Album Notes

Manaka was born in San Diego, CA, on May 2, 1982. She spent most of her childhood in Seattle, WA, until about the age of 15, when she left home and started her path as a healer and musican. That is when she first picked up a guitar and started singing. She moved to Kauai when she was 17, and lived there for over five years. The Islands have played a big part in evolving her musical path. Manaka started performing for the first time with a local Kauai Reggae band, Burning Bush, who she still performs with when in Kauai.

When she was 18 she had her first experience recording in a studio, when she sang backing vocals on Shimshai's CD, " I Sense Your Presence". In the summer of 2001, Manaka toured with Shimshai at various festivals along the Pacific West Coast. By 2002, she started performing and playing more of her own music, as well as recording on several other artists' CD's. With the help of real life experience, divine guidance, and support from friends, she has naturally taught herself how to sing and play guitar.

Manaka has performed on stage with artists such as Shimshai and the Natural Mystique Ensemble, Burning Bush, Jah Levi and The Higher Reasoning, Lambsbread, Arjun and Gaurdians, Sasha Butterfly, Tina Malia, Satya Yuga, Shakina, Joules Graves, and The One World Orchestra, a collective of vocalists and musicians including members of Hamsa Lila, Shimshai and the Natural Mystique Ensemble, Sasha Butterfly, Tina Malia, Shakina, and others. She has shared the stage with Dezarie, Mystic Reavelers, Hamsa Lila, Makana, THC, Ras Gabriel and 4-Word, Fanna Fi Allah, and others.
Currently Manaka is touring on the Hawaian Islands with Shimshai releasing her new cd "Soul Remembrance".