Photo by Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
John Cruz' "Acoustic Soul" album garnered him
Contemporary Album and Most Promising Artist awards.

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Take home
Hoku-winning discs

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Here are brief reviews of this year's Hoku Award-winning recordings as announced Wednesday. They are listed in alphabetical order by title:

"Acoustic Soul" John Cruz (Lilikoi) -- Cruz touched a responsive chord with original song "Island Style." The breadth of his album reflects years of experience and shows Cruz equally adept at singing his own songs and interpreting the music of other writers. The range of ideas in his original songs prove him equally talented as a composer. "Impossible Anna" and "The River Runs" are two of his best songs. Won: Contemporary Album, Most Promising Artist

"Aloha No Na Kupuna -- Love for the Elders" George Kuo (Dancing Cat) -- Kuo is a slack-key master who usually speaks through his guitar. Students of slack key technique may wish to dissect his technique. Casual listeners will simply enjoy the beauty of his music. One "live" track includes his explanation of a favorite tuning. Won: Instrumental Album

"Anthology I 1984-1996" Na Leo Pilimehana (NLP Records) -- This disc contains a 15-song cross-section of favorites from Na Leo's first three American albums. "Local Boys," "Friends," "For the Sake of the Children," "Candle in the Night" and "Flying With Angels" rank among the most popular. Won: Anthology (to producers Na Leo and Ken Makuakane)

"Ho'omau" The Ho'opi'i Brothers (Mountain Apple Company) -- From the first riffs of "Pauoa Liko Ka Lehua" through the final bars of "Telephone to Glory," this is a perfect introduction to the music of Richard and Solomon Ho'opi'i, and to the sound and traditions of Hawaiian falsetto. Celebrity guests embellish the brothers' performances; Richard's first solo vocal and a newly written testament of the brothers' Christian faith are two other gems here. Won: Group of the Year

"Imagine" Moe Keale (Pa'ani) -- Keale's first album in 10 years is a beautiful showcase of his talents as vocalist and musician. English speakers will love his renditions of "The Water is Wide" and "Wonderful World." Hawaiian speakers will applaud the four new songs he co-wrote with Kihei de Silva. Lyrics and translations are included. Won: Haku Mele for best use of the Hawaiian language in a first-time recorded Hawaiian song, to Moe Keale and Kihei de Silva for "Lihau."

"Kiho'alu Christmas" various artists (Dancing Cat) -- Like every other album in the "Hawaiian Slack Key Masters" series, "Kiho'alu Christmas" is a perfect introduction to slack-key. It includes information on the history of each song and the slack-key tuning used. The artists include almost every participant in the series still alive, plus Cindy Combs and Joanie Komatsu. Won: Christmas Album

"Kuikawa" Makaha Sons (Poki) -- The Sons' commitment to precise arrangements and smooth harmonies continues as they move into their third decade. So does their commitment to perpetuating the Hawaiian language. They do all that here and incorporate new ideas as well. Some selections successfully juxtapose English- and Hawaiian-language lyrics. Others range from nostalgic to romantic to silly. Won: Hawaiian Album, Engineering (to D.J. Pratt and Dave Tucciarone)

"Ku'u Lei Poina 'Ole" Darlene Ahuna (Hula) -- Ahuna's second solo album is a second masterpiece for the Big Island vocalist. Many of the songs refer to the beauty or hidden significance of various lei. The exquisite beauty of her voice is the thread that strings the work together. Won: Female Vocalist

"Mary Tunta" Frank DeLima (Pocholinga Productions) -- It's comic business as usual with this assortment of ethnic humor and song parodies. DeLima recycles "Macarena" as "Mary Tunta" and "C'mon n' Ride It (The Train)" as "The Chicken Fight Song." The Eagles' "Hotel California" becomes an account of DeLima and friends at a Vegas hotel. Michael Jackson's ode to a rat, "Ben," honors Gov. Cayetano. DeLima, Patrick Downes and Tremaine Tamayose share writer/lyricist credits. Won: Comedy Album

"Molokai Slide" Ehukai (Starline) -- This idealized celebration of life on Molokai was dedicated to Natalie Marie Noelani Helm, a Molokai High volleyball player who died in a plane crash in 1989. It includes a catchy reggae-lite beat and a melody containing more than a hint of Sam Cooke's 1960 hit, "Chain Gang." Won: Song of the Year, Single of the Year

"The Music of George Helm -- A True Hawaiian" George Helm (HanaOla) -- Painstakingly restored, remastered and repackaged, this album reaffirms Helm's status an accomplished vocalist and musician. The HARA Board of Governors ruled this anthology ineligible as Anthology of the Year and HARA membership responded by handing this album a Hoku for liner notes. Won: Liner Notes (to Harry B. Soria Jr.)

"In Dis Life" Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Big Boy/Mountain Apple -- Iz's fourth solo album is a musical smorgasbord that ranges from an inspired revision of "Living in A Sovereign Land" to a formula Jawaiian rehash of Mel & Tim's 1972 hit, "Starting All Over Again." Iz's tranquil treatment of "Hi'ilawe" and a live recording of "Na Ka Pueo/Keyhole Hula" are the among the highlights. Won: Album of the Year (to Kamakawiwo'ole and Gaylord Holomalia, producers), Male Vocalist, Island Contemporary Album, Graphics (to Jon de Mello and Kamakawiwo'ole), Favorite Entertainer.