Mark Yamanaka is a multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning musician from Hawaii Island. Courtesy photo

Multi Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning Hawaii Island musician Mark Yamanaka will perform a free show on Friday at The Shops of Wailea with a “Ke Kani Hone O Wailea — The sweet music of Wailea” performance.

“I will be doing some Maui songs and songs to make people relaxed,” Yamanaka said. “Relax and enjoy the sounds of Hawaii and Maui. I always look forward to returning to Maui.”

Yamanaka’s most recent album, “Lei Lehua,” was a major winner at the 2019 Hōkū awards. He won not only Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year, but also Island Music Album, Single of the Year for “Morning Drive” and Song of the Year for “Lei Lehua.”

Every time he releases a recording, it’s showered with praise from his peers at the Hōkū awards. Beginning with his debut, “Lei Puakenikeni,” all three of his solo albums have won Album, Male Vocalist and Song or Single of the Year.

“When I plan to release an album, it’s to help commemorate my family and my friends and really put out the music that I love, so when it does garnish some awards, it feels amazing,” he said.

A celebration of his hometown of Hilo and his love for family, memorable songs on “Lei Lehua,” ranged from his gorgeous title composition and the evocative “Morning Drive,” dedicated to his wife, to a lovely cover of Dennis Kamakahi’s classic “Koke’e” and the popular gospel hymn “His Eye is on the Sparrow.”

“A lot of the originals really represent where I come from and my family,” he noted.

A musician with renowned Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho’s halau for many years, he also covered Ho’s song, “Ka Rodeo O Waimea.”

“Falsetto was something that caught my ear prior to joining Johnny’s halau,” he recalled. “Johnny has such a unique falsetto style, and I wanted to learn his style. I wanted to excel in it and sound good.”

Yamanaka’s debut album, “Lei Pua Kenikeni,” featuring an assortment of Hawaiian standards and newly written Hawaiian songs, made him the big winner at the 2011 Hōkū Awards. He was only the third artist in the history of the Hōkūs (after Keali’i Reichel and Willie K) to win Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year and Most Promising Artist in the same year. He also won Song of the Year for “Kaleoonalani,” which he composed for his daughter.

Blessed with an exquisite falsetto, Yamanaka next released “Lei Maile,” another spectacular collection of primarily Hawaiian language compositions with a few sung in English. Among his own original compositions, he included a lovely, romantic hapa haole number that paid homage to Maui. Reminiscent of classics from the ’40s and 50s, “Maui Under Moonlight” was inspired by a trip in 2012.

In 2015, he collaborated with the duo Kūpaoa to release a holiday album, “A Gift of the Heart,” that won Christmas Album of the Year at the 2016 Hōkūs. He most recently released the single “When I Lost You (A Song For Bert).”

“Bert (Naihe) was my guitarist for 20-plus years,” he explained. “You lose a friend like that, but life still continues, so you have to find your way, and probably realize throughout that process, you didn’t have time to grieve and celebrate his life. So I had an opportunity to express my emotions and feelings through this song.”

Yamanaka is currently working on a new album.

“I’m excited because we’re looking at seven years since my last one,” he said. “I’m looking at different aspects of what I’m trying to present to the audience. My lei albums you got Hawaiian, a little bit of country, some inspirational music, personal music. But this one I’m doing songs on more of a traditional level to really commemorate my experience with Johnny Lum Ho, with my Kumu Hula that I sang for 20-plus years. I’m really trying to pay homage to that style.”

As a performer, he loves connecting with his audience. “I love reaching people and connecting with them and hopefully transporting them to past experience with Hawaii or their relationship with Hawaii in general. I know in Wailea there’s a bunch of malihini or tourists that come through. So, I want them to take a little bit of Hawaii with them throughout their days in Hawaii and even when they return home. To really have that memorable experience. It really is for me, the connection with people and audience.”

Yamanaka will present “Ke Kani Hone O Wailea — The sweet music of Wailea” at The Shops at Wailea at 5:30 p.m. Friday. Admission is free.