These Nightly Concerts in Kā‘anapali Foster Community

On a quiet morning, gray skies cloud Maui’s usually sunny West Side. But those familiar with the area know that clouds never linger long here: The sun always breaks through.

By late afternoon, I’m already relishing the sun’s rays at The Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. Perched on a serene shoreline in Kā‘anapali, the resort is a bit of a hidden gem and a sweet escape from the bustling visitor areas nearby.

And as the sun sinks below the Pacific, one of Kā‘anapali’s signature sunsets marks the start of an enchanting evening.

On the lawn, under the sparkling canopy of a century-old banyan tree, Kalani Pe‘a charms and serenades guests. Hailing from Hilo on Hawai‘i Island but now residing on Maui, Pe‘a is a four-time Grammy-winning singer and songwriter.

Every night, local musicians take the stage at The Branches, the resort’s intimate outdoor music venue. Here, guests and residents can expect a memorable evening of live music​, with ​beverages, craft cocktails and incredible charcuterie boards available for purchase.

After the Lahaina fires, many local musicians lost their gigs, recalls Nicholas Kuhns, the resort’s general manager at the time I visited the resort in May 2025. He wanted to offer those artists an opportunity to perform again while at the same time welcoming more of the local community to The Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows. The first performance at The Branches was in November 2024, and there have been regular performances ever since.

Underneath the stars, Pe‘a casts a spell on the crowd with his beautiful mele, telling tales about the Islands and Hawaiian culture. For resort guests and residents who sway to his lovely melodies and dance to familiar covers, the music is entrancing.

The free concerts at The Branches are always open to the public and have become more popular since last year’s first performance. Kuhns tells me the resort has welcomed crowds in the hundreds for well-known local musicians like Anuhea and Tavana.

On the third Friday of every month, The Branches hosts its Featured Artist Night, which spotlights Hawai‘i’s top performers, like Pe‘a. Local vendors are also welcome to set up pop-up shops for free on the lawn surrounding the banyan tree. Along with supporting local musicians, Kuhns says he’s committed to shining a light on Maui’s small businesses, too.

At The Branches, it’s not only about the music. It’s also about a community coming together in a meaningful way to support local performers, entrepreneurs and each other. Here, you see the light always breaks through on Maui’s West Side—no matter how dark the clouds once were.

2780 Keka‘a Drive, Lahaina, (808) 661-3611, royallahaina.com. 

This story was originally published in our FALL/WINTER 2025 issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered to right to your mailbox.

Grace Maeda is the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.