Profile & Concept

Hiliu – The Sound That Calls Across Time

Concept

Long before the age of recordings, music in Hawaiʻi carried the voices of the people — stories of love, nature, and the divine.
Many of those songs, written during the Hawaiian Kingdom era more than a century ago, survived only as ink on paper — fragile sheet music sleeping in archives.

Hiliu set out to awaken those voices.
Through years of research and restoration, the duo unearthed forgotten mele (songs) and brought them back to life for today’s listeners. Each track begins with the original 19th-century notation, then gently expands through modern instrumentation and harmony — creating a bridge between past and present.

Their approach is both artistic and archival: every sound honors its historical source, while every arrangement invites a new generation to listen, learn, and feel the spirit of old Hawaiʻi.
In each recording, Hiliu weaves history and emotion into music — giving voice to compositions that might otherwise remain silent in the archives.

Who Are Hiliu?

The name Hiliu comes from an ancient Hawaiian word meaning “the sound or call of a wind instrument.”
It recalls the echo of a conch shell, known as Kani Ka Pū — a sacred sound once used to announce the arrival of voyaging canoes, to welcome Aliʻi (royalty), and to honor the Akua (gods).
For Hiliu, that call symbolizes connection: between generations, between islands, and between hearts.

Formed in 2014, Hiliu are a harmonic vocal duo devoted to carrying Hawaiian traditions into the modern era. Their music blends the purity of Hawaiian oli (chants) and traditional mele with the warmth of contemporary harmony — a style that is both soothing and soulful.

The Artists Behind the Sound

Hiro Sekine — Executive Producer, Vocals, Ukulele, Guitar

Hiro’s journey began in Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, where he immersed himself in Hawaiian culture as both educator and musician. Trained in oli and hula and Hiro carries forward his teacher’s legacy with deep respect and authenticity. Today, he continues to teach Hawaiian music and culture while crafting traditional instruments such as the ipu heke (double gourd drum), highly regarded by kumu hula throughout Hawaiʻi.

Yuri Ito — Vocals, Ukulele
Yuri’s musical path began at the piano, then expanded into jazz and gospel, where she performed as lead alto with the “Blessed Voices Gospel Choir.” Her love for harmony eventually led her to Hawaiian music, where she found a deep connection between voice, emotion, and cultural storytelling.
Now, through both hula and mele, she shares the beauty of Hawaiian heritage with her students and audiences alike.

Their Mission

Together, Hiro and Yuri embody the meaning of Hiliu — the sound that travels through the wind, carrying messages across time.
Through careful research, heartfelt performance, and unwavering respect for tradition, they bring the music of the Hawaiian Kingdom back to life — not as museum pieces, but as living, breathing songs that continue to move hearts today.

Hiliu — Reviving the lost voices of Hawaiʻi through music.