Troy Fernandez revives Kaʻau Crater Boys legacy at Blue Note Hawaii
The surviving member of the influential Hawaiian duo performs a two-night set featuring new backing musicians and the group's classic catalog.
By Jasmine Carter ·
Hawaiʻi's music scene prepares to welcome back a pair of voices that shaped local sound in the 1990s. Troy Fernandez, the surviving member of the Kaʻau Crater Boys, returns to the stage this week with a new ensemble.
The duo, originally formed by Fernandez and the late Ernie Cruz Jr. in the early 1990s, released five albums before splitting in 1997. The pair never reunited during Cruz Jr.'s lifetime, and he passed away in 2016 while bodysurfing at Sandy Beach.
Fernandez now fronts a project titled Kaʻau Crater Boys: The Second Chapter. Local musicians will back him as he performs the catalog from the original group. The show marks a nearly three-decade gap since the original pair stopped working together.
"He was the best singer in Hawaiʻi when we were together," Fernandez said of his former partner. He recalled telling Cruz Jr. repeatedly that no one else compared to his vocal ability. Fernandez stated that he wanted to preserve the legacy they started rather than let the music fade.
The split allowed Fernandez to focus on his family, but he maintained a desire to reunite the project. He recalled urging Cruz Jr. to return to the group on many occasions. According to Fernandez, Cruz Jr.'s best friend informed him shortly before the singer's death that he was ready to rejoin the band.
Fernandez views the upcoming performances as a way to keep the sound alive and honor the memory of his late collaborator. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play music with Cruz Jr. and intends to carry forward the musical path they established.
The Kaʻau Crater Boys are scheduled to perform at Blue Note Hawaii on October 29 and 30. The shows feature the classic material from the original duo's five-album discography.
