Brother Noland is among the musicians performing for the Lahaina Homecoming celebration. Courtesy photo

As part of the Lahaina Homecoming celebration, the Mana Maoli Collective will host a special concert July 19 at Campbell Park with John Cruz, Brother Noland, Eli-Mac, Chardonnay, vocalists from Ooklah the Moc, Natural Vibrations and Hilo’s Kanaka Fyah.

“About two dozen Maui artists are joining us,” said Mana Maoli’s Keola Nakanashi. It’s a kanikapila with “no rehearsals, artists come and leave when they like, jam whatever instruments and songs they like, and often different instruments and genres than what we are used to seeing of them on stage.”

The three-day Lahaina Homecoming is centered on community, culture and connection, nearly three years after the 2023 wildfire. Over 100 former Lahaina residents who had to relocate after the fires are expected to return.

“A lot of people want to participate,” said Brother Noland. “They’ve got the old-timers like me and John Cruz, and they’ve got all the younger generation like Fyah and Chardonnay. It’s going to be all the Maui musicians like Eli-Mac, and now we’re in the mix.”

Oahu’s Chardonnay is among the artists playing in Lahaina. Courtesy photo

Other Maui musicians performing include Ikaika Cosma, Joan Kahaialii, Jordan Soon, Kealiʻi Lum, Max Angel Becerra, Nalani Kai, Peter DeAquino, Naiwi Teruya, Makamae Paselio, Sean Moala, Joshua Kahula of Nuff Sedd, Leimana Purdy, Ikaika Lum Lung and Shania Lee.

In the past, Noland would often play in Lahaina opening concerts.

Maui’s Eli-Mac will perform at the Lahaina Homecoming. Courtesy photo

“I remember all those years I played the (Royal Lahaina) Tennis Stadium,” he recalled. “I opened for Starship and for Kenny Loggins. I used to play Maui a lot.”

One of Hawaii’s most respected artists, honored with a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, Noland makes his home on the slope of Mauna Kea. “It’s hard to get me off the mountain over here in Mauna Kea,” he said. “I’m like a hermit.”

Acclaimed for his innovative, contemporary island music, Noland’s local hits include “Coconut Girl,” “Big Ship,” “Are You Native,” “Jaime Lee,” “Sweet Asian Honey,” “Juju Rock” and “Pua Lane.”

Back in 1980 on his debut album, “Speaking Brown,” Noland sang, “See what they’ve done to Waikiki … no more Hawaiian style” on his epic protest song, “Look What They’ve Done.” It was like a Hawaiian fusion of Bob Marley’s rebel music and a Bob Dylan protest anthem. While it later became a local hit, radio stations initially deemed it too radical and wouldn’t play it. “It was banned from the radio,” he recalled. “It was too much for people.”

“Look What They’ve Done” was used by director Christopher Kahunahana for the soundtrack of his provocative 2020 movie, “Waikiki,” about the hardships faced by many struggling to survive in the islands.

Has he ever thought of updating “Look What They’ve Done” with a new mix?

“I think of all kinds of things up here, then I get tired,” he said. “I’m really living in the bosom of Mauna Kea. It’s so peaceful. I’m happy with the peacefulness.”

Acclaimed as the “Father of Jawaiian Music,” Noland was featured in the first episode of the PBS Hawaii series, “In Hawaiian Hands: The Story of Reggae in Hawai’i.” In the documentary, Oahu radio DJ Kamasami Kong talked about playing Noland’s influential, signature song, “Coconut Girl,” and how it was “going to start a trend.”

He updated “Coconut Girl” with a memorable revamped version, “Coconut Girl 2023,” featuring additional lyrics and male and female voices.

In 2025, he recorded three new songs, “Las Vegas,” “Ride the Water,” and “Walkabout,” with his new band, The Island Incredibles, featuring Kalapana’s Gaylord Holomalia, Grammy-nominated Michael Ruff, long-time Pacific Bad Boy bassist Kata Maduli and Tavana.

Wrapped around jubilant tropical music, on “Las Vegas” Noland depicted the economic struggles that face many in Hawaii being priced out of the islands. He was inspired to compose the song because his kids live on the mainland and hearing Iam Tongi on “American Idol” reporting how his family got “priced out of paradise.”

“Ride the Wave,” which hasn’t been released yet, features Tavana on lead guitar.

“I think if we release that one, that one will shake up everybody a little bit,” said Noland. “It’s really wild. Tavana did an incredible solo on it. It’s kind of like an Allman Brothers type of feel.”

He noted that he’s not sure how to release and promote music anymore.

“I don’t know how this works anymore,” he said. “I don’t know how it gets plays. I don’t know how to make it a hit anymore. From where we come from, we knew how to do it. You come out with a single, you go to the radio stations, you pump it, you do all that and try to get on Billboard. It’s a very weird time. I don’t even know what to think about AI. I have nephews and nieces sending me stuff, and none of them are musical.”

While he has no new music, he’s about to promote some merch — golf apparel by Honolulu-based Puttwell.

“They love the whole idea of Coconut Girl and Pacific Bad Boy,” Noland explained. “It’s pretty cool. They use the logos from Pacific Bad Boy and Native Music. It’s totally outside of the music. They wanted to do a video that goes along with the clothing. I’m not a golfer, and I told them if it’s funny I’ll wear this stuff. I’m not going to ride a golf cart with golf clubs, but if you put a throw net or a rifle in there.”

Looking forward to returning to Lahaina, “I’ll come up and do a couple of songs, like make a cameo, and John (Cruz) can do a couple of tunes. It should be fun,” he said.

The Mana Maoli Collective’s Lahaina Homecoming celebration will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. July 19 at Lahaina’s Campbell Park. Complimentary parking will be available at the Lahaina Aquatic Center, with continuous shuttle service to and from Campbell Park each evening. An initiative of Maui Economic Recovery Commission’s Healing Journey Team and coordinated by nonprofit Festivals of Aloha, Lahaina Homecoming is sponsored by the County of Maui Office of Recovery, Hawaiian Council, Hawaii Community Foundation, Hawaiian Airlines, other local organizations and many private donors.