Josh Tatofi

Nominated for:
NIU FM Best International Pacific Artist
​

Josh Tatofi was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father, established local musician Tivaini Tatofi, is an original member of the acclaimed reggae band Kapena.
 
With idols like Luther Vandross and Peabo Bryson, and ballad-ready chops to boot, Josh yearned to fuse his R&B soul with a love for his Polynesian heritage. “I ka wā ma hope, I ka wā mamua.” A Hawaiian proverb meaning, the future is in the past. In 2014, Josh had a career altering epiphany and discovered a home for his voice in traditional Hawaiian music. 

​With the release of his first Hawaiian language single, titled “Pua Kiele”, Josh expressed his adoration for the language, culture and traditions of Hawaii. In 2016, Josh released a full-length Hawaiian album, also titled “Pua Kiele” and with it embedded his imprint in the Hawaiian music scene. Since then, Josh has earned the nickname as, “the Luther Vandross of Hawaii.”.   
 
In 2017, he won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for the categories of Male Vocalist of the Year and Island Music Album of the Year for “Pua Kiele”.  He garnered a Grammy nomination in 2018 for the same album in the category of Regional Roots.
 
Josh released his sophomore full-length Hawaiian album, entitled “Ua Kui A Lawa” in December of 2019.  The album ended up winning 5 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in 2020 for the following categories: Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Island Music Album of the Year, Entertainer of the Year and Single of the Year “Melia”.  In addition to the Hoku Awards, Josh won “Best International Pacific Artist” in 2020 at the Pacific Music Awards in New Zealand.
 
The work didn’t stop there in 2020 as Josh released his first Christmas EP project titled “A Jream Christmas”.   Just recently, Josh won the 2021 Island Music Award for Male Artist of the Year.