The HSF Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors are volunteers who donate countless hours to planning, organizing, and hosting the conference each year.
Julia Brotman, President of HSF
Julia is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney at Settle Meyer Law in Honolulu. HSF has always been a big part of her life; Charles (her dad) first brought her to HSF on Kaua'i when she was 11 years old. While in college, HSF 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 HSF and the Creative Lab Hawai'i program, she is committed to supporting local artists and bridging the gap between the "mainstream" entertainment industry and our creative community here in the islands.
Julia is an entertainment and intellectual property attorney at Settle Meyer Law in Honolulu. HSF has always been a big part of her life; Charles (her dad) first brought her to HSF on Kaua'i when she was 11 years old. While in college, HSF 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 HSF and the Creative Lab Hawai'i program, she is committed to supporting local artists and bridging the gap between the "mainstream" entertainment industry and our creative community here in the islands.
Charles Michael Brotman, HSF Board Member 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.
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 at ArtistMax, founded by Grammy Award-winning producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac, Colbie Caillat). She is also the manager of their Dolby Atmos recording studio and mixing room, Marshmellow Skies, and she is the Owner and Creative Director of the micro sync label, Great Minds Sync Alike, with music credits including PARAMOUNT, NETFLIX, CBS Sports, MTV, BET, VH1, BRAVO, The CW, HULU, CMT, Comedy Central, VIACOM/CBS, the HALLMARK CHANNEL, Apple Fitness, Peloton, NFL Football, and Dignity Health.
Paris is proud to be on the Board of the Hawaii Songwriting Festival. She is also on the SongArts Committee for the Society of Composers and Lyricists, and she leads the Malibu Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).
Nitanee Paris is the Director of A&R at ArtistMax, founded by Grammy Award-winning producer Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac, Colbie Caillat). She is also the manager of their Dolby Atmos recording studio and mixing room, Marshmellow Skies, and she is the Owner and Creative Director of the micro sync label, Great Minds Sync Alike, with music credits including PARAMOUNT, NETFLIX, CBS Sports, MTV, BET, VH1, BRAVO, The CW, HULU, CMT, Comedy Central, VIACOM/CBS, the HALLMARK CHANNEL, Apple Fitness, Peloton, NFL Football, and Dignity Health.
Paris is proud to be on the Board of the Hawaii Songwriting Festival. She is also on the SongArts Committee for the Society of Composers and Lyricists, and she leads the Malibu Chapter of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI).
Kalenaku Parish
A big warm welcome to our newest board member! A multi-talented musician and leader in the Hawai’i music community, Kalenaku recently joined the board and has already made a huge difference, volunteering countless hours helping with our social media, communication, marketing, fundraising and graphic design. She and her husband, Kala‘e Parish also participated in the Creative Lab Immersive program in 2023. They live on the Big Island and are busy traveling and performing in addition to songwriting and collaborating with musicians all over the continent and in Hawai‘i. Kalenaku is the vice-president of the Hawai‘i Association of Recording Artists (HARA).
Kalenaku is the former keyboardist and vocalist for the group Kapena from 2006-2021. She was classically trained in piano and voice for over 10 years. Kalenaku grew up singing Hawaiian music and playing the ukulele with her father in Waikiki. She released her first Island Reggae single entitled, “Hideaway” in 2010 and with that release she earned her first Na Hoku Hanohano Award nomination. In 2017, Kalenaku along with the group Kapena released their first full length album together titled “Palena ‘Ole”. That release earned her four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards including Album Of The Year and Group Of The Year. In 2021, Kalenaku received her 5th Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Christmas Album Of The Year. She opened her non-profit 501(c)3 Music School called the Kapena School Of Music with classes running 6 days a week and over 300 active students. She continues performing while running the Kapena School Of Music as the school’s Executive Director.
A big warm welcome to our newest board member! A multi-talented musician and leader in the Hawai’i music community, Kalenaku recently joined the board and has already made a huge difference, volunteering countless hours helping with our social media, communication, marketing, fundraising and graphic design. She and her husband, Kala‘e Parish also participated in the Creative Lab Immersive program in 2023. They live on the Big Island and are busy traveling and performing in addition to songwriting and collaborating with musicians all over the continent and in Hawai‘i. Kalenaku is the vice-president of the Hawai‘i Association of Recording Artists (HARA).
Kalenaku is the former keyboardist and vocalist for the group Kapena from 2006-2021. She was classically trained in piano and voice for over 10 years. Kalenaku grew up singing Hawaiian music and playing the ukulele with her father in Waikiki. She released her first Island Reggae single entitled, “Hideaway” in 2010 and with that release she earned her first Na Hoku Hanohano Award nomination. In 2017, Kalenaku along with the group Kapena released their first full length album together titled “Palena ‘Ole”. That release earned her four Na Hoku Hanohano Awards including Album Of The Year and Group Of The Year. In 2021, Kalenaku received her 5th Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Christmas Album Of The Year. She opened her non-profit 501(c)3 Music School called the Kapena School Of Music with classes running 6 days a week and over 300 active students. She continues performing while running the Kapena School Of Music as the school’s Executive Director.