Maui Musicians Among Na Hoku Finalists

Wille K, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Several Maui musicians and vocalists are among the finalists up for consideration for in the 35th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

Some of those with Maui roots or ties include Willie K, who is a finalist for Male Vocalist of the Year and Rock Album of the Year for his album Warehouse Blues, and Favorite Entertainer of the Year; Ahumanu, which is made up of musicians Liz Morales and Joni DeMello is a finalist for Island Music Album of the Year for their album No Kuuipo; Ekolu is being considered for Group of the Year, and Reggae Album of the Year for their Simply for Love album; Nuff Sedd is a finalist for Group of the Year; and Josh Tatofi for is a nominee in the category for Most Promising Artist of the Year.

Molokai songstress, Raiatea Helm was nominated for both Female Vocalist of the Year, Island Music Album of the Year for her album Sea Of Love, as well as Favorite Entertainer of the Year.  Other Maui names include The Throwdowns, Leiohu Ryder, and George Kahumoku Jr.

One of the most nominated artists is Kuana Torres Kahele who is a finalist for Male Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year for Kaunaloa, Album of the Year, Song of the Year for Na Vaqueros, and Favorite Entertainer of the Year.  Torres Kahele is also up for two songs in the Haku Mele category (Waikahuli and Waimanu I Ka Lauoha), as well as Hawaiian Language Performance.

The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts announced the final ballot nominees earlier this evening. There are a total of 27 categories, including a brand new category, International Album of the Year.  A complete list of finalists and categories that they were nominated in is listed below.

Most Promising Artist of the Year:

• Abrigo Ohana, Ekahi (Abrigo Ohana)
• Kainalu, Kainalu (Mellowsoul)
• Starr Kalahiki, Salt (Kipuka)
• Kawena, Salty Kisses (Kawena Mechler)
• John Ioane Keanaaina , Jr., Na Mele O Ioane Keanaaina (no label)
• Josh Tatofi, This Love (Waiehu)

Raiatea Helm. Courtesy photo.

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Natalie Ai Kamauu, A (Keko)
• Raiatea Helm, Sea of Love (Raiatea Helm)
• Starr Kalahiki, Salt (Kipuka)
• Lehua Kalima, Rising in Love (Kalima)
• Mailani Makainai, Aina (Mountain Apple)

EP (“Extended Play” Release) of the Year

• Christmas From Hawaii, Fran Kalb and Glenda Delenstarr (Rising Star)
• Holidays in Hulaville Volume 1, Hot Club of Hulaville (Hulaville)
• Intire Project, The, The Intire Project (Aumakua)
• Na Mele O Ioane Keanaaina, John Ioane Keanaaina, Jr. (no label)
• Salty Kisses, Kawena (Kawena Mechler)

Religious Album of the Year

• Chucky Boy Chock and Friends, Chucky Boy Chock (New Song Music)
• Little Prayer, Dennis and Christy Soares (Elation)
• Now Is The Time – Live Worship From Hope Chapel West Oahu, Hope Chapel West Oahu (Hope Music)
• Sent, The, Kamalei Mark Teves (no label)

Group of the Year

• Ekolu, Simply for Love (Waiehu)
• Hiikua, Aia I Hiialo (Kanemakua)
• Dennis Kamakahi & Stephen Inglis, Waimaka Helelei (Aumakua)
• Nuff Sedd, Life…In a Song (Goofyfoot)
• Waipuna, E Hoi Mai (Poki

Hip Hop Album of the Year

• Drown ‘Em In Beats – Save ‘Em With Rhymes, Nocturnal Sound Crew & Slapp Symphony (Slapp Symphony)
• Illnomadic, Navid Najafi (Aumakua)
• Now! Serving Family Dinner – A Sporkful Of Funk!!!, Family Dinner Band (Pass Out)
• Reflections, Tripple Los (Gotthos)

Compilation Album of the Year

• Hawaiian Christmas, A, Various Artists (HCUCC) Kenneth Makuakane, Jon Brekke, Charles Buck, Lisa Doud, Jeff Orig, and Tasha Tavares-Makuakane – producers
• Hoala Iapana, Various Artists (no label) Dave Tucciarone – Producer
• Island Style Ukulele, Various Artists (Neos) Bob St. John and Pati St. John – Producers
• Rebuilding – You Gotta Start Somewhere, Various Artists (Voyager) Kenneth Makuakane – Producer
• Soul Searching – Worldwide Composers Vol. 2, Dennis Soares (Elation) Dennis Soares – Producer

Single of the Year

• Ainahau, Waipuna (Poki)
• Amazing Grace, Jake Shimabukuro (Hitchhike)
• Hideaway, Kapena (featuring Kalena Ku) (KDE)
• I Found My Love In Waikiki, Brad Kawakami (Lele)
• Walk Away, Bruddah Waltah (Rubbah Slippah)

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Robert Cazimero, Hula (Mountain Apple)
• Shawn Ishimoto, John Valentine Presents Shawn My Kine of Music V.3 (Studio Valentine)
• Willie K, Warehouse Blues (Maui Tribe)
• Kuana Torres Kahele, Kaunaloa (Kuana Torres Kahele)
• Henry Kapono, Henry (Kapono)

Anthology Album of the Year

• Island In Your Eyes, Various Artists (Mountain Apple) Jon de Mello – Producer
• Journey Of Light…The Early Years, Leiohu Ryder (Ululoa) Leiohu Ryder and Jake Rohrer – Producers
• Kekumuwai, Pandanus Club (Makuakane) Kenneth Makuakane, Chris Keliiaa, and Tash Tavares-Makuakane – Producers
• Live A Little…Hawaiian Stye Vol. 2, Various Artists (Mountain Apple) Jon de Mello – Producer
• Tropics, Henry Kapono (Kapono) Henry Kapono and Lezlee Kaaihue – Producers

Instrumental Album of the Year

• Hawaiian At Heart – Unique Ukulele Artistry, Harold Uchino (He-U)
• Mystical Soul, Dennis Soares (Elation)
• Open tuning Improvisations, Dennis Soares (Elation)
• Peace Love Ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro (Hitchhike)
• Rejects From The Soundtrack Of My Imaginary Movie, David Kauahikaua (Tiki)
• Ukulele Island, Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane)

Slack Key Album of the Year

• In My Heart – Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele Instrumentals, Doug and Sandy McMaster (Aloha Plenty)
• Kamaalua, Patrick Landeza (Addison Street)
• Na Lani O Maui – Maui Skies, Traditional And Contemporary Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, James Kimo West (Westernmost)
• Waimaka Helelei, Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis (Aumakua)
• Wao Akua (The Forest Of The Gods) Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Instrumentals, George Kahumoku, Jr. (Daniel Ho)

Ahumanu, courtesy photo.

Island Music Album of the Year

• E Hoi Mai, Waipuna (Poki)
• Ekahi, Abrigo Ohana (Abrigo Ohana)
• Mystical Molokai, Eddie Akio Waimakanui Tanaka, Jr. (Mystical Molokai)
• No Kuuipo, Ahumanu (Ululoa)
• Sea Of Love, Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm)

Jazz Album of the Year

• Salt, Starr Kalihiki (Kipuka)
• Sentimental Swing – Violin, Duane Padilla (no label)
• Tone Colors, Les Peetz, Dean Taba, and Noel Okimoto (OK No Name)
• Ukulele Jazz Live In Concert Hilo, Hawaii, Benny Chong (no label)
• We Go To Hilo, Glen Goto and Friends (Sweet Brown Pitbull)

Contemporary Album of the Year

• Contagious, Kanohowailuku Helm (Anahaki)
• Henry, Henry Kapono (Kapono)
• Kainalu, Kainalu (Mellowsound)
• My Journey, LT Smooth (Rhythm and Roots)
• Rising In Love, Lehua Kalima (Kalima)

Reggae Album of the Year

• Feeling Good, Micah G (HI Finest)
• Got This Music, Natural Vibrations (GO Aloha)
• Love Town, Kolohe Kai (GO Aloha)
• Simply For Love, Ekolu (Waiehu)
• Ways & Means, The Green (Easy Star)

Hawaiian Album of the Year

• A, Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko)
• Aia I Hiialo, Hiikua (Kanemakua)
• Aina, Mailani Makainai (Mountain Apple)
• Hula, Robert Cazimero (Mountain Apple)
• Kaunaloa, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele)

The Throwdowns, courtesy file photo.

Rock Album of the Year

• Deep Water, Allan Thomas (Black Bamboo)
• Invent, Sing the Body (Aumakua)
• Legs Of Our Own, The Throwdowns (The Throwdowns)
• Pimpbot, Pimpbot (Pass Out)
• Warehouse Blues, Willie K (Maui Tribe)

Album of the Year

• A, Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko) Dave Tucciarone, Iolani Kamauu and Natalie Ai Kamauu – Producers
• Aina, Mailani Makainai (Mountain Apple) Dr. Trey and Jon de Mello – Producers
• E Hoi Mai, Waipuna (Poki) Kale Chang and Waipuna – Producers
• Hula, Robert Cazimero (Mountain Apple) Jon de Mello and Robert Cazimero – Producers
• Kaunaloa, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele) Kuana Torres Kahele and Dave Tucciarone – Producers

Song of the Year

• E Ike I Ka Nani Ao Poliahu, by Kawaikapuokalani Hewett from E HOI MAI, Waipuna (Poki)
• Kuu Pua Pakalana, by Natalie Ai Kamauu from A, Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko)
• Na Vacqueros, by Kuana Torres Kahele from KAUNALOA, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele)
• Nau Hookahi, by Robert Cazimero from HULA, Robert Cazimero (Mountain Apple)
• Rising In Love, by Lehua Kalima from RISING IN LOVE, Lehua Kalima (Kalima)

Favorite Entertainer of the Year

• Robert Cazimero
• Raiatea Helm
• Hi`ikua
• Willie K
• Kuana Torres Kahele
• Lehua Kalima
• Natalie Ai Kamauu
• Mailani Makainai
• Jake Shimabukuro
• Waipuna

2012 TECHNICAL FINALISTS

Graphics Award

• Jon de Mello and Robert Cazimero, for Hula, Robert Cazimero (Mountain Apple)
• Jon de Mello and Keith Usher, for Aina, Mailani Makainai (Mountain Apple)
• Neal Izumi, Kauila Barber, and Esther Sada, for Salt, Starr Kalahiki (Kipuka)
• Grant Miyasaki, for Sea Of Love, Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm)
• Kuhao Zane and Kamele Eskaran, for Kaunaloa, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele)

Liner Notes Award

• Robert Cazimero, for Hula, Robert Cazimero (Mountain Apple)
• Kama Hopkins, for Aia I Hiialo, Hiikua (Kanemakua)
• Kuana Torres Kahele, for Kaunaloa, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele)
• Stephen Inglis, for Waimaka Helelei, Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis (Aumakua)
• Neil J. Hannahs, for E Hoi Mai, Waipuna (Poki)

2012 ADJUDICATED FINALISTS  (Each of these categories is voted on by a separate panel of judges.)

Haku Mele

• Kuonoono, by Puakea Nogelmeier from E HOI MAI, Waipuna (Poki)
• Kuu Hoa Hiikua, by Kalehua Krug from AIA I HI`IALO, Hiikua (Kanemakua)
• Waikahuli, by Kuana Torres Kahele from KAUNALOA, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele)
• Waimaka Helelei, by Rev. Dennis Kamakahi from WAIMAKA HELELEI (Aumakua)
• Waimanu I Ka Lauoha, by Kuana Torres Kahele from KAUNALOA, Kuana Torres Kahele (Kuana Torres Kahele)

Hawaiian Language Performance

• Robert Cazimero, Hula (Mountain Apple)
• Hi`ikua, Aia I Hiialo (Kanemakua)
• Kuana Torres Kahele, Kaunaloa (Kuana Torres Kahele)
• Natalie Ai Kamauu, A (Keko)
• Waipuna, E Hoi Mai (Poki)

Engineering Award

• Wendell Ching, for Lover’s Race (Afflatus)
• Wendell Ching, Brad Watanabe, and JP Kennedy, for Self Titled, Hot Rain (Afflatus)
• Jeff Gaeth, for Shoestrings, Jeff Gaeth (Puna)
• Matthew Honda, Tatsuya Sato, and Jay Franco, for Drown ‘Em in Beats – Save ‘em with Rhymes, Nocturnal Sound Krew & Slapp Symphony (Slapp Symphony)
• Shawn Pimental and Michael Grande, for Rising in Love, Lehua Kalima (Kalima)

International Album of the Year – NEW CATEGORY

• Hawaiian Music for Hula, Kapalili (Studio 273)
• Ka Pilina, Park Sang Eon (Gois, Inc.)
• Kayo Hula, Vol. 2, Asian Mele Hula, Various Artists (Maunaloa)
• My Sweet Lei, Na Lei (Amane)
• Ohana, Kaulana (Kaulana)

The 35th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards will be held on Sunday, May 27, 2012, in the Kalakaua Ballroom at the Hawaii Convention Center. It is sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and other partners, and will be telecast live on KFVE. Tickets are $150 General Admission, $135 Kamaaina, and $125 for HARA members.