In 2004 while attending theUniversity of San Diego, Kimié sang for reggae legendBarrington Levy, who was so impressed that he recruited her as an opening act for part of his west coast tour.[12] Kimié went on to release her debut studio albumDistant Traveler on December 8, 2009, with Dreality Records. She starred in the "Hungry Girl" version of theBurger King commercial, which first aired July 30, 2012, singing Sean Naʻauao's famous "Fish and Poi" with a twist.[13] AKickstarter campaign was launched to fund her EPTo the Sea in late 2012.[14] She surpassed her goal to produce the EP independently, releasingTo the Sea on March 5, 2013. The radio hit "Make Me Say" featuring Kimié's long-time friend and Hawaii musicianImua Garza was the EP's top-rated song and was No. 1 on radio stationKCCN-FM’s Top 40 Songs of 2013.[15]
On April 1, 2014 Kimié released a mock music video for her new single "New Day" in collaboration with First Insurance Company's ad campaign "In Paradise, Bad Still Happens" before releasing the official video on April 15.[16] She released a self-titled projectKimié Miner in 2015, her second full-length album.[17] In 2017, Kimié released her third albumProud as the Sun that featured two hit singles "Bamboo" and "Sea of Love".[18]
In 2019 Kimie traveled to Los Angeles to teach a music education workshop class for the youth at theGrammy Museum at L.A. Live. Kimie taught the class along with Hawaii Musician Bobby Moderow.[24]
Kimié has one daughter, born in March 2018.[25][non-primary source needed] She is close friends with fellow Hawaiian singer and formerKamehameha classmateAnuhea Jenkins.[26] Kimié also runs her own company called Haku Collective, a music and talent production group that focuses on the creative output of emerging Hawaiian artists.[1]
TheNa Hoku Hanohano Awards are the premier music awards in Hawaii and are Hawaii's equivalent to theGrammy Awards. The awards are presented to the musicians exemplifying the best work in their class.[27]
