“;More for less”; turned out to be the key to success last night as Pali T.W. Ka'aihue and his namesake group, Pali, won a pace-setting three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for their work on their economically priced double CD “;...with Aloha,”; as the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts announced the winners in 26 categories in the Hawaii Ballroom of the Sheraton-Waikiki.

“;...With Aloha”; won Album of the Year and Island Music Album of the Year. Ka'aihue also won Song of the Year, a composer's award, for “;Island Days,”; one of the songs on the album.

Natalie Ai Kamauu won Female Vocalist of the Year for “;'I.”;

Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole won Male Vocalist of the Year and Hawaiian Language Performance for “;Kaumakaiwa.”;

“;'ikena,”; the album by Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho that won 2009 Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album in February and Contemporary Hawaiian Album at the Hawaii Music Awards in March, was barred from the Hoku ballot after Ho's distributor missed the filing deadline. The decision by the HARA Board of Governors to strictly enforce the filing deadlines this year also eliminated Ho's 2009 Grammy Award-finalist compilation album, “;The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar”; and kumu hula Kawaikapuokalani Hewett's “;Honehone i ka Poli.”;

This year's other three Grammy finalists all won a Hoku.

“;Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Master Series Vol. II,”; produced by Milton and Chris Lau, won Compilation Album, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom won Contemporary Album for “;'Aumakua”; and Ledward Kaapana and Mike Kaawa won Favorite Entertainer of the Year—the only Hoku award currently determined by public vote. (Voting in three other categories is limited to “;Regular”; members of HARA; recipients in the two Hawaiian language categories are determined by a panel of specialists in Hawaiian song writing.)

Compilation Album was one of several awards that was announced before the start of the televised coverage. Lau described the win as “;a great honor,”; adding, “;We love what we do and we're passionate about it. To get an award is icing on the cake.”;

The winner in the Liner Notes category was also announced before the start of the televised awards show. Puakea Nogelmeier spoke for his co-winners, Keali'i Reichel and Fred Krauss, in reminding the audience that thorough annotation of Hawaiian music continues to be important “;as we move into the digital age.”;

“;We can't leave liner notes and the written foundation and the information about the music behind. It's important to encourage the industry to keep that right hand in hand.”;

Hoku winners' list

» Album of the Year (to artist and producers): “;...with Aloha,”; Pali (PK), D.J. Pratt and Pali T.W. Ka'aihue, producers

» Song of the Year: ”;Island Days,”; by Pali T.W. Ka'aihue from “;...with Aloha,”; Pali (PK)

» Female vocalist: Natalie Ai Kamauu, “;'I”; (no label)

» Male vocalist: Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole, “;Kaumakaiwa”; (Mountain Apple)

» Group of the year: Holunape, “;Ahea? 'Ano!”; (Roy Sakuma)

» Favorite entertainer: Led Kaapana and Mike Kaawa, “;Force of Nature”; (Jus Press)

» Most promising artist: Kupaoa, “;Pili o ke Ao”; (Kupaoa)

» Anthology (producers' award): “;Unforgettable,”; Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau (Poki), Tim Mathre, Kata Maduli, Lea Uehara, producers

» Christmas album: ”;E Ola ke Ali'i: The Na Kama Christmas Collection, Volume 1,”; Na Kama (Makani)

» Compilation: ”;Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Masters Series Vol. II,”; various artists (Rhythm and Roots), Chris Lau, Milton Lau, producers

» Music video/DVD: “;Kamehameha Schools 2008 Song Contest,”; Kamehameha Schools (Mountain Apple)

» Contemporary: ”;Aumakua,”; Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom (Ua)

» Hawaiian: “;Ahea? 'Ano!”; Holunape (Roy Sakuma)

» Hip hop/R&B: ”;Reborn,”; A Touch of Gold (Golden Boy)

» Instrumental: ”;Haleakala,”; Jeff Peterson and Riley Lee (Peterson)

» Island music: ”;...with Aloha,”; Pali (PK)

» Jazz: ”;Tropic Rhapsody,”; Teresa Bright (Teresa Bright)

» Reggae: ”;Nothing to Hide,”; Rebel Souljahs (no label)

» Religious: ”;All for One,”; Del Beazley (Mountain Apple)

» Rock: ”;Many Classics, Kalapana Plays Their Best,”; Kalapana (OTB)

» Slack key: ”;Hawaii Island ... Is My Home,”; John Keawe (Homestead)

» Graphics (designer's award): Stacey Leong Design for “;'Aina,”; Peter Apo & the Rainbow Nation Band (Mamo)

» Engineering (studio engineers' award): Milan Bertosa, D.J. Pratt and Gaylord Holomalia for “;Many Classics, Kalapana Plays Their Best,”; Kalapana (OTB)

» Liner notes (annotators' award): Puakea Nogelmeier, Fred Krauss and Keali'i Reichel for “;Kamalei: Keali'i Reichel Collection—Two,”; Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)

» Hawaiian language performance: Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole for “;Kaumakaiwa”; (Mountain Apple)

» Haku mele (composers' award for first-time recorded Hawaiian-language song): Joseph Brian Badis and Kellen Paik for “;Uluwehikalunaoka'ala”; from “;Pili o ke Ao,”; Kupaoa (Kupaoa)

Special awards

» Ki Ho'alu Foundation Legacy Award: George Kahumoku Jr.

» Moe Keale “;Aloha Is”; Award for Community Service: Brother Noland

» HARA Special Industry Award: ”;Hawaii Calls”;