By Julie Sotomura, special to the Star-Bulletin
Kekuhi Kanahele chants before a portrait of her grandmother,
Aunty Edith Kanaka'ole, who she says instilled in her a sense of
her Hawaiian heritage. Kanahele is up for two Hoku awards this year.

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Kekuhi Kanahele
may rake in Hokus with
her debut album

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

TAKE the mission statement of the Hoku Awards at face value -- "honoring the achievements of excellence in the recording arts" -- and each award is equally important. In real-life terms the awards for Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist outweigh almost all others.

Most of the finalists are on the conservative side of Hawaiian music. John Cruz represents island contemporary; Nohelani Cypriano is the only mainstream contemporary artist. Notable is the success of Darlene Ahuna and Dennis Pavao in redefining their repertoires, Dennis Kamakahi's solo debut, the return of Moe Keale, the perennial popularity of Iz, and the debut albums of Cruz, Moana Chang, Hulu Lindsey and Kekuhi Kanahele.

Kanahele's brilliant "Hahani Mai" is also up for Most Promising Artist(s), Hawaiian Album, Song of the Year (for "Don't Cry 'Oe" ), Album of the Year and Graphics (to artist Rob Hawes).

"We had no expectations whatsoever. We wanted to get the compositions out and do them in the most traditional fashion in combination with some contemporary ideals," evoking a sense of playfulness, sensuality and spirituality even on the telephone.

Kanahele was a big hit at the Hawaii Theatre in March. In white gown and high-piled hair on Friday, she was strictly downhome by Sunday.

"My husband wanted an air of sophistication (but) with the mana'o that no matter what kind of clothes you put me in, I couldn't have done my part of the show if I had acted the way I was dressed. For the third day I said 'No more big hair,'" she giggled.

Kanahele goes to the Hokus in the same spirit. She'll show her producers her appreciation even though she isn't comfortable at such events: "I don't like to be acrylic and smile if I don't mean it, but you kinda have to."

When not involved with music, hula, or teaching Hawaiian language and cultural classes at HCC, she enjoys "the lo'i thing, working in the yard," building bookshelves, camping, and visiting special places. She admits to singing "sort of traditional" English songs at home, but that's it.

"If I say the language is foremost and encourage the composition of Hawaiian mele using traditional hawaiian literary devices then I want to only do that."

LAST CHANCE!
Enter the Star-Bulletin's 'Mele Melee' contest
until 5:00 p.m. today!