The Manaʻo Company

Image Source: Craig Kojima, 2014, Image URL

Image Source: Craig Kojima, 2014, Image URL

Bio: Jamaican Reggae-inspired rhythms blended with Hawaiian vocal harmony & infused with some island instrumentation - Acoustic Guitar, Ukulele, Steel Guitar, creating a new style of Internatioinal Reggae all it's own. Mana'o Company has been in the island music scene for 21 years. They have inspired many of the top island reggae bands & artists popular today, as they were part of the wave of Jawaiian music that took the islands by storm over 20 years ago, helping to develop a new type of island music that blended the tight, cool rhythms of Reggae, with the beautiful, soothing harmonies of Hawaiian and turning it into a music like no other kind in the world - "Hawaiian Reggae". They are Na Hoku Hanohano award winning artists (Hawaii's version of the Grammy's) and in 2002, their album, entitled "Spread a Little Aloha" won 5 Hoku's, including Song of the Year (Aloha), Contemporary Album, & Album of the Year. They have performed all over Hawaii, the West Coast & Internationally as well.

Editors Note: Bio direct from Manaʻo Company. Forefathers of Hawaiian Reggae who were at the beginning of the movement and continue to produce music to this day. Interesting to note that member Danny Kennedy is uncle to Caleb Keolanui and JP Kennedy of The Green. 

Style: Hawaiian, Reggae, Island, Jazz