A Family Legacy of Musical Talent

Hoku Zuttermeister was born and raised in Kaneohe, Hawaii. At a very young age, he started dancing hula, and in intermediate school, progressed to teaching himself how to play the ukulele, guitar and bass. Hoku comes from a Hawaiian family dynasty that encompasses both the hula and music communities. His great-grandmother, Kaui Zuttermeister penned the beloved song, “Na Pua Lei Ilima,” and his great-aunt is Kumu Hula Noe Zuttermeister. 

As Hoku grew into his musical abilities, he and his friends found an innate desire to play the music that their kupuna listened to and performed; the music of the Hawaiian renaissance. During Hoku’s senior year in high school, the band Kanae was born. Ioane Burns, Marcus Ontai, Kekoa Kaluhiwa and Hoku formed this singing group in 1992, a time when traditional Hawaiian music was faltering in popularity and Jawaiian music filled the airwaves. They realized they were the only young group of musicians performing the nahenahe style of Hawaiian music. The music of Linda Dela Cruz, Genoa Keawe, Sam Bernard, Darrell Lupenui, Kekua Fernandez, The Brothers Cazimero and many other Hawaiian music artists shaped the music of Kanae, and in turn, Hoku’s musical style.

After high school, Hoku continued his growth as a musician by performing with such Hawaiian music greats as Kuuipo Kumukahi, Jerry Santos, Sean Naauao, Raiatea Helm, Na Palapalai, Mahela Ichinose, Hookena and Side Order Band. It is from these musicians, and many others, that Hoku learned the intricacies of starting and maintaining a musical career. He credits all of these influences as the pieces that have come together to form his musical style; a style he describes as “Hawaiian, but with a more contemporary flair.”

Hoku’s album, “Aina Kupuna”, won six 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards including Hawaiian Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Hawaiian Language Performance, Most Promising New Artist and Liner Notes. Explore more artists.