Hoku awards could
offer surprises
Will the Brothers Cazimero bounce back from their Grammy loss and win big here at home? Will deceased artists win in major categories? What happened to the popular "Single of the Year" category? Curious minds want to know as the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts announces nominees in 22 categories for the 28th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Winners will be announced June 3 in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Television coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. with the awards presentation already in progress.
Traditionalist Hawaiian artists again dominate in all but the genre categories. 'Ale'a, the Brothers Cazimero and Raiatea Helm lead with seven nominations and will face each other in the Group of the Year and Favorite Entertainer of the Year categories. Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Na Palapalai and Owana Salazar are strong contenders with six nominations each.
All eyes certainly will be on the Cazimeros and their "Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell," which was nominated for the Hawaiian music Grammy in March but did not win. The Cazimeros are the only Grammy-nominated act on the final ballot (Keali'i Reichel's Grammy-nominated album swept the Hokus a year ago).
Deceased artists could also win big. "Few More Drops," by the late Wendell Warrington, and posthumously released recordings by Moe Keale and Dennis Pavao occupy three of the five slots for Male Vocalist. Pavao is also up for Contemporary Hawaiian Album and Hawaiian Album, and Warrington could also win for Religious Album and Most Promising.
As for Single of the Year, HARA's Board of Governors eliminated the category even though local recording artists continue to release CD singles.
Winners in 19 categories will be determined by HARA members. A panel of Hawaiian music and language specialists choose finalists and winners of Haku Mele and Hawaiian Language Performance. Voting for Favorite Entertainer of the Year is open to the public.
Tickets for the Hoku Awards dinner and show are $95 to $200. Call 235-9424.
Nominees
The complete list of nominees:
Female Vocalist of the Year
Darlene Ahuna, "Bridge Between Generations" (Hana Ola)Leilani Rivera Bond, "Na Hana A Ke Aloha, the Works of Love" (Leilani)
Raiatea Helm, "Sweet & Lovely" (Raiatea Helm)
Melveen Leed, "Part of Me, A Part of You" (Surfside Hawaii)
Owana Salazar, "Hula Jazz" (Moonbow)
Male Vocalist of the Year
Danny Couch, "I Love Hawaii -- The Journey" (Danny Couch)Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, "Ulu Kau" (Makuakane Music)
Moe Keale, "Hawaii's Treasure Uncle Moe Keale Live in Waikiki" (Nani Lawai)
Dennis Pavao, "Golden Voice of Hawaii, Vol. I" (Kapa Kuiki)
Wendell Warrington, "Few More Drops" (Warrington Publishing)
Group of the Year
'Ale'a, "Kaulupono" (Poki)Brothers Cazimero, "Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell" (Mountain Apple)
Na Leo, "Find Harmony" (NLP Music)
Na Palapalai, "Ke 'Ala Beauty" (Koops 2)
Pali "In Harmony" (PK)
Most Promising Artist
Hula Honeys, "Life Just Got Sweeter" (Ululoa)Inoa 'Ole, "Genres" (FM)
Brittni Paiva, "Brittni X 3" (Talmidim)
Jordan Segundo, "Jordan" (JWS)
Wendell Warrington, "Few More Drops" (Warrington Publishing)
Compilation Album
"Aloha Festivals Hawaiian Falsetto Contest Winners, Vol. 5," various artists (Hula); William Baba Alimoot, Steve Kramer and Donald P. Flip McDiarmid III, producers"Hula! Big Island Style," various artists (Palm); Charles Michael Brotman, producer
"Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key No. 1," various artists (Daniel Ho Creations); Paul Konwiser, Wayne Wong and Daniel Ho, producers
"Na Kahu -- Aloha ke Akua," various artists (Aloha Ke Akua Ministries); Daniel Kikawa Jorie West, producers
"Tiny CD 4 -- Motown Hawaiian Style," various artists (Tiny Nitro Tadani); 'elan, producer
Anthology
"Andy Cummings & His Hawaiian Serenaders," Andy Cummings & His Hawaiian Serenaders (Hana Ola); Harry B. Soria Jr., producer"Eddie Kamae -- Sons of Hawaii," Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii (Hawaii Sons); Hawaii Sons, producer
"Fifty Greatest Hawai'i Music Albums Ever," various artists (Mountain Apple); Honolulu magazine, producer
"Panini Collection" various artists (Panini); Steve Siegfried and Robert Siegfried, producers
"Territorial Airwaves," various artists (Hana Ola); Harry B. Soria Jr., producer
Reggae Album
"Back to the Valley -- The 3rilogy," Ekolu (Waiehu)"Contents of Truth," Native Blend (Flyin' Hawaiian)
"Independence Day," Fiji (Jahnra)
"Open Doors for Strangers," Nuff Sedd (Goofy Foot)
"Rising Son," O-Shen (Sharpnote)
Rock Album
"Fly," Dave Seawater (MSE Studios)"In with the Old," Pepper (Volcom Entertainment)
"Under a Native Moon," SugahDaddy 'ehawaiianrockband
Instrumental Album
"Brittni X 3," Brittni Paiva (Talmidim)"Hawaiian Steel Vol. 3," Byrd's Nest (Keala)
"Tropical Swing," Bill Tapia (Moon Room)
"'Ukulele Breeze," Herb Ohta Jr. (Lele Music)
"Walking Down Rainhill," Jake Shimabukuro (Hitchhike)
Jazz Album
"Hula Jazz," Owana Salazar (Moonbow)"Jazz Hawaiian Style," Keahi Conjugacion (Hula Records)
"No Fixed Address," Tom Conway (Tomcat Music)
"Steve Jones Collective Vol. 1," Steve Jones (Wire & Wood Music)
"Timeless," Greg & Junko MacDonald (GMM)
Religious Album
"Few More Drops," Wendell Warrington (Warrington Publishing)"Ko 'Olina ... A Place of Rejoicing," Kathy Paulo & Keoki (Apaulo)
"7 Simple Pieces," 7 Simple Pieces (One Pilot Music)
"Silence," Toa (Vaihi)
"To the Promised Land," HCK Worship (HCK Resources)
Contemporary Album
"Dangerous," Keahiwai (808e)"Duke's on Sunday," Henry Kapono (Eclectic)
"Find Harmony," Na Leo (NLP Music)
"Pa'ani," David Kamakahi (Dennis Kamakahi)
"Vaihitian," Vaihi (Vaihi)
Contemporary Hawaiian
"I Love Hawaii -- The Journey," Danny Couch (Danny Couch)"In Harmony," Pali (PK Records Hawaii)
"Kaulupono," 'Ale'a, (Poki)
"Keiki Kupuna," Dennis Pavao (Mountain Apple)
"Part of Me, a Part of You," Melveen Leed (Surfside Hawaii)
Hawaiian Album
"Golden Voice of Hawaii, Vol. I," Dennis Pavao (Kapa Kuiki)"Ke 'Ala Beauty," Na Palapalai (Koops 2)
"Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell," Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple)
"Sweet & Lovely," Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm)
"Ulu Kau," Kawaikapuokalani Hewett (Makuakane Music)
Song of the Year
"'Ala Anuhea" by Robert Cazimero from "Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell" (Mountain Apple)"Dangerous" by Lei Melket & Aaron Kimura from "Dangerous," Keahiwai (808e)
"He Pule No Na Koa O Hawaii" by Kawaikapuokalani Hewett from "Ulu Kau," Kawaikapuokalani Hewett (Makuakane Music)
"Hula Jazz" by Owana Salazar from "Hula Jazz," Owana Salazar (Moonbow)
"Kaloke Polena" by Tony Conjugacion from "Sweet & Lovely," Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm)
Album of the Year
"Eddie Kamae -- Sons of Hawaii," Eddie Kamae & The Sons of Hawaii (Hawaii Sons); Hawaii Sons, Inc., producer"Hula Jazz," Owana Salazar (Moonbow); Owana Salazar and Dave Tucciarone, producers
"Ke 'Ala Beauty," Na Palapalai (Koops 2); Shawn Pimental, producer
"Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell," Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple); Jon de Mello, producer
"Sweet & Lovely," Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm); Raiatea Helm and Dave Tucciarone, producers
Haku Mele
"Ilolialoha" by Kiope Raymond and Robert Cazimero from "Some Call it Aloha ... Don't Tell," Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple)"Hanohano Wailuaanuiaho'ano" by Charles Ka'upu from "Ke Aka Reflections: Past, Present, Future," Charles Ka'upu (Quiet Storm)
"Ka Lehua Punono" by Chad Takatsugi and Kalikolihau Hannahs from "Kaulupono, 'Ale'a (Poki)
"Kinoike Kekaulike" by Kimo Alama Keaulana from "Hula Lives!," Kimo Alama Keaulana (Mele Nani Music)
"Ku'u 'aina Ho'oheno" by Kuana Torres from "Ke'ala Beauty," Na Palapalai (Koops 2)
Hawaiian Language
'Ale'a, "Kaulupono"Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, "Ulu Kau"
Charles Ka'upu, "Ke Aka Reflections: Past, Present, Future"
Kimo Alama Keaulana, "Hula Lives!"
Na Palapalai, "Ke 'Ala Beauty"
Favorite Entertainer
Darlene Ahuna, "Bridge Between Generations"'Ale'a, "Kaulupono"
Brothers Cazimero, "Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell"
Raiatea Helm, "Sweet & Lovely"
Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, "Ulu Kau"
Na Leo, "Find Harmony"
Pali, "In Harmony"
Dennis Pavao, "Golden Voice of Hawaii, Vol. 1" and "Keiki Kupuna"
Owana Salazar, "Hula Jazz"
Jake Shimabukuro, "Walking Down Rainhill"
Graphics
Santos Barbasa, "I Ku Mau Mau, I Ku Mau Mau" (I Ku Mau Mau)Hirasaki Nakagawa Design for "Ke Aka Reflections: Past, Present, Future, Charles Ka'upu" (Quiet Storm)
Neal Izumi for "Kaulupono," 'Ale'a (Poki)
Brian Onaga for "Magic Islands," Hui Ohana (Poki)
Mele McPherson for "Sweet & Lovely," Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm)
Engineering
Milan Bertosa for "Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell," Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple)Tom Hall & Joel Katz for "Country Knights Band," Country Knights Band (TCKB)
Aaron Kimura and Wendell Ching for "Dangerous," Keahiwai (808e)
Dave Tucciarone for "Hula Jazz," Owana Salazar (Moonbow)
Dave Tucciarone for "Sweet & Lovely," Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm)
Liner Notes
Neil J. Hannahs for "Kaulupono," 'Ale'a (Poki)Kawaikapuokalani Hewett for "Ulu Kau," Kawaikapuokalani Hewett (Makuakane Music)
Lynn Martin Graton, Cheryl Sproat and Nathan Napoka for "Na Mele Kupuna," Clyde Halema'uma'u Sproat (Pololu)
Harry B. Soria Jr. for "Andy Cummings & His Hawaiian Serenaders," Andy Cummings & His Hawaiian Serenaders (Hana Ola)
Harry B. Soria Jr. for "Territorial Airwaves," various artists (Hana Ola)
[News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!]
[Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor]
[Feedback]
