It’s rare when an artist arrives on the scene offering a refreshing new spin on a traditional genre of music. Nā Hōkū Hanohano nominated Steven Espaniola is that artist. Raised in Aliamanu, Hawai’i and now residing in the California Bay Area, Steven is a self taught multi-instrumentalist Hawaiian artist specializing in Ki Ho’alu (Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar), ‘Ukulele, Upright Bass, and Leo Ki’e Ki’e (Traditional Hawaiian falsetto). Of Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese and Spanish descent, his ethnicity is as diverse as his unique sound which preserves the integrity of the traditional with a flourish of the modern.

In 2015, Steven was the recipient of the Hawai’i Chamber of Commerce of Northern California’s Kulia I Ka Nu’u Award (strive for the summit) for his contributions in promoting the Aloha Spirit throughout Northern California and beyond.

In recent years, Steven has had the distinct pleasure of performing and teaching at some of the country’s most prestigious ’ukulele festivals including Tunes in the Dunes (Oregon), Reno ’Ukulele Festival (Nevada), San Francisco ’Ukulele Festival (California), Mighty Uke Day (Michigan) Swallow Hill Music Uke Fest (CO), Menucha Ukulele Band Camp (Oregon) and Ashokan Uke Fest (NY). Steven also periodically contributes to ’Ukulele Magazine as a Guest Editor.