Letter of aloha: Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages partners with Pakele, Jordan T on new song ‘From the Islands’

Native Hawaiian singer-songwriter Dillon Pakele of O‘ahu has released his newest single, “From the Islands,” featuring Jordan T, an island reggae fusion artist from Maui, who are brand ambassadors for Hilo’s Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages.

The single, which Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages helped produce, is a celebration of island community, roots and values. Its origins were inspired by Pakele’s experience being away from home while attending college in Nebraska.

“When I first came up with this concept, that was me sharing about what it’s like to be from Hawai‘i and wanting to share that feeling of pride and aloha with the world. It was my goal to make people feel some of that.” said Pakele. “This song represents legacy and the reason ‘why’ for me.”

Pakele is the son of the late Kaulana Pakele, lead singer of ‘Ehukai and Mana‘o Company. He said every song he creates has a connection to his father. The bass line for “From the Islands was recorded previously by his father and recreated by Imua Garza.

Waiākea’s relationship with the younger Pakele began through the water bottling company’s Kōkua Initiative, which sponsored him and his sister Kamalei at Kapena School of Music on O‘ahu. He was brought on in 2021 as an official brand ambassador.

The idea for producing a song came to fruition last year during a jam session among brand ambassadors at the company’s headquarters on the Big Island, where Pakele and Jordan T, an island reggae fusion artist who has an international following and more than 11 million streams on Spotify alone, had the opportunity to connect and perform.

“To support someone like Dillon to grow, thrive and inspire our community to do the same means so much to me,” said Waiākea Kōkua Initiative Director Geoli Ng.

Founded in 2012, Waiākea has partnered with athletes, artists, entertainers and hundreds of nonprofits throughout the islands, mainland and around the globe to help those in need and support local talent, inspiring people to live aloha through arts and music.

“From the Islands” is available to stream online now on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube.