Friday Night Tempo

Starr Kalahiki

Starr Kealaheleokalani Kalahiki is a Hawaiian singer, born and raised in Moanalua Valley on the island of O‘ahu. Her father, Joseph Kalanui O Kamehameha Kalahiki, a Pentecostal minister and tour guide raised in Honolulu, established her love for jazz as well as love for her land, aloha ‘aina. Her mama, Merille Kanoelani Kahiamoe Kalahiki, born in Koloiki, Kohala on the island of Hawai‘i (the birthplace of King Kamehameha the Great), maintains the family land and therefore emphasizes Starr's responsibility to aloha ‘aina. This has guided Starr's musical trajectory. Her professional experiences range from featured vocalist on productions including Don Tiki, Myth, Naupaka, The Lili‘u Project and ‘Ulalena, to bands Eight-O-Eight, Missing Dave, and Toyz of Pleasure. Her debut album, Salt, was honored with two Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, and she received a third as a contributor to Henry Kapono's compilation album. Starr is also the recipient of a Native Arts and Culture Foundation Fellowship.

Ke‘olu

Hiʻilani Asing, Krystal Mokuahi, and Cory Mau make up the young, dynamic trio known as Ke`olu. Together, their voices blend to create a unique sound that bridges traditional and contemporary styles. Their passion and love for music includes not only the traditional Hawaiian genre, but also hits from the 70s, 80s, and more. They mahalo Ke Akua for bringing them together in 2014 for a gig, marking the start of a beautiful and fulfilling friendship and partnership. In 2019, Keʻolu was blessed to become official sponsored artists of Kanileʻa ʻUkulele. You can follow them on Instagram @keolu_music

Shawn Conley

Hawaiian born bassist and composer Shawn Conley grew up loving all types of music. He is a member of the Silkroad Ensemble and the The Knights orchestra. Recent projects include Silkroad’s Grammy Award winning album Sing Me Home, an album with Gil Shaham and The Knights, the world premiere tour of Osvaldo Golijov’s Falling Out of Time, as well as an international tour of the performance-art piece The Head and the Load created by William Kentridge.

As a studio musician, he has performed on soundtracks including True Grit, Moonrise Kingdom, The Vietnam War documentary by Ken Burns, and the Amazon series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Shawn joined the Hawaii Symphony as Principal Bass in 2022.

Megan Conley

Harpist Megan Conley was raised in a musical family in Austin, Texas. She performed on the Grammy Award-winning album ‘Los Super Seven’ at age 15. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study harp in Paris, France and then moved to New York City in 2009, performing regularly with the NYC Ballet, the Orchestra of St. Lukes, and as a substitute harpist for the Broadway show ‘The Fantasticks.’

Megan is the harpist of The Knights, a Brooklyn-based chamber orchestra. She served as Principal Harpist of the Houston Symphony from 2015-2022. In 2021, Megan founded a nonprofit called Ocean Music Action. This organization presents chamber music concerts paired with volunteer actions focused on conservation. Learn more at oceanmusicaction.org.

Jonny Lam

Jonny Lam is a guitar and steel guitar player (pedal and lap). Having spent many years playing in NYC and across the world he now resides in Honolulu, HI, inspired by the proximity to nature and culture. Dedicated to being in service to the music, Jonny made his mark as a sensitive, technical musician with a mastery of touch and sounds. His resume includes being a member of the Atomic Bomb Band supergroup and working with artists such as: Busta Rhymes, David Byrne, Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert, Emmy Lou Harris, Sean Paul, Pharaoh Sanders, Kenny Chesney and more.