Maui Artists Among Na Hoku Hanohano Nominees

By Wendy Osher

File image courtesy Na Hoku Hanohano Music Festival and Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.

With the elimination of the Hawaiian Music category from the Grammy Awards this year, the Na Hoku Hanohano awards continue to celebrate the best of Hawaii’s recording artists in 26 categories.

There are several Maui musicians nominated this year including Napua Makua, CJ Helekahi, and Shane Kahalehau “the HHB”, to name a few.

The Hawaii Academy Of Recording Arts (HARA) Presents The 34th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Music Festival (NHHF) May 26-29, 2011 at the Hawaii Convention Center.

The festivities include an opening event, workshops, a Lifetime Achievement Awards ceremony, and culminates in the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards on May 29th.

Lifetime honorees this year include Kalapana, Jacqueline Skylark Rossetti, Napua Stevens-Poire, Bill and Ernie Tavares, and Bill Tapia.  The honorees will be recognized at a luncheon ceremony on Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center.

The festival’s opening event takes place on Thursday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Monarch Room.

Festival workshops take place on Friday and Saturday, May 27 and 28 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Hawaii Convention Center. Fees are $40 for a single workshop, or $100 for a one-day pass.  Workshops include sessions on the business end of music, haku mele–Hawaiian language composition, tips on performing, manufacturing of music, and instrumentation.

Image Courtesy Na Hoku Hanohano Music Festival and Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.

The Awards ceremony takes place on Sunday, May 29, 2011 at the Hawaii Convention Center, Kalakaua Ballroom.  Tickets are $150 for general admission.  The event is sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines and will be telecast live beginning at 7 p.m. on KFVE.

The theme of this year’s awards show is Our Music, One Heart, Our Hawaii.  “The theme captures the thought that the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts celebrates the excellence of commercially recorded music of and by Hawaii’s music recording artists, and fully conscious of the economic growth and sustainability of Hawaii’s music industry,” said Kuuipo Kumukahi, HARA President.

“We hope to see everyone interested in Hawaii’s music and the industry at all of the Na Hoku Hanohano Music Festival events. Our mission is to preserve, perpetuate and promote Hawaii’s music and recording industry,” said Kumukahi.

Image Courtesy Na Hoku Hanohano Music Festival and Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.

The complete list of 2011 Nominees is as follows:

Most Promising Artist(s)

• STEVE GRIMES – Labor of Love
• Heart & Soul – Take it Easy
• CJ Helekahi – Ka Mahina
• Michael Keale – Remember
• Mark Yamanaka – Lei Pua Kenikeni

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Anelaikalani – E Mau Nō
• Kainani Kahaunaele – Oha Ula
• Kiani – Kiani
• Napua Makua – Mōhalu
• Sistah Robi – An Island Christmas

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Willie K – Willie Wonderland
• Ledward Kaapana – The Legend
• John Keawe – Play with Me Papa
• Kenneth Makuakane – Kawaipono
• Mark Yamanaka – Lei Pua Kenikeni

Group of the Year

• Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm – Keola Beamer & Raiatea
• Amy Hanaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters – Amy Hanaialii and the Slack Key Masters of Hawai‘i
• Kumz – On the Summit
• Kupaoa – English Rose
• Manoa DNA – Evolution

Album of the Year (tie)

• Amy Hanaiali‘i and the Slack Key Masters of Hawaii – Amy Hanaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters of Hawaii
• Best of Na Palapalai, The – Na Palapalai
• English Rose – Kupaoa
• Keola Beamer & Raiatea – Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm
• Lei Pua Kenikeni – Mark Yamanaka
• Ohai Ula – Kainani Kahaunaele

Song of the Year

• EIA KE ALOHA by Kainani Kahaunaele from OHAI ULA
• ENGLISH ROSE by Kellen Paik from ENGLISH ROSE
• KĀHEALANI by Jeff Peterson from Amy Hanaialii and the Slack Key Masters of Hawaii
• KALEOONALANI by Mark Yamanaka from LEI PUA KENIKENI
• YOU SOMEBODY by Keola Beamer from KEOLA BEAMER AND RAIATEA

Single of the Year

• Hawaiian Cowboy: HAILAMA FARDEN’S TRIBUTE TO UNCLE SOL K. BRIGHT – Hailama Farden
• He Lei Kaulana – Nq Palapalai
• Ka Lei Momi – Kenneth Makuakqne and Joseph Keola Donaghy
• Moon Over Diamond Head – Bryan Kessler featuring Robi Kahakalau
• This Child – Kanohowailuku Helm

Extended Play Release of the Year

• Analogic – Analogic
• Band Champ – JP Band
• Hawaiian Girls – Talk to You Music (TTYM)
• Solo Ukulele – The King of Pop – Abe Lagrimas, Jr. and Friends
• UKULELE SERENADE – Tyler Gilman

Anthology of the Year – Producer’s Award

• Best of Na Palapalai, The – Na Palapalai; Shawn Pimental, producer
• Island Love – Various Artists – Jon de Mello; producer
• Marlene Sai Legacy – Marlene Sai; Mikihala LLC, producer
• Music of Chucky Boy Chock Vol. I – Chucky Boy Chock; Chucky Boy Chock and Krash Kealoha, producers
• Pekelo Classics – Pekelo; Lui Burgess and Tim Mathre, producers

Christmas Album of the Year

• ISLAND CHRISTMAS WITH SISTAH ROBI, AN – Sistah Robi
• SEASONS’S GREETING FROM SOUL SOUND – Various Artists
• UKULELE CHRISTMAS, AN – Various Artists
• WILLIE WONDERLAND ­– Willie K

Compilation of the Year (Various artists) – Producer’s Award

• AMPLIFY – Steven Lynch, Glenn Molina, producers
• Kona – Dave Tucciarone, producer
• Practicing Aloha – Songs of Cindy Paulos – Cindy Paulos, Fulton Tashombe, Carl Lange, producers
• REPRESENT – Ace Loughmiller, producer
• Tribute to Na Lani ‘Eha – Music of the Hawaiian Monarchy – C.T. Kata Maduli, producer
• Wahine – Ululoa Productions, producer

Contemporary Album of the Year

• Evolution – Manoa DNA
• Forevermore – Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson
• Slackin’ On Dylan – Stephen Inglis
• Take It Easy – Heart & Soul
• Vamonos De Fiesta – Let’s Go Party – Rolando Sanchez

Hawaiian Album of the Year

• Kawaipono – Kenneth Makuakane
• Lei Pua Kenikeni – Mark Yamanaka
• Mohalu – Napua Makua
• Ohai Ula – Kainani Kahaunaele
• On the Summit – Kumz

Instrumental Album of the Year

• Hawaiian Steel Vol. 6 – STEEL GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS OF CLASSIC HAPA HAOLE SONGS – Alan Akaka, Casey Olsen and Greg Sardinha
• Hawaiian Style Ukulele 2 – Troy Fernandez
• Simply Steel – Songs of Old Hawai‘i – Alan Akaka
• ‘Ukulele Nahenahe – Herb Ohta, Jr.
• Ukulele Summit – Kenneth Makuakane

Island Music Album of the Year

• Amy Hanaialii and the Slack Key Masters of Hawaii – Amy Hanaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters
• English Rose – Kupaoa
• Ka Mahina – CJ Helekahi
• Keola Beamer & Raiatea – Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm
• Remember – Michael Keale

Jazz Album of the Year

• All That Hawaiian Jazz – Paul Shimomoto
• Django Would Go – Hot Club of Hulaville
• Golden Sun – Phil & Angela Benoit
• Live Volume Five – The Olliephonic Horns
• Pacific Tinge – Crosscurrent

R&B / Hip Hop

• Aloha from Hawaii – Angry Locals
• Beyond Paradise – I.A.
• Blue Room – Siaosi
• Coconut Wireless – Kepa Cruse
• Grown –Grysen G.

Reggae Album of the Year (tie)

• Conscious Roots – Conscious Roots
• Best of the Typical Hawaiians – Good Times Galore – Typical Hawaiians
• Determined – Kawao
• Green, The – The Green
• Kiani – Kiani
• Rock Easy – Maoli

Religious Album of the Year

• Eyes of a Stranger – Malia Lee
• Fixated – Daniel Lehman
• Golden Street – Barrett and Tara Awai
• Prodigal Sun – Kenneth Makuakane
• Somewhwere Up Ahead – Gospel Hymns of Hawaii, Vol. II – Ata Damasco
• Still Standing – HHB

Rock Album of the Year

• DUST FOR ANGELS – Friends of Adam
• HAWK AND THE HUNTER – Sabrina
• RESPECT – 86 List
• REVISITED – Donovan Frankenreiter
• RUMBLETONE – Rumbletone
• STREAM DREAMS – Kamuela Kahoano

Slack Key Album of the Year

• HANALEI TRADITION II – LIVE AT HALE HALAWAI ‘OHANA ‘O HANALEI – Doug and Sandy McMaster
• KU‘U HONUA MELE – Patrick Landeza
• LEGEND, THE – Ledward Kaapana
• PINE TREE SLACK KEY – Pancho Graham
• PLAY WITH ME PAPA – John Keawe

Favorite Entertainer

• Amy Hanaiali‘i and the Slack Key Masters
• Troy Fernandez
• Willie K
• Ledward Kaapana
• Kainani Kahaunaele
• Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm
• Kupaoa
• Napua Makua
• Herb Ohta, Jr.
• Mark Yamanaka