Maoli

Maoli is a contemporary Hawaiian island-reggae act led by singer, songwriter, and producer Glenn Awong. The name "Maoli" means "native" in Hawaiian, chosen by Awong to represent his culture and identity. Awong was born in Hilo on the island of Hawaiʻi and raised in Haʻikū in upcountry Maui, where he attended King Kekaulike High School. Maoli debuted in 2007 and built its following by playing local parties and community events before headlining festivals and touring the U.S. mainland, Australia, and beyond.

Musically, Maoli blends roots reggae and island pop with influences from traditional Hawaiian music, rock, and country. The catalog spans multiple independent albums, including the debut "Groovin'" (2008) and later releases such as "With Love" (2018), which debuted near the top of Billboard's Reggae Albums chart, and "Sense of Purpose" (2019). Over the years Maoli has charted numerous No. 1 regional island-reggae songs and drawn hundreds of millions of streams. Around 2018, Awong began leaning further into country influences, later recording country-leaning material in Nashville.

The group's most prominent recognition came in 2020, when "Sense of Purpose" (released on Awong Entertainment) won Reggae Album of the Year at the 43rd Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, Hawaiʻi's leading music awards. That same year Maoli was also recognized at the iHeart Island Music Awards, winning Album of the Year and Group of the Year. Awong is the founder and constant creative core of the project, backed on stage by additional touring musicians. Maoli maintains an official website and the Maoli Music Foundation, a nonprofit supporting music and arts education for children.