Kahulanui, the Big Island-based group that was the only Hawaii-resident artist to make the final ballot in any award category this year, did not win the award for Best Regional Roots Music Album. It was the third year in a row that there had been one Hawaii-resident artist or group among the five finalists in the category, and the third year that Hawaii had come away empty-handed. The category for Best Hawaiian Music Album was eliminated in 2011.

Winner of this year’s Best Regional Roots Music Album went to "Dockside Sessions" by Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience.