From the heart of Metro Manila, a group of fun-loving musicians decided to turn what started as a casual “trip-trip lang” into a flavorful mix of sound and creativity. Meet Hawaiian Combo Meal 🍍, a band whose name alone tells you everything about their approach to music — playful, unpredictable, and full of taste.
The Origin Story: A Slice of Las Piñas and a Dash of Humor
When asked how they came up with their quirky band name, lead guitar King said.
“Karamihan sa amin ay taga-Las Piñas na ang sabi-sabi ay maraming piña. Pero hindi talaga yun ang totoong dahilan. Hmhmhm.”
“Most of us are from Las Piñas — people say there are lots of pineapples there. But that’s not really the real reason. ”
Instead, the name symbolizes what their music stands for — a mix of unexpected flavors.
“Ang aming pangalan ay maihahalintulad sa kumbinasyon ng ibang pagkain,” King explained.
“Our band name is like a mix of different dishes.”
“Gaya ng aming musika, pinagsasama-sama namin ang aming mga ideya gamit ang iba’t ibang kategorya sa larangan ng musika para makalikha ng kakaibang tunog.”
“Like our music, we combine our ideas from different genres to create a unique sound.”
How It All Began
The band officially formed on June 30, 2022, when Kris and King decided to jam with a few colleagues.
“Noong una, trip-trip lang — hanggang sa unang tugtugan namin, naisip naming kaya pala naming ituloy.”
“At first, it was just for fun — until that first performance made us realize we could actually continue doing it.”
Kris and King first met in 2016 while working at the same company, organizing music events for their officemates. Later, they met Dael and Mat, who joined their musicians’ group. After the pandemic, Kris met Don and Dean at his new job and thought:
“Makukulit ‘tong mga ‘to at makakapal ang mukha — tara, banda ulit!”
“These guys are funny and confident — perfect for a new band!”
That spark reignited the fire — and Hawaiian Combo Meal was born.
Musical Flavor: New Rock with a Twist
“Sa ngayon ay hindi pa namin alam kung ano ang kategorya ng aming musika,” said King.
“Right now, we’re not sure what exact category our music falls under.”
“Minsan tinatawag namin itong New Rock. Ang base ay rock, pero hinaluan namin ng blues, jazz, at kung ano-ano pang pampalasa.”
“Sometimes we call it New Rock. It’s basically rock, but mixed with blues, jazz, and other spices.”
The band’s diversity in musical taste makes their sound unpredictable yet refreshing. King brings a classic “tito rock” vibe, Kris adds his eccentric touch, and the rest inject youthful energy.
Creative Process and Chemistry
“Si Kris ang nagsisimula ng kalokohan hanggang sa tatawagan niya si King sa messenger at gagawa ng mga huni at ugong,” the band joked.
“Kris usually starts with some random crazy idea, then calls King on Messenger and hums weird sounds for riffs.”
From there, the group develops songs inspired by everyday life — relatable, funny, and sometimes absurd.
Their upcoming single “Dr. Dean” started from a hilarious moment:
“Gusto lang umabsent sa trabaho yung isa sa amin, tapos sinabihan siyang mag-sick leave nalang at magpacheck-up — doon nagsimula ang kanta!”
“One of us just wanted to skip work, got told to take a sick leave — and that’s how the song idea began!”
The Band Members
Kris – Former Drummer / Current Vocalist / Songwriter / Composer
King – Lead Guitarist / Back-up Vocals / Composer
Dael – Bassist
Don – Guitarist / Back-up Vocals
Dave – Drummer / Sound Engineer (joining officially this October)
“Halos lahat ay nag-cocontribute sa mga kanta,” Kris said.
“Almost everyone contributes to songwriting.”
“Pero ang final na pagbuo ng areglo ay pinagdedesisyunan nila King at Kris.”
“But the final arrangement is usually decided by King and me.”
With the arrival of Dave, a music student at the PWU Conservatory of Music, the band expects to evolve its sound even further.
Their Favorite Song: “Slaman Na”
“Itong kantang ito ay para sa mga taong gusto naman ang isa’t isa pero pinapatagal pa,” King explained.
“This song is for people who like each other but keep delaying things.”
“Gusto mo naman ako, gusto rin naman kita! Ba’t may paligoy-ligoy pa? Slaman na!”
“You like me, I like you too! Why complicate it? Let’s make it official — Slaman na!”
The song won Grand Champion at Cosmic Clash 2023, earning them a spot at UP Fair Cosmos 2023 alongside established bands — a dream moment for the group.
Memorable Gigs and Lessons Learned
Their journey is full of colorful memories — some funny, some frustrating.
“Ang pinaka-unang gig namin, pinatayan kami ng amps ng sound tech,” .
“At our very first gig, the sound tech literally turned off our amps!”
But what made that moment special wasn’t the mishap — it was the unity that followed.
“Ang importante sa amin ay iisa ang goal. Yung commitment ng bawat isa.”
“What matters most to us is having the same goal and the commitment of everyone in the band.”
Achievements and New Projects
From casual jams to becoming Cosmic Clash Grand Champions, Hawaiian Combo Meal is now gearing up for their next release — “Tigyawat”, a love song about complicated feelings.
“Tungkol ito sa taong gusto mo na may partner na. Alam mong mahal ka din niya pero hindi mo alam kung itutuloy mo pa ba,” Kris shared.
“It’s about someone you like who’s already with someone else. You know they like you too, but you’re unsure if you should continue.”
“Ang drama, ‘di ba?”.
“So dramatic, right?”
They’re also experimenting with a new track that mixes R&B vibes with their signature humor and rock sound.
“Gagawa kami ng kanta na may flavor ng R&B pero hindi mawawala yung kulit at pirma ng Hawaiian Combo Meal.”
“We’ll make a song with an R&B flavor but still keep the playfulness and signature sound of Hawaiian Combo Meal.”
Connection with Fans
“Through social media — madalas updated ang aming accounts,” King said.
“We stay active on social media to keep fans engaged.”Follow Hawaiian Combo Meal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HawaiianComboMeal
One of their most meaningful fan encounters?
“May isang fan na kinuha kami sa trilogy event — lahat paid gigs! Tinulungan pa kaming ipromote dahil naniniwala siyang may potensyal kami.”
“A fan once booked us for a trilogy of paid gigs and even helped promote us because they believed we had potential.”
Message to Listeners
“Lagi nilang tandaan na kahit sawang-sawa ka na sa buhay mo, huwag kang susuko,” King said passionately.
“Always remember, even when you’re tired of life, don’t give up.”
“Habang nabubuhay ka, may pagkakataon ka na baguhin ang istorya.”
“As long as you’re alive, you have the chance to change your story.”
Looking Ahead
“Sa loob ng limang taon, nakikita namin na mas makikilala pa kami,” King said.
“In five years, we see ourselves becoming more recognized.”
“Pinaghalong underground at mainstream — basta mas maganda pa ang mga musika.”
“We’ll be a mix of underground and mainstream — with even better music.”
And if they weren’t making music?
“Malamang naka-focus lang kami sa trabaho,” King admitted.
“We’d probably just be focused on our day jobs.”
But clearly, Hawaiian Combo Meal 🍍 was never meant to be ordinary — their mix of humor, energy, and sincerity is already serving something uniquely theirs.
“Sa musika namin, walang diet — puro lasa.”
“In our music, there’s no diet — just flavor.”