RELEASE NUMBER 6 | 26
Anniversary Celebration Set for Friday, March 13, 5-9 p.m.
HONOLULU – One of Waikīkī’s most beloved live music venues, Kani Ka Pila Grille (KKPG), will celebrate its 18th Anniversary on Friday, March 13 from 5-9 p.m., honoring nearly two decades as Hawaiʻi’s home for authentic, community-rooted Hawaiian music.
The evening will feature:
• 5 – 7 p.m. – Live music by Ka Hehena
• 7 – 9 p.m. – Performances by Kawika Kahiapo and Bobby Moderow Jr.
• Special guest artists joining the stage in true kanikapila style, including Na Hōkū Hanohano award-winning musicians Kala‘e Parish and his wife Kalena Parish, President of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA)
• Reservations recommended | 808-924-4990 | kanikapilagrille.com
Kala‘e Parish earned Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year at the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts’ 48th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards in 2025, recognized for his work as a recording artist, songwriter and producer. Parish also received honors for the Christmas album he recorded with Kalena as the duo Kala‘e + Kalena. Guests of the evening will be entered to win a two-night stay at OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort and a $100 dining credit (must be present to win). HARA merchandise and additional giveaways will take place throughout the night and OUTRIGGER Reef Executive Chef Dean Kamiya will unveil new menu items at Kani Ka Pila Grille.
A Living Legacy of Hawaiian Music
Since opening in 2009, Kani Ka Pila Grille has welcomed an extraordinary roster of Hawaiʻi’s most respected artists, including Ledward Kaapana, Kapena, Ho’okena, Weldon Kekauoha, Sean Nā‘auao, Nathan Aweau and many more.
The venue’s name, “kanikapila,” meaning “let’s play music,” was gifted by legendary slack-key guitarist Cyril Pahinui, who performed weekly on Wednesdays to help establish KKPG as an authentic gathering place grounded in Hawaiian tradition and community.
Over 18 years, KKPG has welcomed approximately 2.6 million guests, drawing both kamaʻāina and visitors for nightly live performances that celebrate the sounds and stories of Hawaiʻi. Through partnerships with organizations such as the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts and the Henry Kapono Foundation, KKPG continues to nurture and elevate Hawaiʻi’s music community.
Central to that mission is the annual Kani Ka Pila Grille Talent Search Competition, launched under the leadership of Luana Maitland. The 2026 Talent Search will begin accepting entries in June, with the live competition scheduled for August 22, 2026. Aspiring traditional and contemporary Hawaiian musicians are invited to submit a DVD music sample or digital link of a past performance to luana.maitland@outrigger.com. Past winners have gone on to record albums, earn Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and establish lasting careers in Hawaiian music.
“Kani Ka Pila Grille represents everything we love about Hawaiʻi’s music culture — community, authenticity and the spirit of sharing music together,” said Sean Dee, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of OUTRIGGER Hospitality Group. “We’re incredibly proud of Auntie Luana Maitland and the passion she’s poured into this stage over the years. The support from our local music community, the artists who return here again and again and partners like HARA have helped create something truly special. We feel blessed to have such genuine relationships with Hawaiʻi’s musicians and to provide a place where their talent and traditions can continue to thrive.”
Kani Ka Pila Grille Nightly Performance Schedule, 6-9pm (*not including special guests)
- Sunday – Nathan Aweau
- Monday – Sean Nā‘auao
- Tuesday – Kala‘e Camarillo
- Wednesday – Ei Nei
- Thursday – Kawika Kahiapo
- Friday – Ka Hehena
- Saturday – Ho‘okena
*March Special Guests: Olauniu (3/15, 3/22), Kahiau Lam Ho (3/21) and Rickey Kamai (3/29)
Saturday Cultural Programming: O Ke Kai Series
The celebration continues on Saturday, March 14, when OUTRIGGER Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort hosts the O Ke Kai Series with Friends of Hōkūle‘a and Hawai‘iloa from 9a-12p at the Aʻo Cultural Center. Honoring the art of wayfinding, the immersive morning will feature hands-on canoe building and restoration with the crew, canoe-lashing and compass navigation demonstrations, keiki activities and live music by Kawika Kahiapo. The O Ke Kai Series celebrates Polynesian navigation traditions and Hawaiʻi’s enduring oceanic heritage.
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