Kuikawa is comprised of (from left) Lukela Kanae, James “Koakane” Mattos and Joshua Kulhavy-Sutherland.

LAHAINA – The group Kuikawa will perform at Lahaina Restoration Foundation’s free monthly Hawaiian Music Series concert on Thursday, Dec. 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the lawn of the Baldwin Home Museum at the corner of Dickenson and Front streets in Lahaina.

Kuikawa is comprised of Lukela Kanae, James “Koakane” Mattos and Joshua Kulhavy-Sutherland.

They met in 2016 as students in the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawaii Maui College.

As avid fans of Hawaiian music and lovers of good harmony, they quickly formed a group and began to perform around the island of Maui.

Kanae is an alumni of Kamehameha Schools Maui Campus, where he was always surrounded by Hawaiian singing and hula. He played bass guitar with the Kamehameha Schools Hawaiian Ensemble and began developing his singing voice after joining the Institute for Hawaiian Music.

Mattos developed an interest in music during high school and developed his leo ki’eki’e (Hawaiian falsetto) singing.

Koakane placed second in the Richard Ho’opi’i Falsetto Contest last September.

Kulhavy-Sutherland was home schooled and entertained himself with guitar and ukulele.

After graduating from college, he entered the Institute of Hawaiian Music and formed the band Kuikawa with Koakane and Lukela.

Limited seating is provided on the lawn; blankets, mats and low beach chairs are welcome.

This ongoing Hawaiian Music Series program is sponsored by Hawaii Tourism Authority and County of Maui Office of Economic Development with support from KPOA 93.5 F.M.

For more information, call the Lahaina Restoration Foundation at 661-3262 or visit LRF online at www.lahainarestoration.org.

The success of this program is due to YOUR attendance and support. Come out and enjoy live Hawaiian music! It’s FREE!