful that fans buy our stuff and come to our shows, that is literally what pays my bills,” Thompson said. “I love my brothers in the band. I’m just very thankful when we get to do what we get to do. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I just want to keep doing it.”

The Green will play the MACC on June 14 with L.A.B, DJ Hapa Boy, Johnny Suite and Chante. Tickets are $49.50 for general admission and $89.50 for VIP, plus applicable fees. VIP tickets offer a premium viewing area in front of the stage, access to the Yokouchi Pavilion restrooms and access to VIP designated bars and soda stations. Prices increase on the day of the show.