2019 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Finalists Announced

Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. File image.

The list of finalists for the 2019 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards has been released.

The Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts announced the final ballot nominees this morning who are up for consideration in the 42nd Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, which takes place on May 25, 2019 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

Maui’s Nā Wai ‘Ehā garnered 10 nominations including:  Album of the Year;  Song of the Year;  Group of the Year;  Most Promising Artist of the Year;  Hawaiian Album of the Year; Haku Mele written by Leinā‘ala by Ānuenue Pūnua and Halehaku Seabury-Akaka; Hawaiian Language Performance; Engineering – Hawaiian by Dave Tucciarone; Graphics by Wailani Artates; and Liner Notes by Luana Kawa‘a.

Nā Hoa featuring Maui’s Ikaika Blackburn earned six nominations including:  Album of the Year for Aloha from Nā Hoa featuring Ikaika Blackburn, Keoni Souza and Halehaku Seabury;  Song of the Year for Leo Kamaʻāina by Keawe Lopes and Keoni Souza; Group of the Year; Hawaiian Album of the Year;  Hawaiian Language Performance; and Liner Notes by Dr. Keawe Lopes.

Kalani Pe‘a who resides on Maui and originally from Hawai‘i Island, also earned six nominations including:  Album of the Year for No ‘Ane‘i;  Music Video of the Year for Hilo March featuring Amy Hanaiali‘i and Willie K; Male Vocalist of the Year; Island Music Album of the Year for No ‘Ane‘i;  Engineering – Hawaiian by Dave Tucciarone for No ‘Ane‘i; and Graphics by Daryl Fujiwara.

A multitude of other Maui artists also made the final ballot including the Institute of Hawaiian Music at UH Maui College, which was nominated in the Hawaiian EP (“Extended Play”) Release of the Year category for the album He Lani Ko Luna, He Honua Ko Lalo with Keola Donaghy and Joel Katz as producers.

The complete list compiled by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts is as follows:

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Album of the Year
• Aloha from Nā Hoa – Nā Hoa (NH Records) Ikaika Blackburn, Keoni Souza, and Halehaku Seabury, producers
• Lei Lehua – Mark Yamanaka (Hulu Kūpuna Productions) Mark Yamanaka and Kellen Paik, producers
• Nā Wai ‘Ehā – Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records) Dave Tucciarone and Nā Wai ‘Ehā, producers
• No ‘Ane‘i – Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music, LLC) Dave Tucciarone, Kalani Pe‘a, and Allan B. Cool, producers
• Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou) Keauhou, producer

EP (“Extended Play”) Release of the Year
• <3 (Less than 3) – Tim Rose (no label listed)
• Finding My Way – Drew Henmi (no label listed)
• From the Island of Maui – Greg Dipiazza & Joel Katz (no label listed)
• Home – Nick Kurosawa (Aloha Got Soul)
• Keoni Ku – Keoni Ku (Tribal Treble Records)
• My Hawaiʻi (Will Always Be Here) – Kamuela Kahoano (Green Light Go HI Productions)
• Tribute to Pat Benatar, A – Evil Genius (Tin Idol Productions)

Hawaiian EP (“Extended Play”) Release of the Year
• He Lani Ko Luna, He Honua Ko Lalo – Institute of Hawaiian Music UH Maui College (Institute of Hawaiian Music), Keola Donaghy and Joel Katz, producers
• Maunakea Kū Hanohano – Pandanus Club (KM Music)
• Moments – Marlowe (no label listed)

Single of the Year
• Heartstrings – Kolohe Kai (RKD Inc.)
• Morning Drive – Mark Yamanaka (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)
• My Hawaii (Will Always Be Here) – Kamuela Kahoanao (Green Light Go HI Productions)
• Pu‘u Keka‘a – Mondokane/Amy Hanaiali‘i (Coconut Gold Records)
• Talk With You Again – John Keawe (John Keawe – Homestead Productions)

Hawaiian Single of the Year
• Aia La O Pele – Kailua Moon (Lava Rock Music)
• E Pili Mai – Kamaka Camarillo (Kamaka Camarillo)
• He Aloha Waiau – Waipuna (Poki Records)
• Ka Lamakū – Kaleo Phillips (Phat Bula Records)
• Kalikokawai: The Bud in the Water – A Motherʻs Love – Robi Kahakalau and Brickwood Galuteria
(Kuleana Breakfast Club)

Song of the Year
• Eō E Nā Wai ʻEhā by Kamalei Kawaʻa, Kamaehu Kawaʻa, Gregory Kahikina Juan, Edward Kalanikini Juan from Nā Wai ʻEhā – Nā Wai ʻEhā (NWE Records)
• Kipona Aloha by Nathan Aweau from Mau Loa Bass Plus Music Arts
• Lei Lehua by Mark Yamanaka and Kalikolīhau Paik from Lei Lehua – Mark Yamanaka (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)
• Leo Kamaʻāina by Keawe Lopes and Keoni Souza from Aloha from Nā Hoa – Nā Hoa (NH Records)
• Waikalua by Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum from Ua Kō, Ua ʻĀina – Keauhou (Keauhou)

Instrumental Composition of the Year
• ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani by Aldrine Guerrero from Ola Ka ‘Āina – Various Kanile‘a Artists (Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele)
• Kaius by Kamuela Kahoano from My Hawaii (Will Always Be Here) (Green Light Go HI Productions)
• Lele by Kaleo Phillips from E Mama – Kaleo Phillips (Maui Tribe Records)
• Life Is by Kris Fuchigami from Life Is – Kris Fuchigami (no label listed)
• Water by Taimane Gardner from Elemental – Tamaine (Diamond Entertainment LLC)

Music Video of the Year
• Celebrate – Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)
• E Pi‘i Mai – Kamaka Camarillo (featuring Wikz) (Kamaka Camarillo)
• Highway In The Sun – Kimie Miner (Roxface Productions)
• Hilo March – Kalani Pe‘a (featuring Amy Hanaiali‘i and Willie K (Kalani Pe‘a Music LLC)
• Waikalua – Keauhou (Keauhou)

Female Vocalist of the Year
• Aja for Pilina (no label listed)
• Anuhea for Follow Me: Deluxe Hawaii Edition (Sono Record Group/AnuheaJams)
• Karlie G for Have Fun (Karlie Goya)
• Maggie Herron for Ton of Trouble, A (Herron Song Records)
• Cindy Paulos for Peace, Music, and Poems (Bright Light Productions)

Male Vocalist of the Year
• Nathan Aweau for Mau Loa (Bass Plus Music Arts)
• Sean Na‘auao for Nā Keiki O Hawai‘i (Maliona Records)
• Cyril Pahinui for Marketplace (Pahinui Productions)
• Kalani Pe‘a for No ‘Ano‘i (Kalani Pe‘a Music LLC)
• Mark Yamanaka for Lei Lehua (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)

Group of the Year
• Ekolu for Ekolu Music 3: For Hawai‘i (Waiehu Records)
• Keauhou for Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina (Keauhou)
• Nā Hoa for Aloha from Nā Hoa (NH Records)
• Nā Wai ‘Ehā for Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Waipuna for Waipuna (Poki Records)

Most Promising Artist of the Year
• Pomaika‘i Brown for Pomai Duets – At the Piano with Legendary Friends (Pomai Records)
• DeShannon Higa for Words Cannot Express (Wind and Song Productions)
• Keoni Ku for Keoni Ku (Tribal Treble Records)
• Nā Wai ‘Ehā for Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Kaleo Phillips for E Mama (Maui Tribe Records)
• Leato S. Savini for Ku‘u Home ‘O Wai‘anae (Tulipa Style LLC)

GENRE CATEGORIES

Alternative Album of the Year
• Life Raft – Marc Allred (no label listed)
• Lucky 13 – Aldo Rays, The (no label listed)
• Process of, The – Sean Cleland (Sean Cleland Music, LLC)
• Puckʻs Alley Session, The – Aldo Rays, The (Tin Idol Productions)
• Satanic Rites of the Quintessentials, The – Quintessentials, The (Hawaiian Express Records)

Anthology of the Year
• Kalapana: The Original Album Collection – Kalapana (Manifesto) Dan Perloff, producer
• Lifetime of Music, A – Dennis and Christy Soares (Elation Records) Dennis Soares, producer
• Reminiscing – An Anthology of Favorites (Kealia Farms Record Company) George and Nancy Kahumoku, producers

Compilation Album of the Year
• Aloha & Mahalo – Various Artists (Dream Music) Linda Bade, producer
• Finding Home – Various Artists (no label listed) Layla Kilolu and Dave Tucciarone, producers
• Ola Ka ‘Āina – Various Kanile‘a Artists (Kanile‘a ‘Ukulele) Kapena De Lima, producer
• Songs of C&K, The – Various Artists (Kapono Records) Henry Kapono, First Hawaiian Bank, and Lezlee Ka‘aihue, producers
• Unlimited Possibilities – Various Artists (Elation Records) Dennis Soares, producer
• Untold – Music Tech 2018 (Studio 313) Music Tech, producer

Contemporary Album of the Year
• Beautiful Day – Na Leo (NLP Music, Inc.)
• Follow Me: Deluxe Hawaii Edition – Anuhea (Sono Record Group/AnuheaJams)
• If Knew Then What I Know Now – Conner Snow (no label listed)
• Welcome 2 My Paradise – Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)
• You – Lance Orillo (Lance Orillo)

Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year
• Christmas with You – Kamanawa (Keala Records)
• Cobblestone – Hanale Bishop (‘Aumakua Records)
• Take the Show Home – Dennis and Christy Soares (Elation Records)
• ‘Ukulele Sunshine – Papa Ray (no label listed)
• Under Da Mango Tree, Beside Da Mountain Stream – The Maui Years – Wesley Furumoto (no label listed)
• Where U Been – Danny Johnson (Rawksolid Studios)

Hawaiian Album of the Year
• Aloha from Nā Hoa – Nā Hoa (NH Records)
• E Mau ana ka Ha‘aheo – Enduring Pride – Uluwehi Guerrero (Kaulupono Music)
• Nā Wai ‘Ehā – Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Pilipa‘a – Gary Haleamau and Kawili (GSK Productions)
• Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou)

Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year
• Marketplace – Cyril Pahinui (Pahinui Productions)
• Moku Maluhia – Peaceful Island – Jim Kimo West (Westernmost Records)
• Slack Key Huaka‘i Elua – Patrick Landeza (Addison Street Records)
• Ta Pua Elama – Paul Togioka (Rhythm and Roots Records)

Hip Hop Album of the Year
• 6 Degrees of Preservation – G. Listen and Metisunz (Kīpuka Records)
• From Beneath Mt. Ka‘ala – Punahele (no label listed)
• He Wahi Ma Waena – Hou! Kanaka (no label listed)
• Ka Ho‘oulu – Lou Dogg (Dubb City Productions)
• Tip of the Spear, The – Ka Maka Ihe, Paniolo Prince and His Queen Maile (no label listed)

Instrumental Album of the Year
• Abe Lagrimas, Jr. – Abe Lagrimas, Jr. (Passout Records)
• Cirques LʻEscargot – Pierre Grill (FVR Records)
• Elemental – Taimani (Daimond Entertainment, LLC)
• Into the Wind – Dennis Soares (Elation Records)
• ‘Ukulele Hula – Herb Ohta, Jr. (Neos Productions)

Island Music Album of the Year
• Lei Lehua – Mark Yamanaka (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)
• Mau Loa – Nathan Aweau (Bass Plus Music Arts)
• Nā Keiki O Hawai‘i – Sean Na‘auao (Maliona Records)
• No ‘Ane‘i – Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music LLC)
• Waipuna – Waipuna (Poki Records)

Jazz Album of the Year
• Bonjour Paris – Mimi Hafele (Mimi Hafele Records)
• Playin in Traffic – Honoka‘a Jazz Band (Emkay Records)
• Ton of Trouble, A – Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)
• Two Sides To Every Story – Allan Thomas (Black Bamboo Recordings)
• Words Connot Express – DeShannon Higa (Wind and Song Productions)

Metal Album of the Year
• Burial Grounds – Hereafter (Tin Idol Productions)
• Fractured – Storm (Tin Idol Productions)
• Jekyll & Hyde – Storm (Tin Idol Productions)
• Klatau – Gorgos (no label listed)

R&B Album of the Year
• Have Fun – Karlie G (Karlie Goya)
• Jam – Kukahi (Voyager Records)
• Paradise Blues – John Akapo (Mensch House Records)
• Yonsei – Nick Kurosawa + Ohtoro (Zenbu Records)

Reggae Album of the Year
• Ekolu Music 3: For Hawai‘i – Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
• Good Life – Guidance Band (Neos Productions)
• Heart Over Hype – Elijah Sky (Elijah Sky Music)
• Link Up – Inna Vision (Roots Musician Records)
• With Love – Maoli (Awong Entertainment LLC)

Religious Album of the Year
• Blessing Up the Vibes – Sons of Yeshua (Bless Up Hawaii, LLC)
• Hawaiian Gospel Plus – Stan Aoki (no label listed)
• Let the Light Shine Upon Me – Eric Lee (Lee Enterprises)
• Nā Mele Pule – Kenneth Makuakāne (KM Music)
• Peace, Music, and Poems – Cindy Paulos (Bright Light Productions)
• Reflections – Gail Mack & Ellen Suhl (Gail Mack &B Ellen Suhl)

Rock Album of the Year
• 6 String Losers – Granite Saints, The (no label listed)
• Feedback Saves the 7 – Superhero Rokkstar (SHRS) (no label listed)
• Giant – Deborah Vial Band (North Shore Record Company)
• No Better Place To Be – Haole Kid Local Boys Blues Project (no label listed)
• Red, White, and Screwed – Granite Saints, The (no label listed)
• Voltage – Black Reds, The (The Black Reds)

ADJUDICATED AWARDS

Haku Mele Award
• Lei Lehua by Kalikolīhau Paik and Mark Yamanaka from Lei Lehua – Mark Yamanaka (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)
• Leinā‘ala by Ānuenue Pūnua and Halehaku Seabury-Akaka from Nā Wai ‘Ehā – Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• No Ānela Uilani, He Inoa by Zachary Alaka‘i Lum from Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou)
• Palikea by Louis “Moon” Kauakahi from Keoni Ku – Keoni Ku (Tribal Treble Records)
• Waikalua by Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum from Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou)

Hawaiian Language Performance Award
• Nā Hoa for Nā Hoa (NH Records)
• KUmz for He Ola (Kauakoko Foundation)
• Nā Wai ‘Ehā for Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Kawaikapuokalani Hewett for Pili Me Ke Aloha (JasPac)
• Keauhou for Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou)

Engineering Award – General
• Wendell Ching for Reunion – Dana Montero (Dana Montero)
• Imua Garza for Process Of, The – Sean Cleland (Sean Cleland Music, LLC)
• Allan Thomas for Two Sides to Every Story – Allan Thomas (Black Bamboo Recordings)
• Dave Tucciarone, Tom Weir, and Marti Echito for Welcome 2 My Paradise – Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)
• Jules Washington, David Pitchard, Noah Cronin, Kapena De Lima, Kit Ebersbach, and Marti Echito for Songs of C&K – Various Artists (Kapono Records)

Engineering Award – Hawaiian
• Wendell Ching and Sean Na‘auao for Nā Keiki O Hawai‘i – Sean Na‘auao (Maliona Records)
• Michael Grande for Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou)
• Dave Tucciarone for Keoni Ku – Keoni Ku (Tribal Treble Records)
• Dave Tucciarone for Nā Wai ‘Ehā – Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Dave Tucciarone for No ‘Ane‘i – Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music LLC)

Graphics Award
• Julia Aragaki and Gavin Kobayashi for Beautiful Day – Na Leo (NLP Music, Inc.)
• Wailani Artates for Nā Wai ‘Ehā – Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Daryl Fujiwara for No ‘Ane‘i – Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music LLC)
• Clarence Lee Design – for Ola – Tsutomu Nakai (Wa Taiko THR Inc.)
• MVNP for Songs of C&K – Various Artists (Kapono Records)

Liner Notes Award
• Luana Kawaa for Nā Wai ‘Ehā – Nā Wai ‘Ehā (NWE Records)
• Dr. Keawe Lopes for Aloha from Nā Hoa – Nā Hoa (NH Records)
• Zachary Alaka‘i Lum for Ua Kō, Ua ‘Āina – Keauhou (Keauhou)
• Chelle Pahinui and Ilihia Gionson for Marketplace – Cyril Pahinui (Pahinui Productions)
• Kalikolīhau Paik for Lei Lehua – Mark Yamanaka (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)

International Album Special Recognition Award
• Duets – Hook & Takashi Nakamura (Happy Field/Hook)
• Inside Blues Lee – Blues Lee (Blues Records)
• My Dear ‘Ukulele – Ryo Nakayama (King Records)
• Night with Cat, A – Star Wish ‘Ukulele Band (Burroughs Studio)
• Pīhalanī – Kaulana (Kaulana)