Kala‘e Camarillo is returning to Maui for a free concert Friday at The Shops at Wailea. Courtesy photo

Winning Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards in 2024 for Song of the Year, Single of the Year and Music Video for “Sands of Old Lahaina,” Kala’e Camarillo is about to release his latest album, “Drifting on Island Time,” which he will preview in a free release concert Friday at The Shops at Wailea.

His moving tribute to Lahaina, composed a day after the wildfires, is included in the new album.

“I’ve been working on it for three years,” Camarillo said. “Every song’s an original, except one which was written by Tarvin Makia. It’s cool to be able to do a song by him because he’s one of my mentors.”

The title track features a duet with 2025 Male Vocalist of the Year winner Kala’e Parish. “It’s funny because a lot of people confuse us,” he said. “We always hang out. We’re good friends.” The catchy track “has a contemporary island feel to it,” he said. “its kind of a message to myself, a reminder to slow down and enjoy the moment.”

Maui related songs include ‘Kula Country Morning,’ where he sings about Kula being “peaceful like this life is meant to be.”

“My aunt Lehua Kalima from Nā Leo Pilimehana sings with me on it,” he said. “It has kind of a James Taylor feel to it.” And there’s another Maui song, “Down in Makena.”

The new album, which will likely be a Hōkū contender in 2026, was produced by Imua Garza, and Maui musician Mika Kane on ukulele and his cousin Dane Lum Ho on ukulele join him on some tracks.

Kala’e Camarillo will perform songs from his new album, “Drifting on Island Time,” during a free concert at 5:30 p.m. Friday at The Shops at Wailea. Courtesy photo

Born and raised in Kihei, Camarillo comes from a family of music educators and entertainers. His grandfather, George Camarillo, started the first ukulele band in Hawaii public schools at Waiakea Intermediate School, and his father, Rama Camarillo, taught ukulele at Kamehameha Schools Maui. By age 12, he began gigging weekly with his father at the Maui Coast Hotel.

His debut album, “Working Man,” was nominated for a Hōkū for Most Promising Artist. Then his sophomore album, “Feel at Home,” featured a collection of beguiling romantic-themed songs and won him Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year.

In 2023, he won EP of the Year for “Child of These Islands” and Christmas Single for “It’s Christmas Time Again.”

Later in the year, Camarillo will release another new album, a collection of Hawaiian language songs, funded by the U.K. company Audio Network, which works with artists around the world producing original music for TV and movies.

“I recorded that with my cousin, Noeau Kalima,” he explained. “He teaches Hawaiian at Kamehameha on the Big Island. We always wanted to do a project together. Both of us are singing on it. Audio Network funded the whole project. They needed Hawaiian music for their catalogue. They reached out and I said I can do it if I record it with my cousin.”

Currently teaching a kanikapila class at Kamehameha Schools on Oahu, his brother Kamaka is his teaching assistant. Kamaka is featured on a new Putamayo global music collection “World Beach Party,” representing Hawaii, performing with Anthony Pfluke.

“I’m going to bring the whole band,” Camarillo said of the Wailea show. “My wife Leila is singing harmony. She’s from Maui, and sang on my past albums with her sister. Tarvin and my cousin Dane Lum Ho from Maui and Mika Kane on ukulele from Maui, and then Lopaka Colon on percussion — we’ll be performing the entire album live and will have physical copies available to purchase. I look forward to sharing these new songs. It’s going to be a fun night.”

A CD release concert for Camarillo’s “Drifting on Island Time,” will be presented at 5:30 p.m. Friday at The Shops at Wailea. Admission is free.