Nā Hoa to bring high-energy Hawaiian music to Maui Calls
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The multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning trio Nā Hoa will be among the featured performers at the Maui Calls 2026 benefit gala Saturday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
The evening will also include Benny Uyetake, steel guitarist Joel Katz, The Hula Honeys and Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka under the direction of Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva.
"We're excited," said Nā Hoa's Ikaika Blackburn.
One of the premier Hawaiian music groups, Nā Hoa features Maui-born Blackburn on ukulele and vocals, Keoni Souza on bass and vocals and Halehaku Seabury-Akaka on guitar and vocals.
With their debut album, the trio triumphed at the 2013 Nā Hōkū Awards, winning album of the year, group of the year, Hawaiian music album of the year and most promising artist.
"It was one of those things that really solidifies yourself with your peers when you win an award that is voted on by your peers," said Blackburn.
They impressed again in 2018, winning group of the year and Hawaiian album of the year for "Aloha from Nā Hoa." It was also a finalist for best regional roots music album at the 2019 Grammy Awards.
"The second album, we were very fortunate to also receive a Grammy nomination," he said. "We even won an EP of the year award for our Christmas EP. It was another testament to our music and our peers enjoying our music. We've been very blessed."
Formed in 2002, the musicians met while Blackburn was a student at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. "We were all brought up by musician families, and we all love Hawaiian music," he noted. "I was at an event and heard Keoni Souza singing, and I was like, 'Man, he can sing.' I saw him at another event shortly after that and introduced myself as a boy from Maui, and I would love to sing Hawaiian music with some guys who love Hawaiian music. He said, 'I have this friend Hale,' and I said, 'Let's do it.' We picked up our first gig, and from there the rest is history."
A primary musical influence on him growing up was his grandparents. "We definitely love Dennis Pavao with his strong falsetto singing, and older groups such as Kahauanu Lake Trio and Hui Ohana," he said. "I was very fortunate at a young age to get called up and sing with Aunty Irmgard Aluli and be in the presence of Auntie Genoa Keawe. We had a wide influence of Hawaiian music."
Performing initially with the group on Oahu for about four years, he moved back home to join the Maui Fire Department.
Most recently, Blackburn contributed to the Nā Hōkū-nominated collection "Pōpoloheno – Songs of Resilience & Joy," by Kumu Hula Māhealani Uchiyama, which highlighted the bonds between Hawaii and African culture. He sang "Pua Laulele," celebrating Betsey Stockton, who was formerly enslaved but became the first African American woman to land in Hawaii in 1823 and a teacher at a Lahaina mission.
"I met with Kumu Hula Māhealani and sang that song for her halau," he explained. "Hawaiian music is a transportation device. It takes us to the place where the composer wrote the song. It tells stories of people, of land, of yesteryear, of what our ancestors or kūpuna were seeing when they wrote these songs. It's our way to tell stories and so it transports us to these times."
A captain with the Maui County Fire Department, his crew was one of the first on the scene of the 2023 Lahaina wildfire. "It's something that never happened in Maui's history, nevertheless Maui Fire Department's history," he said. "Whenever we get to that anniversary day, it reminds us of the resiliency of not only the people but all the responders that came together. It shows the resiliency of our community to come together at each other's needs. I like to remember that it showcases what Maui can do."
Regularly touring Japan and performing annually at Merrie Monarch and at various hoʻolauleʻa, Blackburn is looking forward to the MACC event. "What's become the strength that people enjoy listening to Nā Hoa is the energy level that we exude," he said. "We just come with a lot of high-energy Hawaiian music. People are attracted to the energy level that we give."
Maui Calls' theme this year is "Celebrating Vintage Aloha Wear" and will feature vintage aloha fashion, music and hula. Proceeds support the MACC's arts and education programs, along with cultural and community events for residents.
The evening will include gourmet pūpū from Maui chefs, wine tasting and silent and live auctions featuring Hawaii staycations, restaurant dining packages, original artwork and musical instruments autographed by performers who have appeared at the MACC. Deidre Tegarden and Tony Takitani will emcee.
Maui Calls 2026 will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday at the MACC. Reservations are available at mauiarts.org, by contacting Catherine at catherine@mauiarts.org or calling 808-243-4237. All attendees must be 21 or older with valid ID.