Robi Kahakalau

Hawaiian singer/guitarist Robi Kahakalau mixes the sounds of her native islands with elements of reggae, pop, singer/songwriter, folk, and rock balladry, plus the occasional touch of jazz and R&B. Not only that, but her linguistic skills are as eclectic as her musical tastes -- she's fluent in English, French, Hawaiian, and Tahitian, and all four tongues show up on her recordings. Kahakalau was born into a musical family -- her grandfather Tutu played ukulele and steel guitar, and taught traditional Hawaiian music in Boston; her father, meanwhile, performed as a jazz bassist i...