Faith Ako + Patrick Landeza and Steven Espaniola

A unique blend of Polynesian music, Rhythm & Blues, and good ol’ Rock-n-Roll.

I enjoy oldies from the Motown era, The Temptations, The Delphonics,

Aretha Franklin, Staple Singers, Natalie Cole,  and Diana Ross.  I also

enjoy the styles of Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Rait, Norah Jones, Eva

Cassidy, Sheryl Crow, Grace Potter, Jill Scott, Sade, and Lisa Fischer.

The Hawaiian music that I grew up listening to on the islands was: Aunty

Genoa Keawe, Lena Machado, Marlene Sai, Melveen Leed, Hui O Hana, Uncle

Gabby Pahinui, Olomana, and Loyal Garner.

Coming from a large Polynesian family (I am the youngest of fifteen

children), music naturally has been a big part of my family traditions

and cultural heritage. Singing in the home and at church formed the

solid foundation of my passion

for music. To date, there are twelve left handed musicians in my

immediate and extended ohana.  It’s pretty cool playing upside down I

tell you.

Traditional Hawaiian music is making its way back and surviving

against other genres of popular music in its home state of Hawai’i and

worldwide. Performing on Pakele Live Show in Honolulu for two shows was a

great and humbling experience. To connect with the locals, my ohana at

home, it just renewed my spirit and became full circle, felt

so honorable for me. Personally my goal is to help preserve and promote

music of the Hawaiian people. This intention is a deep and reflective

passion that I’ve come to pursue and delight in.

Performance Experience

I started playing locally in the San Francisco Bay Area in the

mid-90′s, performing with various Kumu Hula Directors, Halaus, and dance

performers. What got me interested in getting back to music was my four

year old daughter, Felila Ku’upualeionaona, who wanted to learn hula.

Fifteen years later in 2009, Felila graduated from her Papa ‘Uniki

Studies Program as Olapa Dancer, under the direction of Kumu Hula Shawna

Alapa’i in Marin California. Kumu Shawna’s lineage of Hula Masters

comes from Aunty Mae Kamamalu Klein of Kaneohe and Aunty Maiki Aiu Lake of Honolulu, Hawai’i.

Over the last eighteen years, I’ve been a member of three different

established bands in the Bay Area, performing as both lead and backup

vocalist and playing ukulele and keyboard. These bands ranged in size

from two to six members and played to audiences ranging in size from

small private parties to gigs and festivals with more than twenty

thousand people in attendance.  During that time, I played well in

excess of a thousand gigs in many different venues. Subsequently,

several other members of these bands and I have all gone on to develop

solo careers.