The Wave features Henry Kapono, Tavana, Anthony Pfluke, Danny Carvalho and Ryan Perez. The new group will perform Sept. 27 at the Marui Arts & Cultural Center as part of the monthlong Home in the Islands Festival. Courtesy photo

Loved for such classic songs as “Friends,” “Sailin’,” “Highway in the Sun” and “Home in the Islands,” multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning musician Henry Kapono is super excited about his latest band project.

The legendary musician has formed the new local supergroup The Wave, joined by Tavana, Anthony Pfluke, Danny Carvalho and Ryan Perez, who will make their Maui debut Sept. 27 at the MACC as part of Kapono’s monthlong Home in the Islands Festival.

“It’s a really powerful group vocally and instrumentally,” Kapono said. “Everybody’s just top of their game.”

The collaboration was inspired by shows Kapono has been hosting at The Lounge on Oahu. “We decided to do one show a month, and the idea was to put a collaboration together, so I did a collaboration with Brittni Paiva,” Kapono explained. “The next collaboration was with The Wave, and that was with me, Anthony Pfluke, Ryan Perez, Danny Carvalho and Tavana. I thought that this would be a great team of musicians. It’s a pretty amazing sound and group. It’s very powerful, and it was very successful. Then we got asked to do the Manoa Valley Theatre and we sold out there, and then the Blue Note.”

With his new band project, audiences are unlikely to hear his classic solo or C&K favorites. “We’re basically doing cover songs, classic cover songs like ‘The Weight,’ ‘Seven Bridges Road’ and ‘American Pie,'” he said. “We haven’t had a chance to get together and work on originals. It was such a fast project to put together that we just picked the best cover songs and we get people singing along with us the whole time.”

Kapono’s Home in the Islands Festival series is part of his foundation’s fundraising campaign. “We have about 50 shows going on here (Oahu), in Maui and the Big Island,” he said. “It’s crazy, but it’s so good. This whole year has been pretty exciting working with young artists and working with some of the mentors that have been helping us mentor these artists. It’s been a really great musical journey that I’ve been on with the foundation.”

One of his other new group projects features On the Rise Artists Jenny Yim, Nani Carvalho and Ninamarie Bell, who perform as Three Little Birds. “They celebrate Bob Marley and sound amazing,” he said. “We did a collaboration at The Lounge, and we just did a big one for KCCN and their bash, and they killed it.”

In July, Kapono released his latest EP “Summertime,” which includes a tribute to Lahaina.

“I spent almost a year working on just doing one song at a time,” he explained. “I thought it’s time for me to put something out. A really cool song on there is ‘Lahaina.’ It reflects the good times I had in Lahaina, and I have Lee Oskar (of War) playing harmonica on it. He also plays on ‘Island Love.’ We toured this summer together with my band.”

Kapono just released a great compilation, “On the Rise: Volume 1,” featuring 15 On the Rise Artists whose music reflects the richness and diversity of Hawaii’s music landscape. It includes Maui musician Anthony Pfluke’s catchy song “Don’t Stop The Journey,” Kosuke’s soulful groove “Love Me in the Morning” and Rebecca James’ beautiful “Butterflies.”

He has also produced a new documentary series, “Home in the Islands: The Series,” with short films honoring legends and rising stars shaping Hawaii’s music.

“Our first film will be with Jerry Santos,” Kapono said. “We have Kala’i and Kalena Parish, Brother Noland and Kimie. It’s keeping me busy. I’m working every day this month, but I’m doing what I love, so it’s not work for me.”

On Sept. 28, as a fundraiser for the Henry Kapono Foundation, he will present a livestreamed concert, “Home in the Islands: LIVE from Hawaii To The World,” on his Facebook and YouTube sites.

The Wave performs at the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Josh Kahului will open with pre-concert entertainment by Arlie Asiu in the courtyard. Tickets are $37, $47, $57 with a limited number of premium seats for $77 at MauiArts.org.