From the Beautiful Island of Buffalo Grove, IL
Makani is a young Hawaiian Entertainment group in a Chicago suburb. The four Lee sisters were born and are being raised near Chicago, also known as the Windy City which inspired the group name Makani (the Hawaiian word for Wind).
Singing in the privacy of their family van or at the dinner table, Makani developed a special style of harmonizing with each other. Their father, Kaleo, is known in the Chicagoland area for his musicianship and for his love of Hawaiian music and culture. Kaleo helped guide his daughters into harmonic balance singing Hawaiian songs performed in English and eventually songs in the Hawaiian language with the help of many Polynesians who found their way to the Midwest.
Makani has performed throughout the Midwest states and beyond. In 2013, the strength of their Hawaiian roots had grown so strong that they were invited to perform at the Picnic for Poki Concert Series in Wailuku, Mau'i.
"I've never seen such a young Hawaiian group being raised so far away from their homeland being asked to perform for the people of Hawai'i... in Hawai'i!" explains a very proud father, Kaleo.
The Wailuku Concert performance exploded into a nine stop "Makani Summer Tour Hawai'i 2013" from playing as guests for Cyril Pahinui at the Outrigger Waikiki and with the Abrigo Ohana at Hilo Hatties. Makani reached the Hawaiian Talk Radio Airwaves for 60 minutes on the 'Aloha Friday Morning Show' on AM940 Hosted by Kimo Kahoano, 'Ikaika Kahoano, Leilani Kupahu-Marino and Lynette Adams in Honolulu. The Tour moved to Mau'i where Makani performed in front of the Pukalani Nazarene Church members, followed by the residents of Roselani Place in Kahului, Mau'i ending with Makani singing the Star Spangled Banner and Hawai'i Pono'i to open the Na Koa 'Ikaika Mau'i Baseball Team. All this on Father's Day for which Kaleo threw out the Opening Pitch! A last minute request by the Mau'i Airport Management for Makani to perform for the people entering and leaving Mau'i. After the Picnic for Poki Concert it would be time to head back home to Chicago where there were more performances.
We enjoy sharing our music with everyone and we hope to see you at one of our future events.
We wish you all the very best and may your days be filled with much Aloha!
A hui hou kakou,
Makani