Award-winning international recording artist George Brooks Veikoso dies at 55

George Brooks Veikoso, better known as Fiji, died on Wednesday (July 23) at 55 in his home country of Fiji. Family surrounded him in his final moments. His influence on Polynesian and Hawaiian music created a lasting impact. Veikoso, born on May 10, 1970, started his music journey in Fiji by singing with church choirs as a child. In 1987, he relocated to Hawaii, where he became a key part of shaping island reggae by mixing classic sounds with newer styles.

American singer Kimie Miner expressed shock at the news of Fiji's death. The Hawaiian news portal Hawaii News Now quoted her as saying:

“(His passing) really hurt me because it just felt like I couldn’t call on my mentor anymore, and he’s not there anymore. It made me so sad to know that he’s gone, but his legacy is so big that I know his legacy will carry on forever," she added.

#BREAKING: Beloved island music superstar George Veikoso, more common known as “Fiji” has died.

He was 55 years old. More details on https://t.co/tYuhmvLC4x #HawaiiNews #HNN pic.twitter.com/nCb4aSdZVc

— Hawaii News Now (@HawaiiNewsNow) July 24, 2025

Fiji’s musical journey and lasting influence on Polynesian reggae

Fiji hit the music world in 1994 with his first album, Evolution. In 1996, he had a breakthrough with Born & Raised. That album was a game-changer for him, which, in turn brought him wide-scale success and also took his music out of the Pacific and into larger audiences. Over the years, he put out what many consider to be great tracks like “Lia”, “Symphony of Love”, “Nasty”, and “Good Thing”. Also, beyond music, he was a mentor to many young artists in the Pacific.

In 1998, he won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. He won Male Vocalist of the Year and Favorite Entertainer of the Year. Also in 2014, he won the Best Pacific International Artist Award at the Pacific Music Awards.

Over his career, Fiji often headlined major island events. He performed at Hawaii’s annual Birthday Bash concerts, which drew large crowds. People respected his shows for blending upbeat music with cultural traditions like native dances and Fijian drumming.

In 2023, he organized the FIJI HOMECOMING concert in Fiji. It was a two-day event that brought together other well-known Hawaiian artists like J Boog, Maoli, and Josh Tatofi. The concert highlighted his deep connection to his heritage and his dedication to honoring Pacific Islander culture through music.

George Veikoso left an imprint on modern island reggae in Hawaii and out to the edges of the Pacific with his music. His death marks the end of an era in Polynesian music, but at the same time, we see the legacy that he leaves, which will go on to inspire and touch the artists and fans he had gained during his life.