Kalapana

Kalapana is a pop-rock band from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, formed in 1973 when childhood friends D.J. Pratt and Malani Bilyeu began playing together and were joined by Mackey Feary and keyboardist Kirk Thompson. Rooted in a laid-back, harmony-driven blend of soft rock and folk rock that became associated with Hawaiʻi's island contemporary sound, the group moved to California in 1975 to record its self-titled debut album, released that year. The record was a success in Hawaiʻi and Japan and established Kalapana, alongside Cecilio & Kapono, as one of the defining local groups of the 1970s.

The band followed with Kalapana II (1976) and Kalapana III (1977) and performed at venues such as the Waikīkī Shell. Its early albums were composed largely by Bilyeu and Feary; Bilyeu wrote 'Naturally,' and the group's best-known songs also include 'Nightbird' and 'The Hurt.' The lineup evolved over the years: Mackey Feary departed in 1977, and later members and collaborators included saxophonist Michael Paulo, drummer Alvin Fejarang, bassist Randy Aloya, keyboardist Gaylord Holomalia, and bassist Kenji Sano.

Kalapana continued to tour and record for decades and remained especially popular in Japan. Several members have since died: Mackey Feary in 1999, Malani Bilyeu in 2018, and D.J. Pratt in 2021. In 2011, the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts — which presents the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards — honored Kalapana with its Lifetime Achievement Award.