Island music’s creme de la creme
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Photos: Nick Masagatani
very year Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts members – active and retired recording artists and professionals in music, radio, television, publishing and the recording industry – lift their pens and vote for the best of the best in local music. The selected crème de la crème of the island music scene are announced annually at the prestigious Nä Hökü Hanohano Awards ceremony, Hawai‘i’s version of the Grammys. This year, the evening ceremony was held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on May 27 and broadcast live on K5. Hawaiian music topped the charts with Hilo-boy Kuana Torres Kahele taking home six awards for his
Kale Hannahs
Kuana Torres Kahele
Kamana‘opono Crabbe
Matt Sproat Hi‘ikua
Robert Cazimero
first solo album Kuanaloa, including Album of the Year and Hawaiian Album of the Year, presented to Kahele by Office of Hawaiian Affairs Ka Pouhana Kamana‘opono Crabbe. Kahele, the night’s big winner also won for Song of the Year for his nod to paniolo, “Nä Vaqueros,” Male Vocalist of the Year and Liner Notes. Because he is a co-producer on the album, Kahele’s sixth award was also for Album of the Year (the award also recognizes producers). For the album’s designs, Kuhao Zane and Kamele Eskaran won the Graphics Award. The unique sound of Waipuna – Kale Hannahs, Matt Sproat and David Kamakahi, garnered the smooth young group three Nä Hökü awards for their album E Ho‘i Mai – Group of the Year, Island Music Album of the Year, and Single of the Year for “ ‘Äinahau.” Hi‘ikua’s original “Ku‘u Hoa Hi‘ikua,” which appears on the CD Aia I Hi‘ialo, won the Haku Mele, an award to the composer for the first release of the best Hawaiian song. Hawaiian language experts and musicians select this special category’s winner. Robert Cazimero received the Hawaiian Language Performance Award for his solo album “Hula.” Recording artist and OHA Trustee Haunani Apoliona received the 2012 Moe Keale “Aloha Is” Award, established in 2003 by the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts in honor of Keale, a pure Hawaiian ‘ukulele virtuoso, beach boy, electrician, radio deejay and actor well known for his aloha spirit and traditional Hawaiian customs and values.
Haunani Apoliona