Raiatea Helm: A Legacy of Hawaiian Song & String

“[She] sings in the high-voiced throwback leo ki‘eki‘e style …poised and utterly elegant.” –The New York Times

Two-time Grammy nominee and multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Raiatea Helm is celebrated as one of Hawai‘i’s finest female vocalists. Honored four times as Hawai‘i’s Female Vocalist of the Year she is a master of leo kiʻekiʻe—the art of Hawaiian falsetto—enchanting audiences with her pure crystalline voice and deep connection to Hawai‘i’s musical heritage.

Her latest album A Legacy of Hawaiian Song and String Volume 1 breathes new life into compositions that shaped Hawai‘i’s musical landscape in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This acclaimed recording swept the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards with seven wins offering a poignant glimpse into the poetry stories and spirit of Hawai‘i. 

With a career spanning two decades and seven album releases Raiatea has performed and recorded with legendary artists including Keola Beamer Aunty Genoa Keawe Keali‘i Reichel Willie K and Mick Fleetwood. Through her artistry she continues to preserve and elevate the rich tradition of Hawaiian music for generations to come.

You may also like the following events from Irvine Barclay Theatre:

• This July, 26th July, 08:00 pm, National Choreographers Initiative: NCI Discovery 2025 in Irvine
• This September, 12th September, 08:00 pm, Gershwin Swings: The Barclay Jazz & Beyond Orchestra Featuring Patti Austin and Paquito D’rivera in Irvine
• This September, 25th September, 08:00 pm, Limón Dance Company in Irvine