Maoli

Biography

Maoli, the stage name of Glenn Awong, is a Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter and bandleader from upcountry Maui who has become one of Hawaii and Polynesia's most successful independent recording artists.[1][2] Born on the northern shore of Maui, Awong discovered his musical talents during a seventh-grade ukulele class, where he developed a distinctive vocal range described as smooth and soulful.[4] Though he initially pursued other work, including construction, his uncle encouraged him to return to music, leading him to record groove-laced covers and eventually hit the road, building a committed fanbase that stretched from the Hawaiian islands across Polynesia, the American West Coast, and as far east as Texas.[4]

Formed officially in 2007, Maoli has evolved into a genre-defying act that fuses country, R&B, soul, acoustics, rock and roll, and reggae into what has been labeled "Country Reggae."[1] The band's breakthrough came around 2018 when mainland friends pointed out the similarities between Maoli's music and modern country music—from swaying melodies and solid rhythms to simple-life storytelling and steel guitars.[4] This realization sparked a creative renaissance, with Maoli releasing a series of innovative albums and viral singles, including emotionally-charged covers of Brett Young's "Mercy" (18+ million Spotify streams) and "In Case You Didn't Know" (10+ million Spotify streams).[2] With nine independent albums and over half a billion global streams accumulated through a nearly 15-year recording and touring career, Maoli has established himself as a fixture across the Pacific islands and beyond, selling out major venues in Hawaii and performing across the U.S., New Zealand, Australia, and the South Pacific.[1][2]

Beyond his musical achievements, Maoli has earned numerous accolades including a 2020 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Reggae Album of the Year, iHeart Island Music Awards for Album of the Year and Group of the Year in 2020, and Album of the Year and Song of the Year in 2021.[3] The artist's name itself carries cultural significance—"Maoli" means "native" in Hawaiian, reflecting Awong's commitment to representing his culture and people on the global stage.[3] His 2023 Maoli Music Overload (MMO) tour demonstrated his commercial reach, selling over 45,000 tickets across four Hawaiian cities and 11,500 tickets on the mainland US tour, plus festival appearances including Cali Roots and Holo Holo Fest Sacramento.[1]

Fun Facts

• Maoli's first performances were so poorly attended that he and his collaborators couldn't even sell 20 tickets at the Pagoda lobby in Honolulu; over 13 years later, his shows at the Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell drew over 25,000 people, with the first show selling out in just 8 minutes.[3]
• The artist discovered his musical talent during a seventh-grade ukulele class and initially left music behind to work construction before his uncle encouraged him to return to performing.[4]
• Maoli's 2023 Maoli Music Overload (MMO) tour was so successful that it sold more than 45,000 tickets across just four cities in Hawaii alone, plus an additional 11,500 tickets on the mainland US tour.[1]
• The name 'Maoli' means 'native' in Hawaiian, deliberately chosen by Glenn Awong to represent his culture and identity no matter where he performs in the world.[3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Uncle (unnamed) - Encouraged Awong to return to music after he had stepped away to work construction (General musical encouragement and support) [Post-high school, pre-2007]
• Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, George Strait - Country music artists whose work inspired Awong's grandmother and influenced his musical sensibilities from childhood; their storytelling and themes resonated with his farm-life upbringing (Classic country recordings) [Childhood influences]

Key Collaborators

• Paulele Alcon - Founder of concert promoter Hawaii's Finest; long-term collaborator with Maoli for over 13 years, from early performances at the Pagoda lobby to major venue shows (Concert promotion and tour organization) [2010s-present]
• Band members (unnamed in sources) - Maoli operates as a band with multiple members performing together; specific member names not detailed in available sources (All Maoli albums and performances since 2007) [2007-present]

Artists Influenced

• Not specified in available sources - No specific artists documented as being influenced by Maoli in the provided search results (N/A) [N/A]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Every Night Every Morning (Maoli Music Overload)
2. Mercy (Sense of Purpose)
3. You Can Have It All (Maoli Music Overload)
4. Shoot Down (Maoli Music Overload)
5. If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Maoli Music Overload)
6. Unwritten (The Breakthrough)
7. Country Reggae (Maoli Music Overload)
8. I Would Look Good on You (Maoli Music Overload)
9. A Place in the Sun (The Breakthrough)
10. Lonely Won’t Leave Me Alone

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz