Idol Watch: Haleiwa native looks to move to Top 5 on ‘American Idol'
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Hawaii's Thunderstorm Artis has made it to the Top Seven on 'American Idol.'
On May 11, viewers will be able to vote for the Top Five before the live finale next weekend.
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The 29-year-old Haleiwa native said he feels extremely blessed and grateful to be on this journey.
'It's crazy because you never really imagine you'll get to this place and I'm in it,' Artis said. 'To see the love and support I'm getting from Hawaii to make this all possible is crazy, I'm filled with so much gratitude.'
Thunderstorm comes from a large, talented and humble family. His mom and dad were both artists and had 11 children.
In 2020, Thunderstorm moved to Nashville to kick start his musical career but came home often to perform.'We miss Hawaii, my family misses Hawaii, every time we get to come back to Hawaii is always a blessing and to celebrate with my family and friends, and my mom and sisters that live there still is a blessing,' he said. 'I really want to take this thing to a national tour then a world tour and to move back to Hawaii sometime in the future, it would be an absolute blessing to come back.'
For now, he's busy trying to bring another American Idol win to Oahu's North Shore. In May 2023, Kahuku's Iam Tongi won and the island celebrated with a big concert.
'I really want those things to happen, so we have to get to the finale to make that a reality,' Artis said.
He said the biggest highlight on the journey has been sitting down with singer James Taylor and being able to sing one of his songs to him and have the long-time musician sing it back to Artis.
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'But also having someone like Jelly Roll to be a part of this thing from the get go, he has been so intentional about all his advice on-stage and off-stage, on camera and off camera,' Artis said.
Along with Artis' aloha for his home state, he has a message to send to kamaʻaina.
'I would say please go out and vote if you have the chance, there's three ways of doing that so please make that happens, but more important than any of that, just having your support and love has really made it possible for me to make it this far in this competition and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart,' he said.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also echoed Artis' call for support, praising the singer's talent in a statement.
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'Thunderstorm Artis represents the very best of who we are as a community. His extraordinary talent, humility and heart are inspiring not just for Hawaiʻi, but for audiences across the country,' Blangiardi said. 'This is a proud moment for the North Shore and all of Honolulu, and we have a real chance to help one of our own achieve his dreams on a national stage.'
Voting opens during the 'American Idol' live broadcast on Sunday at 2 p.m. HST and remains open for a limited time. Fans can vote here, via the American Idol app or by texting the contestant number shown during the show.
'Let's come together, Hawaiʻi, and make our voices heard—just like Thunderstorm does every time he steps on that stage,' the Mayor added. 'Let's help bring this victory home!'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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