Artists

JACK JOHNSON

Since co-founding the Kokua Hawaii Foundation in 2003 with his wife Kim, Jack Johnson has hosted 5 consecutive Kokua Festivals. His most recent album, Sleep Through The Static, was recorded with 100% solar energy. For his upcoming 2008 tour, Johnson and his crew are collaborating with local non-profits at every show to develop a new interactive community called All At Once, which hopes to bring the Kokua message around the world and inspire music fans everywhere to create positive change. Visit www.allatonce.org to learn more.
www.jackjohnsonmusic.com

DAVE MATTHEWS and TIM REYNOLDS

This year, world famous acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews performs as an acoustic duo with friend and multi-instrumentalist Tim Reynolds. Matthews is most known for being the Grammy-winning lead vocalist and guitarist for the Dave Matthews Band. Long time friend, Tim Reynolds is known widely in alternative circles for his quick acoustic work, tremolo picking, and sharp rhythms. His technical repertoire has an enormous array of diverse styles from flamenco-influenced percussive slapping and plucking to pure atmospheric electrical shredding. Locals and fans alike are ecstatic to see Dave Matthews first performance in the Hawaiian islands.
www.dmband.com

PAULA FUGA

A young Hawaiian songstress named Paula Fuga graced the stage at the 2006 Kokua Festival. Also that year, Paula and Jack collaborated on a track called “Country Road“ for the Mana Maoli CD in support of 12 community, culture, and environment-based Hawaii charter schools. Since then Kokua Festival veteran Paula Fuga has been touring the mainland to promote her original debut album, Lilikoi, which bundles romantic soulful lyrics, roots reggae rhythms, and Hawaiian culture into a natural hybrid. She recently won the “Most Promising Artist“ award at the 2007 Hoku Hano Hano Awards, the prestigious awards for Hawaiian music.
www.paulafugamusic.com

MASON JENNINGS

Minneapolis-based singer-songwriter Mason Jennings was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and is eager to return to the islands and share the stage at the 2008 Kokua Festival. Well known for his intimate lyrics, literary and historical themes, and unique voice, Mason Jennings’ songs provide insights that offer hope, honesty and faith. His music has appeared in the surf film Shelter and he has toured extensively over the last decade. Mason Jennings is the most recent addition to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records label.
www.masonjennings.com

GO JIMMY GO

Local band Go Jimmy Go uses ska and reggae with classic soul as the foundation for their memorable sound. In the past eight years they have released 3 albums, won numerous prestigious awards, and shared the stage with a diverse group of industry heavy weights during several national and international tours.
www.gojimmygo.com