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‘Entertainer’ award
goes to Local Divas

The winners list

By John Berger
Special to the Star-Bulletin

An Okinawan cultural ensemble gave two powerful performances but it was Da Braddahs' mocking satire of Hawaiian culture that got the most enthusiastic response last night as Johnny Kai and Rodney Villanueva presented the 4th Annual Hawaii Music Awards for a crowd of several hundred in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. The crowd loved Da Bruddahs.

Performances by Ten Feet, Hula Joe & The Hutjumpers, Michael Paulo, Honolulu, and the Local Divas were the most substantial of the other numbers staged to show the diversity of music other than Hawaiian that exists here.

Paulo was joined by his father, world-class pianist Rene Sr., and then returned with Pauline Wilson for a hana hou showcasing their duet on his new "Sax For Christmas" disc.

The Local Divas looked fabulous and recovered quickly when they learned just before their number that they had won "Entertainer Of The Year" honors. They closed the show by inviting everyone who was still in the house to join them on stage and sing "We Are Family."

Villanueva gave a career-best performance presiding as master of ceremonies with a mumbling irreverence that fit the tone of the show perfectly. Villanueva made fun of the winners, declined to pronounce Hawaiian album titles, announced "We have nothing to do with how this is presented," and quickly endeared himself to the crowd. Lanai & Augie T distinguished themselves with quick teamwork as guest announcers. Marty Dread added a fine irie ambiance in his stint at the podium.

The show started late but ran close to schedule since 12 of the winners didn't attend or send any representatives and several who attended didn't make acceptance speeches. The family of Miss America Angela Baraquio sent a video to acknowledge her selection as winner of the Governor's Fine Arts Award.

Even so, it was a better show than last year. Hawaiian Ryan was the only nominee in the Comedy slot and put things in perspective by thanking "all the other comedians" whose albums hadn't been included on the ballot. Darrell Labrado told Villanueva he'd return both his awards if they'd give him the suntanned blond who'd brought out his "Male Vocalist" trophy.

Had there been an award for fortitude it would have gone to longtime Latin music stalwart Rolando Sanchez who had to perform right after it was announced that his album had lost to steel drummer Greg MacDonald's "Pan-A-Cabana" in the Latin category. Sanchez and his band added another noteworthy musical number to the evening.

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Hawaii Music Awards

Here is the list of winners from last night's Hawaii Music Awards.

Island Music: "Island Feeling" Ten Feet
Hawaiian Contemporary: " 'Ale'a" 'Ale'a
Hawaiian Traditional: "Ho'okena 5" Ho'okena
International Hawaiian: "Kainoa" Kaoru Kohnoike
Polynesian: "Polynesian Style" Dennis Ayek
Reggae: "Getting High" Natural Vibration
Rap: "Konishiki KMS" Konishiki
Pop: "You Can't Lie" DisGuyz
Rock: "Lose Money" Lose Money
Rhythm & Blues: "It Won't Be Long" Reality
Jazz: "Hula Joe & The Hutjumpers" Hula Joe & The Hutjumpers
Latin: "Pan-A-Cabana" Greg MacDonald
Inspirational Music: "A Legacy" The Torres Family
Musical Variety Show: "Ulalena"
Compilation: "Cronies Bar & Grill"
Instrumental Music: "Pure & Simple" Herb Ohta Jr.
Seasonal: "Pure Heart 2.5" Pure Heart
Children's: "Shake the Moon" Darrell Labrado
World Music: "Makana" Makana
Anthology: "Justin & Friends: Collection"
Ska: "Starfish" Jah Ska
Hip Hop: "SoulJahz" SoulJahz
Comedy: "Saving Ryan's Privates" Hawaiian Ryan
Country: "Silent Tears" Lani Sills
Male Vocalist of the Year: Darrell Labrado
Female Vocalist of the Year: Darlene Ahuna
Group Of The Year: 'Ale'a
Island Rhythm 98.5's Song of the Year: "Island in the Stream" Ten Feet
Entertainer of the Year: The Local Divas
Studio Musicians of the Year: Todd Adamski, Wendell Ching, Kit Ebersbach, Jan Luna, David Tuccarone and Salaam Tilman
Mahalo Awards: Che Monique, Don Ho's Island Grill, Pier Bar, Pipeline Cafe & Sports Bar, World Cafe and Kwai Chang
Showcase of the Year: Ulalena
Governor's Fine Arts Award: Miss Hawaii Angela Baraquio
Mayor's Performing Arts Award: Roy Sakuma
Wyland Award for Outstanding Artwork: Artist Preston T. Terada, Ink Trails. Album "Ho'oulu I Ka Na'auao" by Sonny Ching
Liner Notes: Todd Adamski, "Peace By Peace"
Producer & Engineer of the Year: Bob St. John
Best Album of the Year (based on sales): "Island Feeling" Ten Feet
Best New Artist (based on sales): "Island Feeling" Ten Feet
Best Music Video (tie): "Crazy Love" by Justin & Friends, Ka'imi Lee (producer) and Nathan Kurosawa (director). "Livin' Like Kings" by Konishiki featuring Layzie, Gobi Nejad (producer) and Tracy Danielle (director)

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