Catching Up With High Watah

Molokai native and High Watah lead singer Keldin Calairo-Nakagawa performs with his band at the Ala Moana Center on the Fourth of July. Photo courtesy Ala Moana Center

By Dayanti Karunaratne | Editor

There’s something kind of perfect about celebrating the Fourth of July in one of the biggest shopping centers in America. This year, along with the mall’s offerings of Americana — snacks, deals and loud urban culture — the Ala Moana Center also presented a bit of Molokai in its long weekend lineup: a free concert by High Watah.

Since moving to Oahu a couple of years ago, the island reggae band has been performing concerts in Hawaii, California and Las Vegas. Most recently they opened a new concert and event venue in downtown Honolulu. With their producers and distributors located in New Zealand, the band is gaining a following there, too.

But for Molokai native and High Watah lead singer Keldin Calairo-Nakagawa, there is something great about putting on a free concert.

“It’s awesome,” Calairo-Nakagawa said. “I always like the free stuff, where you can bring the whole family.”

Calairo-Nakagawa told The Dispatch before the concert in Honolulu that there have been some ups and downs, but the future looks strong.

“We’ve been trying to regroup,” he said about Lewa Davis-Medija’s recent departure from the band to pursue a solo career. He was the other Molokai native in High Watah. 

Nonetheless Calairo-Nakagawa said he’s excited about the release of their second album, High Watah Volume Two, in August.

He said the band recently came to Molokai to play at a graduation party and hopes to return to play a public performance after their album release. 

“It’s good to play back home,” he added.