Taimane Gardner

Taimane Tauiliili Bobby Gardner, known professionally as Taimane, was born on February 13, 1989, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Of Samoan, German, Irish, French, and Swedish descent, she began playing the ukulele at the age of five, attending Roy Sakuma’s ukulele school. Her talent was recognized early, leading to her being discovered at age 13 by legendary musician Don Ho. She also received instruction from Jake Shimabukuro during her teenage years. Her early exposure to prominent musicians and dedicated training laid the foundation for her distinctive musical style.

Gardner became a notable musician in the Waikiki performance circuit as a teenager. Her career began with the release of her debut album, “Loco Princess,” in 2005, followed by “Life – The Art & Beauty of Being Human” in 2008. She continued to release solo projects, including “Ukulele Dance” in 2012, “We Are Made of Stars” in 2015, “Elemental” in 2018, and “Hawaiki” in 2022. Her 2015 album, “We Are Made of Stars,” was nominated for Ukulele Album of the Year at the 2016 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

Her international presence includes performances in Japan and Hong Kong. Taimane’s innovative cover medleys have earned her recognition, including a spot on Guitar World Magazine’s Top 10 Ukulele Moments list. In 2019, she received a Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for Favorite Entertainer of the Year. That same year, her song “Water” from her album “Elemental” received a nomination for Instrumental Composition of the Year by the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. A significant milestone occurred on March 13, 2020, when Taimane performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk series, further broadening her audience.