Sandii

Singer and Kumu Hula
Owner of "Sandii's Hula Studio"

Sandii is one of the leading female vocalists in Japan. Having worldly sophistication, she respects and enjoys a wide variety of music. She spent her teen years mostly in Hawai'i where she studied hula.

Sandii started her musical career in Japan in 1974. Following the 1980 release of an album, produced by Haruomi Hosono, in Japan and in the United Kingdom, "Sandii & The Sunsetz" went on to create and release a number of albums worldwide. Sandii became an internationally renowned Japanese artist, making many memorable appearances.

In 1996, her love for Hawai'ian music produced "Sandii's Hawai'i." Sandii has continued to create Hawai'ian music albums. In the summer of 2003, "'Ukulele Dreaming" was released featuring top ‘ukulele’ players from both in and out of Japan. In 2004, Sandii co-produced with Takuji Aoyagi (Kama Aina) and released a compilation of her music entitled "Sandii's Lemurian Heart." In July of the same year, she and her 25-member unit were invited to and well received at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Sandii established "Sandii's Hula Studio" in Shibuya, Tokyo, in 2001, and its more than 500 students celebrated the 5th anniversary in 2006. Meanwhile she has introduced several hula related publications, videos, and DVDs. These continual efforts have naturally led her to be a legitimate successor of "kumu hula (hula master)." She received the title of "'Olapa (expert hula dancer)" in 2001 and "Ho'opa'a (expert chanter)" in July of 2003. Her final 'uniki (graduation ceremony) was conducted in September of 2005. After years of study and hard training, she became a "''Uniki kumu hula (legitimate hula master)."

Following this achievement, Sandii began pursuing her singing career again. After performing in "Asagiri Jam," "Mele o Aloha ? Sandii & The Coconut Cups" was released in June of 2006, followed by "Sandii's Love2 Pacific." "Mele o Aloha" was The Coconut Cups' first album in 7 years. "Sandii's Love2 Pacific" is a compendium of the best of Sandii's music featuring Pacific Rim music. Sandii also performed in "Fuji Rock Festival." In September of 2006, the music "Sandii & The Sunsetz" was re-released in CD format with paper jackets. As an evangelist of aloha and peace, Sandii remains active in music and continues to broaden her horizons.