Nā Mele on PBS Hawaiʻi is  sponsored by First Hawaiian Bank,   First Insurance Company of  Hawaii and The Olson Trust.

(instrumental music) Taimane: When I'm touring or people don't know who  I am, they actually don't know it's an ʻukulele.

They think it's a mandolin or a small guitar.

And so that's what I love about this instrument,   too, is that it's such an underdog.

Most  people don't take the ʻukulele seriously,   especially people who aren't from here, they  think of it as like a souvenir or a toy.

And so,   I love that though, because I love  to change their minds about that by   playing this instrument to the point where  they didn't realize that it's an ʻukulele.

(instrumental music) E ala e, ka lā i ka hikina I ka moana, ka moana hohonu Piʻi ka lewa, ka lewa nuʻu I ka hikina, aia ka lā, e ala e E ala e E ala e E ala e (instrumental music) Ahhh... Ahhh... E ala e E ala e E ala e E ala e (instrumental music) Ahhh... Ahhh... (instrumental music) Ahhh... (instrumental music) (instrumental music) Taimane:   When I started playing the ʻukulele when I  was five years old, I never thought of it as   my life path.

But I think also when I'm five,  I'm not really thinking about that.

And so,   once I got my very first job at the age of 13,  which was actually playing professionally in a   show where I got paid with Uncle Don, Don Ho.

Then it kind of clicked, like, oh, okay.

Like,   this could be a job.

This could be a career.

And so, yeah, it's been a very alternative way   of living.

But I love it.

I love being  my own boss.

I love creating.

So, yeah.

(instrumental music) Today in Hawaiʻi Nei it's a good day I'm cruising down Waiʻalae a rainbow in the sky  Gotta start my day in the only way  Gotta get it, gotta get it, gotta get it My matcha latte.

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo  Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Gotta get it, gotta get it, gotta get it.

My morning vibe's aligned and it's time to grind  Take on the day time to create So much to do so much to accrue  Gotta get it, gotta get it, gotta get it My matcha latte.

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo  Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo Gotta get it, gotta get it, gotta get it.

From lavender to rose, imagination flows Better daze, oo she got that coco flav Hangin' with the homies down at Smokey’s The Daily Whisk they never miss.

(instrumental music) Gotta get it, gotta get it, gotta get it.

From lavender to rose, imagination flows Better daze, oo she got that coco flav Hangin' with the homies down at Smokey’s The Daily Whisk they never miss.

Oooo, Ooo (instrumental music) Gotta get it, gotta get it, gotta get it.

My matcha latte.

Taimane:   What I want people to feel when they  hear but also see my music is I love   the mythical and mystical, fantastical  things about what this world has to offer.

I want people to feel like they're whisked away  into this mystical world that they can enjoy,   escape, but also connect with the elements  or nature or the planets in a special way.

Taimane: Bora   Bora Sunset was inspired by my mom and connecting  with my Polynesian side.

So I am half Caucasian.

My dad is from Arizona, and my mother was from  Samoa.

So, I really wanted to reconnect with   her after her passing.

And so my album Hawaiki,  which Bora Bora Sunset is on, was inspired by her.

(instrumental music) Lazy days  Lazy days (instrumental music) Oooo oooo La ora na  Oooo oooo Māuruuru (instrumental music) Lazy days La ora na Lazy days Oooo oooo Oooo oooo Oooo oooo Bora Bora Taimane: The satisfaction I get after the  show when I get to talk to the fans who   share their their reason why they came,  the hardships that they went through,   and how the music helped them through that time,  how far they've driven or even flew to see the   show.

Reminds me that the music is such a powerful  gift, and that really keeps me going is that.

(instrumental music) Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, O Hawaiʻi Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, O Hawaiʻi (instrumental music) How would they feel?

Would their smiles be content, then cry Cry for the Gods, cry for the people, Cry for the land that was taken away, And then yet you’ll find, Hawaiʻi Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, O Hawaiʻi Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono, O Hawaiʻi (instrumental music) O Hawaiʻi Oooo… Hawaiʻi (instrumental music) Taimane:   When I'm touring and playing internationally,  what I love about the audience is that they're   so open and wanting to learn about  Hawaiʻi and Polynesian culture already.

And so it's makes my job easier in that way.

And  I just try to be myself.

I try to incorporate   Polynesian songs such as E ala E and, you  know, the haka that I put into one of my songs,   Mars.

And so incorporating the music that  I've grown up with, and that's cultural,   but that also speaks to me in the  special, weird, unique way that I like.

(instrumental music) Ka mate, Ka mate Ka ora, Ka ora Ka mate, Ka mate Ka ora, Ka ora Tenei te, Tangata Puʻru, huru Naʻa nei tiki mai whaka-whiti te ra Ka mate, Ka mate Ka ora, Ka ora Ka mate, Ka mate Ka ora, Ka ora Tenei te, Tangata Puʻru, huru Naʻa nei tiki mai whaka-whiti te ra (instrumental music) This program was made possible by the  Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

And   by contributions to your PBS station  from viewers like you.

Thank you.