Mākaha Sons

The Mākaha Sons are a traditional Hawaiian musical group formed in 1976 on the island of Oʻahu, originally under the name the Mākaha Sons of Niʻihau. The founding lineup brought together Jerome Koko, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Sam Gray, and brothers Skippy and Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. The group began performing at small Oʻahu venues and became associated with the Hawaiian cultural renaissance, building a catalog of recordings rooted in Hawaiian-language song and vocal harmony.

The group's membership changed over the years. Skippy Kamakawiwoʻole died in 1982, and the ensemble continued recording and touring through the 1980s and early 1990s. Israel Kamakawiwoʻole left to pursue a solo career in 1993, after which the group shortened its name to the Mākaha Sons. Founding member Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, a guitarist and songwriter for the group, retired in 2014. Founding member Jerome Koko has continued to anchor the group, which has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall and sustained a recording career over several decades.

The Mākaha Sons have released a large body of recordings on Hawaiian labels and are recognized as one of Hawaiʻi's enduring traditional groups. They have received multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), and were inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2012.