The Era of Kala‘e Parish Has Arrived
The rising Hawaiian country artist was a standout winner at this year’s Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.
If you haven’t heard of Kala‘e Parish or listened to his soulful Hawaiian country music, you will. At this year’s Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, the Hawai‘i Island singer-songwriter-musician swept five categories—Male Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year for his debut album Where I’m Going, Song of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year and Christmas Album of the Year (with his wife, Kalena).
Photo: Marian Lee
The night unfolded like a dream for Parish, who wasn’t expecting to be honored in such a significant way. “You go into these award shows, and you’re just happy to be there and be nominated,” he says. “So, to win, especially for male vocalist, I was so honored considering the greats in Hawaiian music who have won that award. One of the biggest compliments I got from people in the industry was saying Hawaiian music is in good hands.”
What stands out about Parish’s music, even to those who may be just discovering it, is the melodic, heartfelt way he shares his emotions and episodes of his life, like the joy of living in the country, surrounded by nature, as well as the pain of losing a child. That heartbreaking miscarriage in 2021 was what prompted Parish to complete Where I’m Going, which was released in March 2025 with 10 original songs. He wrote the song “Scars on Your Mama,” reflecting on the loss.
“I immediately began recording the album after losing our daughter, and it was healing to tell my stories and share the music that I felt was my truth,” he says.
Parish, who is Native Hawaiian, describes his songs as country music written from a Hawaiian perspective. Aside from one co-written song on the album, he wrote all the others himself. “It’s very, very real and raw—my truth,” he says.
“One of the biggest compliments I got from people in the industry was saying Hawaiian music is in good hands.”
Both of Parish’s grandfathers were farmers, and he says he’s always felt most alive in the country. So, after growing up in ‘Ewa Beach and Wai‘anae, he moved to Waimea in 2019 and gravitated to a paniolo lifestyle. He’s been writing songs, singing and playing ‘ukulele since he was a kid. His father and uncles are musicians, and he grew up listening to folks like John Cruz, Henry Kapono and Brother Noland.
“Listening to their original music, I always thought I want to have my own songs too,” Parish says. “People always tell me it’s refreshing to hear my music because I pay a lot of attention to my songwriting.”
He’s now working on his second album, which he’s recording during trips to Nashville. And when he’s not working on his own music, he teaches at a Hawai‘i Island music school founded and run by Kalena Parish.
Diane Seo is the editorial director of HONOLULU Magazine.
