Kalaʻe Parish
ʻOihana: Musician
I ke kula hea ʻoe i puka ai? Kapolei High School ‘08
Kulanui: Linfield College
Wahi: Waimea, Hawaiʻi
Ask Kalaʻe Parish why he moved from Oʻahu to Hawaiʻi Island, and he’ll probably just point you to the first few lines of his song “Island Life.”
City lights are shining
Beautiful sight, you might say
But they don’t compare to a starry sky at night
The Native Hawaiian country singer-songwriter from West Oʻahu attended Pōhākea Elementary, Leihōkū Elementary and Friendship Christian Schools. While sports was his main focus growing up, Parish always loved music and the idea of songwriting. He wrote his first song as a sixth grader at Kula Waena o Kapolei and later represented Kula Kiekie o Kapolei in “Brown Bags to Stardom,” the talent showcase competition for Hawaiʻi youth. As a young boy, he spent summers and spring breaks working at grandfather’s farm in Kaʻū on Hawaiʻi Island. After college, he pursued music full time and moved out to Waimea, where continues to find inspiration for much of his songwriting.
Parish has shared the stage with top country artists including Billy Currington, Brett Young, Rascal Flatt’s lead singer Gary Levox and LeAnn Rimes. His music has been featured on the big screen, including in commercial ads for YETI, Pacifico Beer and the popular Netflix series “Love is Blind.”
At the 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, he took home Album of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year for “Where I’m Going”, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year (Composer Award, “Kickin’ Back”) and a shared win with his wife, Kalena, for Christmas Album of the Year (“Kalaʻe + Kalena + Kalikimaka”).
Q: Briefly describe your journey after high school.
A: After graduating from Linfield College in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in business—where I also played four years of collegiate football as a free safety—I returned home in 2013 and began performing solo and with a band across Oʻahu. In 2014, I took on full-time management of my grandfather’s farm on the Big Island. By 2018, I began developing a solo music project inspired by life in the islands. Over the past five years, that journey has led to opening for internationally recognized artists and earning multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.
Q: He aha kāu hana i kēia mau lā?
A: I built a home on my property on Hawaiʻi Island, where I’ve been raising cattle, horses and pigs. In my spare time, I love training horses and riding all over the island. Over the past year, I’ve been touring in support of my latest album, “Where I’m Going,” which was recently honored with six Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards including Album of the Year. I’ve been performing full-time since its release. In addition to performing, I also teach songwriting at the Kapena School of Music, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and serve as the program director for educational opportunities with the Henry Kapono Foundation.
Q: No ke aha ʻoe i koho ai i kēia ala ʻoihana a he aha kāu e hauʻoli nui ai e pili ana i ia mea?
A: I chose this career path because I’ve always had a passion for music and songwriting. When I graduated college, I knew that at some point I would want to pursue music full time. The thing I enjoy the most is performing, but I also enjoy writing songs for TV and film.
Q: He aha ka mea e hoʻohanohano ai iā ʻoe?
A: I think public schools often carry the stereotype of being “not as good,” especially in academics or athletics compared to private schools. But I’m a success story from a public school on the west side—proof that you can find academic success, a career, and a strong future through public education.
Q: Ke kumuhana punahele ma ke kula?
A: Pelekania
Q: Favorite school lunch or breakfast?
A: Chicken sandwich
Q: He aha ke ʻano o nā hana extracurricular āu i komo ai?
A: Football, wrestling and track and field.
Q: Inoa o ke kumu a i ʻole ka mea aʻoaʻo āu e makemake ai e mahalo?
A: Mrs. Wray, Mrs. O, Mrs. Ifuku, Mrs. Walker. These were all my business academy teachers at Kapolei High School who believed in me and inspired me to be an entrepreneur.
Q: He aha kāu ʻōlelo aʻoaʻo no nā haumāna?
A: The only person you need to believe in you is yourself.
