Iam Tongi, an 18-year-old from Oahu, Hawaii made history and became the first Pacific Islander singer to be crowned the winner of “American Idol.” His original composition, “I’ll Be Seeing You,” dedicated to his late father, moved the judges and secured his well-deserved triumph. Tongi’s journey on the show began with a stunning rendition of James Blunt’s “Monsters” during his initial audition, instantly captivating the hearts of viewers worldwide. The powerful performance quickly went viral, accumulating an impressive 22 million combined views on YouTube and TikTok. Tongi was born and raised in Kahuku, Hawaii and has roots in Tongan, Samoan, and Irish heritage, according to his social media profiles.
Iam Tongi becomes first Pacific Islander to win ‘American Idol’
