"Lei Hali'a" won four Hoku Awards, and helped capture the popular vote for Keali'i Reichel.
Photo by Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

Anthology (to producer Harry B. Soria): "Aloha Hula Hawaiian Style (Vintage Hawaiian Treasures Vol. 9)" by Al Kealoha Perry & His Singing Surfriders (HanaOla). All local anthology albums should be produced this well. Most are not. Another beautiful retrospective on a significant Territorial Era recording artist by Soria and HanaOla principal Michael Cord.

Comedy: "Babooze!" by Frank DeLima (Pocholinga). This collection of song parodies won the perennial HARA favorite his sixth Hoku. "Spam Musubi" (a parody of "Y.M.C.A."), "Babooze!" ("Sh-Boom"), a revival of "Save the Opihi," and his political song, "Don't Block the Sidewalk," are among the highlights.

Most Promising Artist: "Broken Hearts" by Darren Benitez (Fat Katz). He sounds like Dennis Pavao and favors the same types of material. A winning combination and a fine first album.

Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Contemporary Album of the Year, Song of the Year (to Lehua Kalima for "Flying with Angels): "Flying With Angels" by Na Leo Pilimehana (Na Leo Pilimehana). The trio's third album is their best. It shows their growth as composers and producers in utilizing a variety of musical styles without blurring the focus. Smooth harmonies are the touchstone whether the mood is light local reggae, oldtime hapa-haole, or airy pop. Synthetics are kept to a minimum. Kalima's "Flying With Angels" has become an island standard. Several other originals will likely achieve that status.

Single of the Year: "Friend in Me" by Brothers & Sisters (Kahale). Initially presented as near clones of the defunct Na Wai Ho'olu'u O Ke Anuenue, Brothers & Sisters broke out of the pseudo-reggae rasta-wannabe bag with this original piece of inspirational local pop written by group member Shannah Kai.

Graphics (to Nelson Makua): "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Instrumental Collection" by various artists (Dancing Cat). George Winston's slack-key masters series has elevated album art and annotation to levels only rarely reached in the local recording industry. This disc is a perfect introduction to the collection.

Instrumental album: "Hawaiian Touch" by Barney Isaacs & George Kuo (Dancing Cat). Dancing Cat dominated this category for the second year (Keola Beamer and Ozzie Kotani were also finalists). Isaacs' untimely death may have swayed the HARA membership but his collaboration with Kuo is magic in its own right.

HARA Bank of Hawaii Slack-Key Award: "Led Live - Solo" Ledward Kaapana (Dancing Cat). Well-deserved recognition for a slack-key master. Kaapana's most recent album is another gem in Dancing Cat's "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Series" and showcases his beautiful falsetto as well.

Male Vocalist, Popular Hawaiian Album, Engineering (to Jim Linkner), Haku Mele (best use of the Hawaiian language in a newly written song, for "Ku 'u Pua Mae 'ole" and Favorite Entertainer (by public vote): "Lei Hali'a" by Keali 'i Reichel (Punahele). Reichel made good in a big way on his promise that his second album would be "similar but different" from his multi-Hoku winning debut. The Hawaiian-language selections are beautiful. Familiar pop chart hits are presented from fresh perspectives. Guests add diversity without diluting the essence. His adjudicated selection as winner of the single most culturally important Hoku (Haku Mele) makes this a must-buy for all students of modern Hawaiian-language music.

Female Vocalist and Island Contemporary Album: "Sistah Robi" Robi Kahakalau (Kana'i Records). Kahakalau hired on a platoon of celebrity guests and sidemen for this ambitious stretch beyond the sweet pop sound of her work with the Hawaiian Style Band. Includes originals, Hawaiian-language standards, pop chart covers, a song from Rarotonga, and a bit much reggae-lite. Yes, she's popular, and a fine pop stylist too!

Liner Notes (to Skylark Rosetti-Ota); "Ulana Ke Aloha" Darlene Ahuna (Hula Records). The ever-popular Rosetti-Ota lucked out in that Harry B. Soria Jr. had two finalist nominations in this category. Big Island vocalist Ahuna was a strong contender for Female Vocalist; producer Donald P. "Flip" McDiarmid III gave her packaging as beautiful as her music.