Behind the Hawaiian Lullaby Album

“The inspiration for this album came when I was hāpai (pregnant) with my first child, ‘Ōmealani 2 years ago. I would sing “You are my Sunshine” to her everyday. Soon every song I sang became a lullaby. But I wanted to sing them in our native language, not only to teach her but also myself ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi. Through Haku Collective, we created a lullaby album in both the English and the Hawaiian Languages.

Ask anyone here in the islands and theyʻll tell THE most important thing to us is our ʻOhana (family). This common thread led me to ask some of my talented friends to join me on this project, all of whom are mākua, kūpuna, aunties, and uncles to many keiki.

It's been an amazing experience co-producing, recording and creating this lullaby album alongside my Co-Producer, Imua Garza and some incredible Grammy® and Nā Hōkū Hanohano winning artists in Hawaiʻi. Each artist brought their incredible voices, ano, and stories to this project.

We also worked closely with Hawaiian interpreters to create new, beautiful renditions of these popular songs while still paying homage to the brilliant Hawaiian songwriters who brought us such classics as Pūpū Hinuhinu, ʻŌpae ē, Aloha Kakahiaka, Ke Ao Nani, He Aloha Mele and of course, Hawaiian Lullaby!

Having my daughter at every studio session with me from the beginning and being hāpai with my second child was unforgettable. These songs raised her up just like many of them did for us as kids growing up in Hawaiʻi.

I remember crying as I recorded “Songbird” while holding my belly and watching my daughter play on the floor outside of the sound booth. It brought a whole new meaning to this project for me because I realized that it would forever be a time piece for my ʻohana. Iʻll never forget it.

Since the album was released, weʻve shared over 15 music videos highlighting the featured artists and their ʻohana in our beautiful homeland. We also featured keiki hula dancers from some of Hawaiʻiʻs top Hālau including Hālau Hiʻiakainamakalehua, Hula hālau o Kamuela, Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu'uanahulu and Hālau Kekuaokalā'au'ala'iliahi.

It was my privilege to get to direct these videos and work with the vast talents of Hawaiʻi including the gorgeous wāhine dancers from multiple generations from Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine on our Hawaiian Lullaby music video for Josh Tatofi.

My proudest moment is when fans tell me theyʻre learning the Hawaiian language through the songs on this album.

E ola mau ka ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi!”

-Kimié Miner, co-producer and co-founder of Haku Collective