Kimie Miner went from a shy songstress to a confident singer/songwriter in one U.S. west coast tour. She always wanted to be a performer, but lacked the self-assurance to pursue a musical career. Comfortable in backyard jam sessions, it took a chance encounter with a reggae super star to motivate her out of the casual performances to a bigger stage. While attending the University of San Diego, the 23-year-old, Kona native met reggae living legend, Barrington Levy. That’s right, “Under Mi Sensi,” Barrington Levy.

“I met [Barrington] through a mutual friend, sang him a few of my original songs, and too my surprise, was able to impress him,” says Miner. “I was headed back to school for my sophomore year when he gave me the opportunity to open for part of his west coast tour. I took a year off school and made the decision to follow my dream.”

On the road, it was just Kimie and her guitar on stage, forcing the Kamehameha alum to shed her stage fright in front of thousands of burning, Barrington Levy fans. It was like teaching a child how to swim by simply throwing the youngin’ into the ocean– sink or swim, kid. Kimie didn’t drown on stage, and the ‘ehu (reddish tinge from sun) haired, acoustic/soul/reggae artist gained a priceless sense of confidence from the experience.

“My music is very personal to me and it was something I liked to keep to myself, I guess you could say I was a kind of a closet musician at first,” admits Kimie, who taught herself to play the guitar in high school. “Being on tour and on stage really inspired me to pursue my own musical career.”

Her debut album, Distant Traveler, is being released this Fall under the Dreality record label. Kimei’s sound is best described as ‘Jack Johnson-ish,’ but has a quicker, more dance friendly tempo. Although her music is built on a reggae cornerstone, it’s accentuated with soul, funk and r&b. Kimie also is quick to acknowledge the Hawaiian undertones in her songs.

“Although my musical genre is not Hawaiian it is deeply rooted in Hawaiian music,” states Kimie. “No matter what we as Hawaiian people do we should always have the perpetuation of our culture in mind.”

Through her music, Kimie honors her heritage and ancestors with “Distant Traveler.” Laced with original music written by Kimie, this album is inspired from aloha and the dichotomy of opposing forces.

“There can always be something good to come out of the bad and I like finding beautiful surprises in things,” she says. “Love is so inspiring because it’s so unpredictable and confusing, but wonderful at the same time.”

The love for music has taken Kimie around the world and back to the Big Island again. While she prepares to promote “Distant Traveler” to the masses, the young singer/songwriter revels in the simplicity and joy of playing in her original, favorite venue– the beach.

“I love when I get together with all my talented friends and we kanikapila (play music),” says Kimie. “Everything else just seems to melt away, except maybe the moon which we'd use for a spotlight when the sand is our stage.”


バリングトンから愛を込めて
文　ダニエル・イカイカ・イトウ

自分の境界を踏み出る気さえあれば、偶然の出会いが一生の友を作ることがある。キミエマイナーがいい例だ。レゲエのアイコン、バリングトンレビーとの出会いがなければ、コナ出身のこのソウルあふれたシンガー／ソングライターが“Distant Traveler” をリリースすることはなかっただろう。