Kolohe Kai


Kolohe Kai is a Hawaiian reggae pop musical group formed in 2009 by singer-songwriter Roman De Peralta.
Kolohe Kai consists of De Peralta, Jasmine Moikeha, Kolomona Ku, Luke Daddario, Imua Garza, and Kahale Morales.

History

Circa 2006 in Oahu, the band members met in their high school Polynesian music class. After performing in local talent shows, 17-year-old Roman De Peralta signed with a record label followed by the rest of the band. De Peralta explains the band's name: Kolohe means "rascal", which his family called him as a child, while Kai means "ocean" or "saltwater".
The group's 2009 debut album was This is the Life, and their 2011 follow-up album was Love Town. Successful singles included "Cool Down" and "Ehu Girl". Their 2014 album Paradise reached third place on Billboard magazine's Reggae Album chart.
In 2019, Kolohe Kai released their fourth album, Summer To Winter, which reached number one on Billboard's Reggae Album chart.
On May 30th, 2025 Kolohe Kai released their fifth studio album called What Aloha Means. Following the release of this album they did a summer tour in the East Coast, then moving on to the West Coast, and ending in Hawaii.

Musical style and influences

Kolohe Kai's musical style is generally described as reggae. Their sound has been characterized as Hawaiian-inflected reggae and Pacific Island reggae, infusing "the localism of ukulele music with rhythms of roots reggae." Their more recent material shows flavors of pop and R&B.
De Peralta has cited Hawaiian reggae band Ekolu, Fijian musician George Veikoso a.k.a. Fiji, and Boyz II Men as influences. They have also been influenced by reggae rock band Rebelution.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

  • This is the Life
  • Love Town
  • Paradise
  • Summer to Winter
  • ''Hazel Eyes''

Live albums

  • ''Live Album 10th Anniversary''

Compilation albums

  • ''Best of Kolohe Kai ''

Extended plays

  • This Is the Life
  • ''Love Town ''

Singles

Compilation appearances