HAWAIIAN SUPERSTAR MAOLI’S NEW SINGLE “SOME ARE JUST BETTER” OUT NOW

FURTHER NEW MUSIC IS IMMINENT AS PART OF MMO3

TOUR DATES ACROSS THE U.S. INCLUDE RED ROCKS, BOTTLEROCK, BOURBON & BEYOND + MORE

[Of Last Sip of Summer]“It’s a country record, but it’s
true to Awong. He’s not stretching or playing a part. He’s as country
as it gets, and this record was his way of letting the world know.”—Rolling Stone | READ HERE

The Tennessean—READ HERE

“Bringing his mix of country, reggae, and island pop to the mainland, Hawaiian-born singer-songwriter Maoli can brighten any day on Last Sip of Summer.”—Nashville Lifestyles

“[“Last Sip of Summer”] sets the tone for a project that promises to push the boundaries of island country music.”—All Country News

February 20, 2026—Today, Hawaiian superstar Maoli unveils a first taste of new music with “Some Are Just Better,” kicking off a new chapter that will see him release 24 brand-new original tracks throughout the summer as a part of Maoli Music Overload (MMO3). Listen to/share the song HERE.

“I wrote ‘Some Are Just Better’ with Mikey Reaves and Rob Snyder on my first writing trip to Nashville…” says Maoli. “We have a lot of good days, but I feel like we really captured what it’s like to have one of those days—the kind that stays in your head and your heart. The kind you’ll be talking about for years. It definitely has that island vibe that feels like home, and I’m excited to finally get to share it.”

Stepping away from the traditional album format, Maoli Music Overload (MMO3) will see regular releases through the end of the summer. Inspired by the rural riches of upcountry Maui, the project delivers his boldest island-country mix to date. It also reunites him with his original studio partner, Grammy-winning J-Vibe (Jason Farmer).

“It’s an overload of music, and some people disagree with me on this,” Maoli says. “But you can’t overthink this stuff. You’ve got to let the music do itself and unfold the way it’s supposed to unfold. When you overthink, it defeats the purpose of creativity. So that’s what I’m doing with this album. It’s a clear view of how I do things.”

Maoli continues on the road with performances in the spring at major festivals—including Tempe’s Reggae Rise Up Arizona, Louisville’s Bourbon & Beyond, Napa’s BottleRock Napa Valley and Reggae on the Rocks at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre—and headline shows in California at Lincoln’s The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort and Paso Robles’ Vina Robles Amphitheatre. These sets follow the success of 2025’s “Last Sip of Summer” tour across the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. The first three dates in New Zealand sold over 40,000 tickets and the tour saw further stops at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre, New York’s Webster Hall and more.

Last year was a landmark year for Maoli—he made his debut appearance at the iconic Grand Ole Opry, his national television debut with a performance of “Last Sip of Summer” on The TODAY Show, and an appearance on American Idol, where he surprised a fan competing on the show—watch HERE.

Fall 2025 found Maoli releasing a fully reimagined version of his acclaimed album Last Sip of Summer. Last Sip of Summer (Island Vibe Edition) breathes new life into each track while staying true to his island roots. Listen to/share the Island Vibe Edition HERE. Listen to the original Last Sip of Summer HERE.

Maoli’s musical journey began in seventh grade, when he learned to play the ukelele. However, it wasn’t until years later that he fully returned to music, with some encouragement from his uncle. His now storied 15-year career is marked by a series of albums and singles, including covers of hits like Brett Young’s “Mercy” (61.4+ million global streams) and “In Case You Didn’t Know” (26+ million global streams).

Breaking into the mainstream with his unique mix of island reggae and country soul, Maoli aims to put his people on the map like they’ve never been before, revealing the common bonds between country folks and island lifers. In 2018, Maoli rediscovered his country roots, having seen the similarities between his music and modern country, from the melodies and strong rhythms to the tradition of simple-life storytelling.

In 2010, his sophomore LP, Rock Easy, landed in the Top 5 on Billboard’s Reggae charts with three #1 singles: “Breaking My Heart,” “Whisper” and “Rock Easy.” In 2020, Maoli won Group of the Year and Album of the Year for the record, Sense Of Purpose, at iHeart’s Island Awards, followed by Album of the Year and Song of the Year in 2021.

For more information please contact Kate Rakvic, Catherine Snead, Grace Jacobsak, Noah Ginsberg or Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.

TOUR DATES
March 13 /// Red Hill, WA /// Red Hill Auditorium
March 15 /// Melbourne, AUS /// Palace Foreshore
March 18 /// Moore Park, AUS /// The Hordern Pavilion
March 20 /// Brisbane, AUS /// On The Banks, Cultural Forecourt
April 17 /// Lincoln, CA /// The Venue at Thunder Valley Casino Resort
April 18 /// Paso Robles, CA /// Vina Robles Amphitheatre
April 19 /// Tempe, AZ /// Reggae Rise Up Arizona
May 22-24 /// Napa, CA /// BottleRock Napa Valley
August 22 /// Morrison, CO /// Red Rocks Amphitheatre
September 24-27 /// Louisville, KY /// Bourbon & Beyond