2016 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards: Winners List

The staff and students of the Institute of Hawaiian Music has produced two compilation CDs, “Pukana” in 2013 and “Aloha ‘Ia Nō ‘O Maui” in 2015.

“Aloha ‘Ia Nō ‘O Maui”, the second CD produced by UH Maui College’s Institute of Hawaiian Music, was honored on Saturday night with its very first Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award.

The album was nominated in two categories, and won the producer’s award for ` for best performance of newly released material by a minimum of three distinct artists.

Aloha ‘Ia Nō ‘o Maui was produced by Keola Donaghy, faculty coordinator of the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

University of Hawaiʻi Maui College faculty member Keola Donaghy with a laptop running Windows 8 with support for Hawaiian language. Courtesy photo, UHMC.

Maui student musicians featured on the album and the tracks they recorded include: Aloha ‘Ia Nō ‘O Maui — Dennis Chong Imamura; Ka Loke O Maui — Marja Apisaloma; I Laila ‘Oe E Ku‘u Lokelani — Roy Newton; Medley of Haleakalā Hula and Kilakila ‘O Haleakalā – Lehuanani Keali‘inohomoku; Wahine ‘Ilikea — Vernon Ka‘aihue; ‘O Ke‘anae — Louise Lambert; Ho‘oheno A‘o Pi‘ilani — Glenn Keli‘ikoa; Dulaman — Patti Kuwaye; Nā Ali‘i Puolani — Kalae Manini; Hāna Chant — Kiana Kamake‘e‘aina; Kilakila ‘O Maui — Kalani Souza; Lovely Sunrise Haleakalā — Meaghan Owens; Kananaka — Ka‘ena Elaban; Kaho‘olawe — Destiny Mahaulu; Kahului — Hollis Lee; and Song of Kaupō — Kuiokalani Gapero.

The musical tracks are available via Sound Cloud and the album is available for sale at mele.com.

The Institute of Hawaiian Music’s is a musical mentorship program dedicated to the perpetuation and preservation of Hawaiian music.  Formal university classes are supplemented with direct mentorship sessions led by professional Hawaiian musicians.

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General Categories:

Female Vocalist of the Year: Natalie Ai Kamauu, La La La La (Keko)

Group of the Year: Maunalua, He Inoa (Lokahi)

Male Vocalist of the Year: Jimmy Borges, Jimmy Borges (Mountain Apple)

Most Promising Artist of the Year: Blayne Asing, Young, Old Soul (no label)

Single of the Year: “Shower Tree,” Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko)

EP (“Extended Play”) of the Year: We Ride, The Rough Riders (Rough Rider)

Album of the Year: Jimmy Borges, Jimmy Borges (Mountain Apple) Jon de Mello – producer

Song of the Year: “‘Āina Hānau” by Nathan Aweau from ‘Āina Hānau, Nathan Aweau (Bass Plus Music Arts)

Instrumental Composition (Composerʻs award): “Old Pali,” by Jeff Peterson from O‘ahu, Jeff Peterson (Peterson)

Favorite Entertainer of the Year: Jimmy Borges, Jimmy Borges

Alternative Album of the Year: Beyond Paradise, Streetlight Cadence (Streetlight Cadence)

Anthology of the Year (Producer’s Award): 30, Kapena (KDE) Kapena De Lima – producer

Christmas Album of the Year: Gift of the Heart, A, Mark Yamanaka & Kūpaoa (Hulu Kupuna)

Comedy Album or Comedy DVD of the Year: Electric Island, Kepa Kruse (Petroglyph)

Compilation Album of the Year (Producer’s award). Best performance of newly released material by a minimum of three distinct artists. Aloha ‘Ia Nō ‘o Maui, Institute of Hawaiian Music (no label) Keola Donaghy – producer

Contemporary Album of the Year: Kimie Miner, Kimie Miner (Kimie Miner)

Hawaiian Music Album of the Year: Ahuwale, Chad Takatsugi (Koops2)

Instrumental Album of the Year: Pacific Harp Project, Pacific Harp Project (Megan Bledsoe Ward)

Island Music Album of the Year: ‘Āina Hānau, Nathan Aweau (Bass Plus)

Jazz Album of the Year: Jimmy Borges, Jimmy Borges (Mountain Apple)

Music DVD of the Year: Brother for the People – Official Music Video, Taz Vegas (RSM)

R&B Album of the Year: Live From Kauaʻi, Taj Mahal & The Hula Blues Band (Kuleana)

Religious Album of the Year: Greater Together, New Hope Oʻahu (NHO/Dream)

Rock Album of the Year: Endangered Species, Stuart Hollinger (Keala)

Slack Key Album of the Year: O‘ahu, Jeff Peterson (Peterson)

ʻUkulele Album of the Year: ‘Ukulele Friends, Bryan Tolentino and Herb Ohta, Jr. (Neos)

Technical Categories

Graphics Award: B. Kanai’a Nakamura, for He Inoa by Maunalua (Lokahi)

Liner Notes Award: Chad Takasugi and Dr. Keawe Lopes, for Ahuwale by Chad Takatsugi (Koops2)

Engineering Category

Hawaiian Category Best technical achievement in a sound recording and mix-down for recording of Hawaiian music styles: Dave Tucciarone, for La La La by Natalie Ai Kamauu

General Category Best technical achievement in a sound recording and mix-down for all other genre recordings: Pierre Grill, for Never Before by Lou Armagno

Adjudicated Category

Haku Mele Award -(Composer’s Award) “He Wehi No Pauahi” by Kahikina De Silva and Chad Takatsugi, from Ahuwale, Chad Takatsugi (Koops2)

Hawaiian Language Performance: Chad Takatsugi, for Ahuwale (Koops2)

International Album – Special Recognition Award: ʻUkulele Splash, Ryo Natoyama (Intense Music Works)