Anthony Pfluke will perform during a CD release party Jan. 31 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Courtesy photo

A Nā Hōku Hanohano nominee for his album, “We Will Rise,” Anthony Pfluke has released a new CD.

Dedicated to Maui, “Kuʻu Lei Lokelani” finds the gifted Maui artist recording a bunch of original contemporary Hawaiian songs joined by a stellar group of friends.

Pfluke will premiere the new songs at a CD release party Jan. 31 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s McCoy Studio Theater, accompanied by special guests Kala’e Camarillo, Tarvin Makia and Ethan Villanueva.

Pfluke spent the last few years writing, arranging and recording the new collection that celebrates Maui.

“‘Ku’u Lei Lokelani’ reflects my endless aloha for the place I was born and raised,” he explained. “It’s all original songs except for one cover, ‘Pua Lililehua.’ It’s from ʻĪao to Haleakalā to Kaho’olawe. My devotion to my home is portrayed in this work.”

The initial inspiration for the album came from the Small Town Big Art project.

“They very graciously had me be a part of a program to bring artists together to make artwork to commemorate the beauty of Wailuku as well as Kaho’olawe,” he said. “They asked me to write a song for Kaho’olawe and ʻĪao originally, and those songs are on the album.”

He dedicated the resulting “Kū Kia’i Kanaloa” about Kahoolawe, “to all the aloha ʻāina warriors that worked so hard to protect it and to finally bring a stop to the bombing as well as the many people who have been working hard to restore it in the past few decades.”

Distinguished by vocal and guitar excellence, with one memorable song after another, the opening “Waiakoa” honors the ahupua’a “that goes from the summit of Haleakalā to a beach called Kaipukaihina, right by Isana restaurant,” he said. “That’s where I was born and raised, and so I’m commemorating everybody who has taught me in that place where I learned to play ‘ukulele and learned to paddle. The original name for that place was Waiakoa.”

The next track, ‘Kaulana ‘o Haleakalā,’ is basically a new Hapa song. Teaming with Barry Flanagan, Pfluke has been helping to keep the legacy of Hapa alive, touring Hawaii and on the mainland.

“I have Barry Flanagan featured on ‘Kaulana ‘o Haleakalā,’ that I wrote, inspired by the many great Hapa songs that have honored Haleakalā, and, of course, that sound is integral to my sound. I’m honored to now be part of Hapa with Barry, and we will have some shows moving forward as well.”

Besides Flanagan, featured guests on the album include brothers Kala’e and Kamaka Camarillo, along with percussionist Lopaka Colon, Imua Garza, Nakana Wong, Kapono Nāʻiliʻili and Dave Tucciarone on bass.

Entranced with the ukulele as a 10-year-old, in time Pfluke studied with Rama Camarillo and then learned slack key guitar with Uncle George Kahumoku Jr. His previous albums include “Singing to the World: Maui Mele Pana,” “Never Letting Go” and “We Rise.”

Before closing “Kuʻu Lei Lokelani” with “Don’t Stop the Journey (Take it Slow),” he features three protest songs — the stirring “Lahaina Strong,” sung in Hawaiian and English, “Free the Wai,” and the anthemic “So We Stand” with Kamaka Camarillo.

“Now is the time for us to unite so the land can heal, and our children survive,” he sings on “Free the Wai.”

“I did want to share my thoughts on our future moving forward,” he explained. “And how we can come together to empower one another, never forgetting the connection we have to our land that can be the compass to our future sustainably. These three songs point to how we can come together and achieve a greater good for all of us. In ‘So We Stand,’ I have a line that says, ‘We finally come to realize it’s us against the man, so we stand.’ All we have is each other. All we have is a unity to come together in unprecedented times.”

The release party for “Kuʻu Lei Lokelani” will be Jan. 31 at the MACC’s McCoy Studio Theater. The album is available on all digital streaming sources, and CDs will be available at the show.