page_title: Kalani Peʻa
section_title: Early life and education
hierarchical_section_title: Kalani Peʻa / Early life and education
caption_attribution_description: English: Kalani Pe'a &amp; Allan B. Cool Grammys 2019 Backstage Microsoft Theatre
context_page_description: Kalani Peʻa is a two-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter of Hawaiian music. He released his first album, E Walea, in 2016, which won the 2017 Grammy award for "Best Regional Roots Music Album". Peʻa released his second album, No 'Ane'i, in 2018, which won the Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.
  Peʻa is also an educator, a kanaka, and promotes Hawaiian language and culture. He is a supporter of Hawaiian-language immersion schools.
context_section_description: Peʻa was born in Hilo, Hawaii and was raised in Pana‘ewa, Hilo, Hawaii. He comes from a musical family and his mother, Pua Leonard, introduced him to music to help him with words. Peʻa started singing as a young boy due to a speech impediment, later stating that music saved his life. His father, Arthur Pe‘a, also exposed him to jazz and big band music, which later influenced Kalani's musical style. In his early years, Peʻa performed in choirs and talent competitions. Some of his music influences include The Temptations and Stevie Wonder.
  Peʻa received his bachelor's degree at Colorado Mesa University in Mass Communications with an emphasis in public relations/news editorial and has also worked on his master's degree focusing on early childhood education. He is a 2001 graduate of Ke Kula o Nawahiokalaniopuu, the Hawaiian Language School in Keaʻau, Puna, HI. Peʻa illustrated and published five Hawaiian language children stories. Peʻa is a fluent Hawaiian language speaker. He departed his position as a Hawaiian resource coordinator at Kamehameha Schools in 2017 to pursue his career in music full-time.
  Peʻa was involved in musicals and acting productions while being part of various popular Play Bills at Colorado Mesa University. Peʻa was affiliated with the Chamber and Concert choirs during his first three years in college. In 2001, Kalani entered and won in the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition for the Colorado/Wyoming Chapter.
caption: Kalani Pe'a & Allan B. Cool Grammys 2019 Backstage Microsoft Theatre
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