JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, senior manager of government and community relations at Hawaiian Airlines, accepted a Koa Award yesterday from kumu hula Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, center, and Rex Johnson, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority during the "Keep it Hawaii" award ceremony at the Hawaii Convention Center.

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HTA trims frills from
‘Keep it Hawaii’ awards

There was no luncheon at the Hawaii Prince Hotel, though pupus were served at a reception at the Hawaii Convention Center following a news conference announcing the winners. And there were way fewer winners.

The "Keep it Hawaii" program was established 14 years ago by the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau and advertising executive Martin Schiller to recognize businesses, organizations and individuals who work to preserve and perpetuate Hawaii's unique culture.

The state Hawaii Tourism Authority, which supports the visitors bureau financially, took over funding the awards program this year from the bureau. This year's event had a budget of $50,000.

"The HVCB didn't have money in their budget. We felt it was a worthwhile program so we put money in our budget to do it," said Rex Johnson, president and CEO of the state authority.

The luncheon was eliminated to save cost.

"Everybody had to buy tables and that kind of thing -- and it was a pretty good sized event and a pretty pricey event, so we thought in keeping with all the changes, this would be a fine way to do it," said Johnson.

Awards were presented to businesses, organizations and individuals, by county, but there were no separate categories for publications, attractions, visitor programs for guests and the like.

"We thought it was getting a little commercial and so we just decided to get together with our (Hawaiian Cultural Program Advisory Council) and see what they felt about it. They agreed so we did it this different way," Johnson said.

"We really wanted it to be more authentic."

The advisory council reviewed the nominations and selected winners. Two members of the advisory council accepted awards for themselves, or on behalf of their businesses, but nobody on the council voted for themselves, said Muriel Anderson, HTA director of tourism programs.

None of the judges who received awards were present when the decisions to award them were made, Anderson said. If they were at the meeting, they were asked to leave the room, which they did, she said.

Council member Mike White accepted a "He Kuleana Ke Aloha" award on behalf of the Kaanapali Beach Hotel on Maui, where he is general manager. The award was given to seven recipients who have spent a lifetime perpetuating the Hawaiian culture with little or no acknowledgment, organizers said.

The Kuleana winners "were selected by us, being the HTA, as well as the members of the council, but Mike did not participate in that discussion," Anderson said.

"I would hate for this issue to cloud what should be -- it was kept totally above board."

The six other koa- and glass-encased feather leis were won by Winona Desha Beamer, an authority on Hawaiian culture; featherwork expert Mary Louise Kekuewa; the Merrie Monarch Festival; the Prince Lot Hula Festival; the Hawaii visitors bureau; and Hawaiian music living legend Auntie Genoa Keawe, who provided the most poignant moment of the news conference. Upon receiving her award, she stood, despite frailty, and passionately said: "I love our Hawaiian music and it must live. Hawaiian music must live."

In the Kahili awards' business category, the winners were Honolulu-based Mutual Publishing, the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows on the Big Island and Maui's Ritz Carlton Kapalua. There was no awardee for Kauai.

The counties' individual award winners included Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, a kumu hula, songwriter and cultural leader from Honolulu; George Naope, ambassador of music and dance and co-founder of the Merrie Monarch Festival from Hawaii County; and Ken Robert Emerson, a slack key master and Hawaiian steel guitar expert from Kauai County. There were two Kahili award winners from Maui: Francis Palani Sinenci, teacher of Hawaiian-style home building, and Pilipo Solatario, kumu hula and cultural consultant.

Unlike previous years, there was no best-of-show award. Instead, a new "Koa Award," in the shape of a canoe paddle, was prepared to recognize long-term and exemplary commitment to perpetuating and preserving Hawaii's host culture. The inaugural Koa award went to Hawaiian Airlines for its sponsorship of the 75th Aloha Festivals. Debbie Nakanelua-Richards, senior manager of government and community relations for Hawaiian Airlines, accepted the award. She is also a member of the advisory council but appeared surprised by the selection.

The surprise "was very genuine. She did not know," said Anderson.

Community organization winners were Bishop Museum Press on Oahu for its publications, and Kipahulu Ohana on Maui for its Hawaiian Living History Farm and Cultural Tours. There were no awards in this category for Hawaii or Kauai counties.