Keali'i Reichel nominated for six Hoku awards

Reichel tops the list of nominees for the 1996 awards with his second album, "Lei Hali'a" (Punahele Records).

Robi Kahakalau - Four Hoku nominations
Reichel is nominated in six categories: Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Popular Hawaiian Album of the Year, Song of the Year ("Lei Hali'a," written by Puakea Nogelmeier), Graphic Award (for Rob Hawes) and Engineer Award (for Jim Linkner).

Other top nominees are Hawaiian music veteran Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and newcomer Darren Benitez with five nominations each; Na Leo Pilimehana, the Brothers Cazimero and Robi Kahakalau, each nominated in four categories; and the Hawaiian Style Band, nominated in three categories.

The award winners will be announced at the annual gala dinner ceremony which will be held May 15 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. A cocktail reception will begin at 4 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. and live television broadcast beginning 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $80 per person.

To reserve seats or for more information, call the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts at 235-9424.

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Darlene Ahuna, "Ulana Ke Aloha" (Hula Records)
• Teresa Bright, "A Bright Hawaiian Christmas" (Manu Records)
• Ilona Irvine, "Sweet Memory" (Rose Records)
• Robi Kahakalau, "Sistah Robi" (Kanai'a Records)
• Noelani Mahoe, "Eia Au 'O Noelani" (Tradewinds)

• Darren Benitez, "Broken Hearts" (Fat Katz)
• Uluwehi Guerrero, "Ka Manawa Pono" (Punahele Records)
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, "E Ala E" (Big Boy Records)
• Dennis Pavao, "Wale No" (Pilialoha Productions)
• Keali'i Reichel, "Lei Hali'a" (Punahele Productions)

• Brothers Cazimero, "Proud to Be" (Mountain Apple Co.)
• Hawaiian Style Band, "'Ohana" (Top Flight Records)
• Kanilau, "Ka Lihi kai 'O Ka'ena" (Lani Lawai Records)
• Kapena, "All Access" (KDE Records)
• Na Leo Pilimehana, "Flying with Angels" (Na Leo Pilimehana)

• Darren Benitez, "Broken Hearts" (Fat Katz)
• 'Elua Kane, "'Elua Kane" (Pua Records)
• Uluwehi Guerrero, "Ka Manawa Pono" (Punahele Records)
• Herb Ohta Jr., "Leinani," from "Ukulele Stylings #1" (Pa'ani Records)
• Palolo, "Palolo" (Roy Sakuma Productions, Inc.)

• "Backbone" by Peter Moon Band (Kanikapila Records)
• "Black and White" by Mackey Feary (MGC Records)
• "E Himeni Hou" by Pandanus Club (Hala Records)
• "Ke Ho'omana'o Nei" by Mana'o Company (Kaniu Records)
• "Vintage Hawaiian Treasures Vol. 9 - Aloha Hula Hawaiian Style" by Al Kealoha Perry & His Singing Surfriders (Hana Ola)

• "E Ala E" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Big Boy Records)
• "Lei Hali'a" by Keali'i Reichel (Punahele Productions)
• "Martin Pahinui" by Martin Pahinui (Mountain Apple Co.)
• "Pekelo's Hana Jam" by Pekelo (Hulali Records)
• "Proud to Be" by Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple Co.)

• "Broken Hearts" by Darren Benitez (Fat Katz)
• "'Ohana" by Hawaiian Style Band (Top Flight Records)
• "Palolo" by Palolo (Roy Sakuma Productions, Inc.)
• "Sistah Robi" by Robi Kahakalau (Kanai'a Records)
• "Wale No" by Dennis Pavao (Pilialoha Productions)

• "Flying with Angels" by Na Leo Pilimehana (Na Leo Pilimehana)
• "Service to the King" by Tropical Knights (KDE Records)
• "Spirit Dancer" by Henry Kapono (River North Records)
• "Sweet Memory" by Ilona Irvine (Rose Records)
• "Words Just Don't Come Easy" by Jesse Rivera (Fire Records)

• "Chotto Matte Kudasai" by Ohta-san (M&H Hawa'i)
• "Hawaiian Touch" by Barney Isaacs & George Kuo (Dancing Cat Records)
• "Ho'i Hou" by Peter Moon (Kanikapila Records)
• "Kani Ki Ho'alu" by Ozzie Kotani (Dancing Cat Records)
• "Moe'uhana Kika (Tales from the Dream Guitar)" by Keola Beamer (Dancing Cat Records)
• "Ukulele Stylings #1" by various artists (Pa'ani Records)

• "Augie Style" by Augie Tulba (Tropical Jam Productions)
• "Babooze!" by Frank De Lima (Tropical Jam Productions)
• "False Crack???" by Bu La'ia (Pig Poi Records)

• "A Bright Hawaiian Christmas" by Teresa Bright (Manu Records)
• "Coming Home for Christmas" by Randy, Gay & Andrew Hongo (Christian Vision)
• "Holidays" by Hapa (Coconut Grove Recording Co.)
• "Island Style Christmas" by various artists (Bladerunner Records of Hawaii)
• "Joy to the World" by Honolulu Madrigal Quartet (Island Jam Records)

• "Acapella - In Times Like These" by Revival (Revival Records)
• "Grace" by Alex McAngus (Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy)
• "One God" by Kumulani Praise Band (Kumulani Music)
• "People with New Hope" by People with New Hope (New Hope Christian)
• "Trust in Love" by Stephen Anthony Laudise (Trust Records)

• "Brown Eyed Girl/Paradise" by Glenn Medeiros (Amherst)
• "Friend in Me" by Brothers and Sisters (Kahale Music, Inc.)
• "Love Song of Kalua" by Rocky Brown (Discos Tropical)
• "Travel My Love/Dancing in the Moonlight" by Henry Kapono (River North Records)
• "You've Got a Friend" by Kawika Crowley (CoCo Records)

• "Broken Hearts" by Darren Benitez from "Broken Hearts" by Darren Benitez (Fat Katz)
• "E Ala E" by Leo Anderson Akana from "E Ala E" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Big Boy Records)
• "Flying with Angels" by Lehua Kalima from "Flying with Angels" by Na Leo Pilimehana (Na Leo Pilimehana)
• "Lei Hali'a" by Puakea Nogelmeier from "Lei Hali'a" by Keali'i Reichel (Punahele Productions)
• "Proud to Be" by Robert and Roland Cazimero from "Proud to Be" by Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple Co.)

• "Broken Hearts" by Darren Benitez; Sean Na'auao, producer
• "E Ala E" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole; Kamakawiwo'ole and Jon de Mello, producers
• "Flying with Angels" by Na Leo Pilimehana; self-produced
• "Lei Hali'a" by Keali'i Reichel; Reichel, Fred Krauss and Jim Linkner, producers
• "Sistah Robi" by Robi Kahakalau; Diane Ho, Robi and I'inimaikalani Kahakalau and Fiji, producers

• Jon de Mello for "Proud to Be" by Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple Co.)
• Rob Hawes for "Lei Hali'a" by Keali'i Reichel (Punahele Records)
• Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Jon de Mello for "E Ala E" by Kamakawiwo'ole (Big Boy Records)
• Nelson Makua for "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters, Instrumental Collection" by various artists (Dancing Cat Records)
• Tery Nii Design for "Songs of Lili'uokalani" by Galliard String Quartet (Wa Nui Records)

• Milan Bertosa for "Ka Lihi Kai O Ka'ena" by Kanilau (Nani Lawai Records)
• Milan Bertosa, Michael Grande, Dave Knight and Dave Tucciarone for "Sistah Robi" by Robi Kahakalau (Kanai'a Records)
• Milan Bertosa and Dave Tucciarone for "'Ohana" by Hawaiian Style Band
• Gaylord Holomalia, Jim Shaffer and Milan Bertosa for "World's Got to Choose" by Del Beazley (Poki Records)
• Jim Linkner for "Lei Hali'a" by Keali'i Reichel (Punahele Records)

• John Keoni Fujitani for "Slack-Key Traditions Vol II" by various artists (Liko Records
• Ellen Pelissero for "Ho'ala Hou" by various artists (Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center)
• Skylark Rossetti-Ota for "Ulema Ke Aloha" by Darlene Ahuna (Hula Records)
• Harry B. Soria Jr. for "Vintage Hawaiian Treasures, Vol. 6 - Night Club Hula Hawaiian Style" by various artists (Hana Ola Records)
• Harry B. Soria Jr. for "Vintage Hawaiian Treasures, Vol. 9 - Aloha Hula Hawaiian Style" by various artists (Hana Ola Records)