The KMF Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors are volunteers who donate countless hours to planning, organizing, and hosting the conference each year.
Charles Michael Brotman, President of KMF Board and Director of the Creative Lab Hawaii Music Immersive
Charles is a musician/composer/producer with decades of experience in the music industry. He owns the Lava Tracks Recording Studio and is the president and founder of Palm Records, both located in Waimea on the Big Island. He has received several awards and nominations, including multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and one Grammy win. When he is not busy with the Hawai'i Songwriting Festival or touring Japan with his instrumental guitar trio Kohala, he spends his time in the studio co-writing and producing as much new music as possible.
Charles is a musician/composer/producer with decades of experience in the music industry. He owns the Lava Tracks Recording Studio and is the president and founder of Palm Records, both located in Waimea on the Big Island. He has received several awards and nominations, including multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and one Grammy win. When he is not busy with the Hawai'i Songwriting Festival or touring Japan with his instrumental guitar trio Kohala, he spends his time in the studio co-writing and producing as much new music as possible.
Julia Brotman, KMF Board Member and Co-Director of the Creative Lab Hawai'i Music Immersive
Julia is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney at Settle Meyer Law in Honolulu. KMF has always been a big part of her life; Charles (her dad) first brought her to KMF when she was 11 years old. While in college, KMF inspired her to pursue a career on the business side of the music industry so she could help songwriters create and share their music. She went to law school so she could understand the laws that govern the music industry and become an effective advocate for music creators. Licensed to practice law in both Hawai'i and California, she has been an active intellectual property and entertainment lawyer since 2017. Through her work with KMF and the Creative Lab Hawai'i program, she is committed to supporting local artists and bridging the gap between the mainland entertainment industry and our creative community here in the islands.
Julia is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney at Settle Meyer Law in Honolulu. KMF has always been a big part of her life; Charles (her dad) first brought her to KMF when she was 11 years old. While in college, KMF inspired her to pursue a career on the business side of the music industry so she could help songwriters create and share their music. She went to law school so she could understand the laws that govern the music industry and become an effective advocate for music creators. Licensed to practice law in both Hawai'i and California, she has been an active intellectual property and entertainment lawyer since 2017. Through her work with KMF and the Creative Lab Hawai'i program, she is committed to supporting local artists and bridging the gap between the mainland entertainment industry and our creative community here in the islands.
Maelan Abran
Maelan is a Singer, Songwriter and Recording Artist from the Island of Hawai’i. She has attended the festival every year since 2007 and is a strong advocate for the Hawai’i Songwriting Festival throughout the community and other industry events held on the US Mainland. With multiple song syncs on networks such as FOX, CBS, Starz, MTV and more she has been a great example of the success that can come from attending HSF. As a multifaceted singer, her artistry has led her to write and release music from mixed genres including her latest full length album which is filled with a strong brew of Jazz, Pop, Blues and Soul music that was produced entirely by Marlin “Hookman” Bonds who she connected with through the festival. Maelan hopes that the Hawai'i Songwriting festival continues to thrive in bringing more opportunities to songwriters from Hawai'i and beyond to have their music heard by those who can make a difference and to aid in building the bridge that connects the music industry of Hawaii to the rest of the world.
Maelan is a Singer, Songwriter and Recording Artist from the Island of Hawai’i. She has attended the festival every year since 2007 and is a strong advocate for the Hawai’i Songwriting Festival throughout the community and other industry events held on the US Mainland. With multiple song syncs on networks such as FOX, CBS, Starz, MTV and more she has been a great example of the success that can come from attending HSF. As a multifaceted singer, her artistry has led her to write and release music from mixed genres including her latest full length album which is filled with a strong brew of Jazz, Pop, Blues and Soul music that was produced entirely by Marlin “Hookman” Bonds who she connected with through the festival. Maelan hopes that the Hawai'i Songwriting festival continues to thrive in bringing more opportunities to songwriters from Hawai'i and beyond to have their music heard by those who can make a difference and to aid in building the bridge that connects the music industry of Hawaii to the rest of the world.
Chaz Umamoto
Çhaz Kaiolohia Umamoto is a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning songwriter, and music producer. Chaz is the co-founder of the startup music agency, Craft Brewz Music LLC, and the songwriting/ production team, TheBrewz. Prior to this Chaz performed in the group Streetlight Cadence, & Amanda Frazier & The Keepers. Chaz recently moved home from Los Angeles, CA with his wife Sarah, and 4 year old-Jojo.
TheBrewz are a songwriting machine and are actively facilitating writing camps and collaborations to bring the local community together to produce new music. Since 2019 TheBrewz have worked on over 400+ songs, including high-profile collaborations with Grammy-nominated artist Kimié Miner, 2x Nā Hōkū Hanohano award- winning rapper Thomas Iannucci, Crossing Rain, Ragamuffs, Sonny Sandoval, lead singer of multi-platinum band P.O.D., and former After School K-pop Idol Bekah Kim. Thanks to Marmoset Music and their label Infinite Companion, TheBrewz have landed over 200+ license placements in the last 3 years including placements with Adobe, Apple, Amazon, CBS, Fox TV, General Motors, Google, HP, Kona Brewing Company, MTV, OnePlus Nord, Pinterest, Samsung, Snapchat, T-Mobile, Verizon & Visa.
Çhaz Kaiolohia Umamoto is a multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning songwriter, and music producer. Chaz is the co-founder of the startup music agency, Craft Brewz Music LLC, and the songwriting/ production team, TheBrewz. Prior to this Chaz performed in the group Streetlight Cadence, & Amanda Frazier & The Keepers. Chaz recently moved home from Los Angeles, CA with his wife Sarah, and 4 year old-Jojo.
TheBrewz are a songwriting machine and are actively facilitating writing camps and collaborations to bring the local community together to produce new music. Since 2019 TheBrewz have worked on over 400+ songs, including high-profile collaborations with Grammy-nominated artist Kimié Miner, 2x Nā Hōkū Hanohano award- winning rapper Thomas Iannucci, Crossing Rain, Ragamuffs, Sonny Sandoval, lead singer of multi-platinum band P.O.D., and former After School K-pop Idol Bekah Kim. Thanks to Marmoset Music and their label Infinite Companion, TheBrewz have landed over 200+ license placements in the last 3 years including placements with Adobe, Apple, Amazon, CBS, Fox TV, General Motors, Google, HP, Kona Brewing Company, MTV, OnePlus Nord, Pinterest, Samsung, Snapchat, T-Mobile, Verizon & Visa.
Nitanee Paris
Nitanee Paris is the Director of A&R and Music Licensing at ArtistMax, a Los Angeles based artist development and education enterprise founded by Grammy-winning producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac, Colbie Caillat). She is an award-winning songwriter whose work has been featured in TV, films, and commercials. Her credits include The CW, Paramount (Viacom/CBS), NETFLIX, HULU, MTV, VH1, BRAVO, and the HALLMARK CHANNEL, and her work has been signed with multiple publishers, libraries, and licensing agencies. As a collaborator, Paris works with notable writers including Grammy-winning musicians, composers, and producers, Musicians Hall of Fame inductees, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees; as well as contestants on The Voice and Songland, and many other talented artists from Hawaii and around the world. Her writing has earned her five Global Peace Song Awards, two Positive Music Awards, three Grand Prize Awards and a Lennon Award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, among many other accolades.
Paris leads the Malibu Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and she hosts songwriting workshops, industry panels, and music events. She is also on the SongArts Committee of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), the staff of the Durango Songwriters Expo., and the judging panel of the InterContinental Music Awards. She produces "Nitanee's Nashville Nights" in Los Angeles, a showcase for hit songwriters and local talent, and she hosts songwriting retreats including a castle retreat in France, where she leads workshops and creativity expansion exercises. Paris created the Malibu Teen Songwriters group to provide collaboration opportunities, build confidence, and nurture creative talents. She has been on the Advisory Council of the Hawaii Songwriting Festival for several years, and was honored to join the Board of Directors in 2022. She has a passion for mentoring young writers and helping artists navigate the music industry by building their craft and expanding their networks.
Nitanee Paris is the Director of A&R and Music Licensing at ArtistMax, a Los Angeles based artist development and education enterprise founded by Grammy-winning producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac, Colbie Caillat). She is an award-winning songwriter whose work has been featured in TV, films, and commercials. Her credits include The CW, Paramount (Viacom/CBS), NETFLIX, HULU, MTV, VH1, BRAVO, and the HALLMARK CHANNEL, and her work has been signed with multiple publishers, libraries, and licensing agencies. As a collaborator, Paris works with notable writers including Grammy-winning musicians, composers, and producers, Musicians Hall of Fame inductees, and Songwriters Hall of Fame inductees; as well as contestants on The Voice and Songland, and many other talented artists from Hawaii and around the world. Her writing has earned her five Global Peace Song Awards, two Positive Music Awards, three Grand Prize Awards and a Lennon Award in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, among many other accolades.
Paris leads the Malibu Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), and she hosts songwriting workshops, industry panels, and music events. She is also on the SongArts Committee of the Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), the staff of the Durango Songwriters Expo., and the judging panel of the InterContinental Music Awards. She produces "Nitanee's Nashville Nights" in Los Angeles, a showcase for hit songwriters and local talent, and she hosts songwriting retreats including a castle retreat in France, where she leads workshops and creativity expansion exercises. Paris created the Malibu Teen Songwriters group to provide collaboration opportunities, build confidence, and nurture creative talents. She has been on the Advisory Council of the Hawaii Songwriting Festival for several years, and was honored to join the Board of Directors in 2022. She has a passion for mentoring young writers and helping artists navigate the music industry by building their craft and expanding their networks.