PERSPECTIVES: KJ Koa

Born and raised on the island of Oahu, KJ Koa is a singer-songwriter, composer, and multi-instrumentalist shaped by a rich and diverse heritage of Hawaiian, Filipino, Portuguese, Irish, and German. Rooted in the sounds of Hawai’i and influenced by a lifetime of eclectic listening, he crafts music that blends island soul with pop, R&B, jazz, and more. A self-taught ukulele player of over a decade, KJ has spent years performing live and honing a sound that is entirely his own.

His debut release, a heartfelt rendition of the traditional Hawaiian song Nā Makani ‘Ehā, weaves together an old recording of his uncle and grandma’s voices and playing; a living room jam session preserved in song. Now at work on his debut album of original music, KJ is building something deeply personal: singer-songwriter storytelling with Hawaiian soul.