Disney Moana    

Vaea A‘etonu (Guitar, Vocals) stands out as an exceptional artist whose illustrious career has left an enduring impact on the realms of entertainment and music. With over a decade of contributions to Disney’s creative ventures, he has become an integral part of the company’s artistic landscape. As a versatile guitarist, A‘etonu has performed with renowned artists such as Fiji, Tenelle, Pati, Local Culture, and Swells, bringing soulful and melodic performances that elevate every stage. In 2013, his dedication earned him the title of winner at the prestigious Weekend in Polynesia Talent Contest, a milestone that highlighted his outstanding commitment to his craft.

A‘etonu’s journey began in his homeland of American Samoa, where he honed his skills alongside local legends like the late Harry Miller. These early experiences shaped him as an artist and laid the foundation for his later successes. Today, he is a vital member of the Polynesian trio FAIVA, a dynamic group poised to make waves in the industry. Beyond his solo and group work, A‘etonu remains engaged in the cultural performing arts community of Southern California, underscoring his devotion to celebrating and preserving the traditions of the Pacific Islands.

A self-taught musician, A‘etonu immersed himself in genres such as Jazz, Rock, RnB, Reggae, Country, and his favorite, Polynesian music. Hailed as the preeminent guitar player from Samoa, his extraordinary career reflects passion, artistry, and dedication. From the enchanting islands of the Pacific to the grand stages of Disney and the reggae music scene, and now as a member of FAIVA, A‘etonu continues to share the beauty of his heritage with the world.

Kai Kalama (Drum Set & Percussion) is a full-time musician out of Eastvale, CA, who continues to spread joyful connection to every kind of audience. Kalama was featured as a Top 36 semifinalist on the 2009 season of American Idol when he was 26. He was recently a Featured Score Vocalist on Disney’s Lilo and Stitch live-action remake. Kalama, along with his brother Ryan, can also be heard as vocalists on the AppleTV+ production Chief of War. Kalama strives to continue creating avenues to further connect and share his Aloha through music and entertainment with all who are open.

Ryan Keau Kalama (Bass, Vocals) is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and educator from San Clemente, CA. A member of the Kalama Brothers, Kalama has shared the stage with legends of Hawaiian music, appeared on NBC and PBS, and performed for many years at Disneyland’s Trader Sam’s. His voice can also be heard on the Apple TV series Chief of War, scored by Hans Zimmer and James Everingham. A lifelong Disney fan, Kalama is honored to join the Moana Live in Concert tour, sharing peace, love, and aloha with audiences everywhere.

Lauren Kosty (Percussion) is a multi-percussionist based in Los Angeles, CA, and London, UK. She performs regularly in a range of genres including classical, jazz, musical theater, and recording for film, TV, and pop. Performance highlights include appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the International Bruckner Festival in Vienna, Clean Bandit at the European Music Awards, Snoop Dogg at the Hollywood Bowl, and Cirque Du Soliel live on MTV. Additionally, she has recorded at Capitol Records with Grammy-nominated artist David Benoit and Sony Scoring Stage with Emmy Award–winning composer Bear McCreary. Kosty spends time touring in the UK for artists such as Ministry of Sound Classical, Sir Karl Jenkins, Russell Watson, Aled Jones, and Gareth Malone. She holds a bachelor of music from the USC Thornton School of Music and master of music from Carnegie Mellon College of Fine Arts.

Erica Kika Parra (Percussion), born in New York City and raised in New Jersey, is a Latin and Afro-Colombian percussionist, drummer, educator, and teaching artist. Related as she is to Catalino Parra, one of the first members of the legendary musical dynasty Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, her connection to traditional music of Colombia’s Atlantic coast runs deep. In the 1970s, her father, Oscar Parra, was one of the pioneers of Afro-Colombian traditional music in Barranquilla, and with his guidance she started to play percussion at the age of 13. Parra later studied with Moris Cañate, her musical mentor and Rebolu bandmate, then enrolled at the Boys & Girls Harbor Conservatory in New York, where she studied and performed with both the Colombian and Latin Jazz ensembles under the direction of Pablo Mayor and Louis Bauzo, respectively. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a BM in music education. Parra has since worked and collaborated with Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Folklore Urbano, Gregorio Uribe Big Band, Totó La Momposina, Sonia de Los Santos, Ruben Rodriguez, Miss Yaya, Roberto Cuao, Alex Acuña, Edmar Castañeda, and C&C Music Factory. As a current drummer and percussionist, Parra has performed at festivals and events such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Lincoln Center Outdoors, Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, SXSW, Mundial Montreal, Carnaval de Barranquilla, the Library of Congress, Getty Center, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, NPR Tiny Desk, and many more. She was also one of the recording musicians for Disney’s movie Encanto, inspired in Colombia, for which Parra also won three Grammy Awards and an Oscar. She is also one of the touring musicians and music director for the Encanto Sing-Along Film Concert. Parra La Gente is a new project co-founded by Erica “Kika” Parra and Eric Parra, which is inspired and focused on the relationship between a musician and dancer.

Lester Paredes (Woodwind) is a Venezuelan artist and dynamic performer of diverse woodwinds, bringing global musical traditions to life with expressive, vibrant sound. For the last seven years he has toured the world as a multi-instrumentalist and bandleader with Cirque du Soleil while also collaborating with a wide range of artists and world-class productions. Alongside his woodwind mastery, he weaves in plucked strings and percussion to enrich his performances across India, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. A Latin Grammy–nominated artist, Paredes fuses tradition and innovation to create soulful experiences that captivate audiences everywhere.

Anthony Kauka Stanley (Percussion), a ukulele virtuoso, composer, music director, and cultural ambassador, dedicates his life to preserving and sharing the beauty of Polynesia through music. The youngest son of renowned Kumu Hula Kathy Heali’i ‘O Nālani Gore Stanley, he has served as music director of Heali’i’s Polynesian Revue since age 15, helping lead the company to numerous awards while inspiring new generations through his artistry. His career has taken him from Hawai’i and Tahiti to Qatar, Mexico, and across the United States, with performances at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, SeaWorld San Diego, Disneyland, and as a guest artist aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. As a master teaching artist for the Center for World Music, Stanley teaches hundreds of students each week, fostering cultural appreciation in schools and universities. A sponsored ukulele artist for Kala Brand Music Co., he continues to use his platform to bring Polynesian music to broader audiences. Whether performing, teaching, or collaborating with symphonies and cultural organizations, he continues his mission to preserve and celebrate Polynesian heritage through the universal language of music.

Sioeli Tameifuna (Percussion) is a multi-instrumentalist from Orange County, CA. Growing up, Tameifuna got his first taste for playing music in church. Since then, he’s traveled all over the world as a touring musician in the Island Reggae scene. Tameifuna also comes with an educational background in music technology and experience in Polynesian folk music and drumming.

Nina Sosefina (Vocals) is a first-generation Samoan American woman born and raised in Long Beach, CA, paving the way for Pasifika youth through all her creative ventures.