Meet the contenders
By John Berger
for male and female vocalist
Special to the Star-BulletinUp for Hokus in the top male and top female vocalist categories are:
Moana Chang:
She wanted to record the songs she learned while growing up.Moana Chang -- "He Leo 'O Moana: The Voice From The Deep Ocean" (Mountain Apple Company)
Moana Chang had no plans to record when she returned home several years ago to care for her widowed mother. Chang had been an entertainer as a youth, shared her knowledge of Hawaiian music and hula on the mainland, and raised a family of musically inclined children.
"I made ('He Leo') with the promise that I would promote Uncle Bill Lincoln's songs, and a lot of the older aunties who knew that I could sing as high as I do trained me to sing the phrasing of the words correctly.
"I wanted to do songs that were of when I was growing up, but I thought Hawaii was only interested in contemporary and wasn't interested in the authentic music. I never thought I'd be one of the nominees."
Finding Chang isn't too difficult. She sings at the Bishop Museum, aboard the S.S. Independence and with Tihati Productions. "I sing all over and (also) teach music to my grandchildren. It's hectic, but if I can help bring back the kind of music that we used to have it's well worth it. "
Darlene Ahuna:
She wasn't sure she could top her first solo album, let alone win a second nomination.Darlene Ahuna -- "Ku'u Lei Poina 'Ole" (Hula) Also nominated for: Best Hawaiian Album
Darlene Ahuna's first solo album, "Ulana Ke Aloha," was highly acclaimed and a popular success. The Big Island performer wasn't sure her second album would do as well, let alone earn her a consecutive nomination for Female Vocalist of the Year.
"When you start out on a project you hope what you do is what the people want, but we (also) wanted to show that I can do a little bit more than just traditional Hawaiian music. "Traditional is my first love, but I also like other types of music. It was fun (trying different ideas). I was hoping it wouldn't seem too way off base."
Hulu Lindsey:
Recording an album seemed an impossible dream, until she met Ken Makuakane.Hulu Lindsey -- "Ku'u Makana Aloha" (Kahulu Productions)
Hulu Lindsey is a real estate broker by day, but singing is her life. She's been singing professionally for more than 20 years, but recording an album seemed like an impossible dream -- until Loyal Garner introduced her to Ken Makuakane. "Ku'u Makana Aloha" was the result.
Lindsey started with some of her favorite Hawaiian songs; others were written for her by Makuakane.
"I've been performing for tourists all my life, but I wanted to share something with our people of Hawaii and let them know that I sing Hawaiian. These are songs that I love and it's been wonderful to share them. And, I wanted to leave something for my grandchildren and their children so they'll be able to hear how I sang the songs I love."
Nohelani Cypriano:
She asked her mom to sing at the spur of the moment and their voices meshed.Nohelani Cypriano -- "Blue Hawaiian Christmas" (Cypriano Productions) Also nominated for: Christmas Album
Cypriano has recorded several albums since her debut disc, "Nohelani," won her Female Vocalist honors in 1980, but the two-time winner says "Blue Hawaiian Christmas" will always be one of her favorite albums -- win or not.
"It's the first time I've produced a record by myself, and the first time after the years I've been performing that my mom and I ever did anything together. I had asked her to come to the studio one day when I was recording 'Silent Night' just to listen to my pronunciation.
"Spur of the moment I asked her to try something with me ... When I heard her voice I knew we had something. Her voice and mine are very different, and our styles are different, but I think we blended well.
"I'm so happy after all these years of each of us doing our own thing we actually have something together."
Dennis Kamakahi:
His label, Dancing Cat, is resented by those who feel Hokus belong to Hawaii labels.Rev. Dennis Kamakahi -- "Pua 'Ena -- Glow Brightly" (Dancing Cat Records) Also nominated for: Liner Notes (to Jay Junker)
By any measure, Dennis Kamakahi's first solo album and first recording project in 10 years is another milestone in an impressive career.
A prolific composer since intermediate school, Kamakahi has written more than 400 songs. "Wahine 'Ilikea" and "Koke'e" are two of the signature compositions he included here.
Dancing Cat is resented by those who feel that Hoku Awards should be restricted to Hawaiian artists who record only for record labels that are headquartered in Hawaii; no objective observer can diminish the quality of the Dancing Cat series, or Kamakahi's stature as one of the most respected Hawaiian composers and musicians of his generation.
Moe Keale:
When he's not recording, he keeps busy with films.Moe Keale -- "Imagine" (Pa'ani) Also nominated for: Island Contemporary Album
Moe Keale is making the most of what free time he has these days. He recently finished work on the new Hawaii Five-O pilot, is reading a script for another film, playing at the Waikiki Sheraton, developing material for his next album, and enjoying a romp now and then with the family dogs.
"We're going to Canada in July to play for a group of Indians who are connected with the Hawaiians that went up there in the late-1700s or early-1800s.
"Hawaiian-Indians living in Canada for four or five generations. That's really fascinating to me and I want to go up there."
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole:
Digging for the essence of what Hawaiian culture is about.Israel Kamakawiwo'ole -- "In Dis Life" (Big Boy) Also nominated for: Island Contemporary Album, Album of the Year, Graphics (to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and Jon de Mello), Engineering (to Gaylord Holomalia)
"Iz" was evolving into a contemporary cultural icon even before he officially left the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau. As a solo artist he's explored a broad spectrum of mainstream "American" music while simultaneously advocating Hawaiian nationalism and cultural identity. His ongoing partnership with producer Jon de Mello has produced three landmark albums thus far -- "Facing Future," "E Ala E" and "In Dis Life."
"I thought it was a perfect step for the third album," de Mello said earlier this week for Iz, who was recovering from a bad cold.
"People are digging for the essence of what Hawaiian culture is all about. He loves the drum kit but he loves his language and his roots more, and he touches on both. He's Hawaiian first."
Dennis Pavao:
An increase in his work load on Maui won't keep him from making records.Dennis Pavao -- "Sweet Leilani" (Pilialoha Productions) Also nominated for: Hawaiian Album
Coming to Oahu for the Hoku Awards is a vacation for Maui's Dennis Pavao, a father of four keiki, ages 7 years to 7 months.
"Sometimes I try to get 'em real busy during the day so I can get some rest when they rest."
Working out and surfing the 'Net are two of his interests but music tops the list. Pavao plays at the Maui Hyatt, teams up with his cousin Nedward for a club gig each Friday in Lahaina, and has been playing concert gigs on the mainland an average of once a month for the past three years. That's going to be changing.
"The Maui Tropical Plantation has been bought out by some people from Finland. They're not going to make too many changes in the front but in the back of it they're going to be doing a lot of things, and they want me to do all the music for the whole park. There'll be so much to do I'll be cutting back on my trips."
Not to worry, Oahu, Pavao plays the Makaha Bash at the Waikiki Shell later this month. Impatient fans can catch him singing "My Yellow Ginger Lei" on the Makaha Sons' just-released concert album, "On the Road Live."
John Cruz:
Seven nominations are enough to lift him out of the shadow of his brother 's fame.John Cruz "Acoustic Soul" (Lilikoi Records) Also nominated for: Most Promising Artist, Contemporary Album, Song of the Year ("Island Style"), Album of the Year, Graphics (to Allison Foo), Engineering (to Gaylord Holomalia, Michael Grande, Jim Shafer and Rick Asher Keefer)
A year ago, if people knew John Cruz at all it was as "Ernie's brother." A super-hot debut album and seven Hoku nominations have changed that, but Cruz says life isn't really all that different.
"It may seem like I came out of nowhere because I was on the mainland so long, but I've been playing professionally for over 15 years ... It's nice to travel and play for people who haven't had access to you. I have my own record label, and the success of the first record means I'll be able to do the next. That's nice too.
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