HARA unveils list of Na Hoku nominees | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

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Mark Yamanaka leads the pack with 10 Na Hoku Hanohano Award nominations in 10 categories.

Mark Yamanaka, an A-list Hawaiian artist since his solo debut album "Lei Pua Kenikeni" won album of the year and male vocalist of the year in 2011, is this year’s front-runner with a pace-setting 10 nominations in 10 categories as the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts announced its finalists in 32 categories for the 2014 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

37th ANNUAL NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARDS

» Where: Kalakaua Ballroom, Hawai‘i Convention Center

» When: 5 p.m. May 24

» Info: 593-9424 or www.nahokuhanohano.org Opens in a new tab

» Note: Ticket prices not available at this time

Kupaoa, the duo of Kellen Paik and Kalikolihau Hannahs Paik, is a close second with nine nominations in nine categories; Kalikolihau Paik is also a finalist in two categories for composers — song of the year and haku mele for "Lei Maile," a first-time recorded song co-written with Yamanaka.

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Kuana Torres Kahele is third with eight nominations in eight categories. Waipuna — the trio of Kale Hannahs, Matthew Kawaiola Sproat and David Kamakahi — is a finalist in seven categories.

Kahele and Yamanaka are both finalists for male vocalist of the year. The other finalists in that category are Ikaika Blackburn, Robert Cazimero and Kamaka Kukona. Kupaoa and Waipuna are joined by The Green, KuMZ and Na Leo as finalists for group of the year.

Blackburn, Kahele, Kupaoa and Yamanaka are also finalists for album of the year.

Win or lose, this is a big year for Kukona — it isn’t often that a new artist reaches one of the four biggest categories with a debut album. And The Green’s appearance on the final ballot in a major category shows that HARA is becoming more open to locally recorded music of all types, rather than favoring only traditional Hawaiian music. Membership resistance to Jawaiian music in the ’90s resulted in a category for reggae not being created until 1999; based on the amount of Jawaiian music that was being released in the ’90s, a reggae category could have been added by 1992.

The big change this year is the addition of an alternative rock category separate from the existing rock category.

The winners will be announced at the 37th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards on May 24 at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

The HARA membership will determine the winners in 28 categories. The winner of favorite entertainer is determined by public vote. Winners in the two Hawaiian-language categories (haku mele and Hawaiian language performance) are selected by a panel of specialists in Hawaiian songwriting. The winner in the engineering category is selected by a panel of mainland studio engineers who do not work in the local recording industry.

The winner in the international album category is also adjudicated. The criteria used in adjudicating that category and the qualifications of the adjudicators have not been made public.

2014 NĀ HŌKŪ HANOHANO AWARDS FINAL BALLOT NOMINEES

GENERAL CATEGORIES

Female Vocalist of the Year
1. ANUHEA, Butterflies – Live
2. HULU LINDSEY, A He Leo Wale Nō E
3. ROBI KAHAKALAU, Robi Calling
4. MAILANI, Manawa
5. NĀPUA, Lei Kulāia

Male Vocalist of the Year
1. IKAIKA BLACKBURN, Maliu
2. ROBERT CAZIMERO, Hula 2
3. KAMAKA KUKONA, Hanu ‘A’ala
4. KUANA TORRES KAHELE, Kāhele
5. MARK YAMANAKA, Lei Maile

Group of the Year
1. GREEN, THE, Hawai’i ’13
2. KUMZ, You Should Know By Now
3. KŪPAOA, Bumbye
4. NĀ LEO, Romantic Waikiki
5. WAIPUNA, Nāpili

Most Promising Artist of the Year
1. KANANI ENOS, Aloha I Ho’okena
2. KAIHOLU, Swaying Sea
3. KIMIÈ, To The Sea
4. KAMAKA KUKONA, Hanu ‘A’ala
5. YOZA, Yoza

Favorite Entertainer of the Year
1. IKAIKA BLACKBURN
2. ROBERT CAZIMERO
3. GREEN, THE
4. KŪPAOA
5. HULU LINDSEY
6. CHINO MONTERO
7. SEAN NA’AUAO
8. KUANA TORRES KAHELE
9. WAIPUNA
10. MARK YAMANAKA

Album of the Year
1. A HE LEO WALE NŌ E, Hulu Lindsey; Dave Tucciarone, Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, and Hulu Lindsey – producers
2. BUMBYE, Kūpaoa; Kellen Paik and Kale Chang – producers
3. KĀHELE, Kuana Torres Kahele; Kuana Torres Kahele – producer
4. LEI MAILE, Mark Yamanaka; Kale Chang, Mark Yamanaka, Kellen Paik, and Kalikolihau Hannahs Paik – producers
5. MALIU, Ikaika Blackburn; Dave Tucciarone and Ikaika Blackburn – producers

EP ("Extended Play") of the Year
1. D-TOUR, John Keawe
2. I KNOW YOU BY HEART, Kūpaoa
3. LIVE UP!, J Boog
4. NĀPILI, Waipuna
5. TO THE SEA, Kimié

Single of the Year
1. "ALOHA E KOHALA," Waipuna
2. "E KU’ULEI, MY LOVE," Kuana Torres Kahele and Maila Gibson
3. "I AM A QUEEN," Lilo of Kapena
4. "LEI ‘O MĀ’ILI / DANCE WITH ME," Kūpaoa
5. "MAUI UNDER MOONLIGHT," Mark Yamanaka

Song of the Year
1. "Bumbye" by Puakea Nogelmeier from BUMBYE, Kūpaoa
2. "E Ku’u Lei, My Love" by Kuana Torres Kahele from E KU’ULEI, MY LOVE, Kuana Torres Kahele and Maila Gibson
3. "Kawena" by Chino Montero from MADE IN HAWAI’I, Chino Montero
4. "Lei Maile" by Kalikolihau Hannahs Paik and Mark Yamanaka from LEI MAILE, Mark Yamanaka
5. "Maui Under Moonlight" by Mark Yamanaka from MAUI UNDER MOONLIGHT, Mark Yamanaka

Instrumental Composition
1. "Mokuleia" by Ian OʻSullivan from BORN AND RAISED – NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO GUITAR, Ian O’Sullivan
2. "Nāpili Bay" by David Kamakahi and Herb Ohta, Jr. From NĀPILI, Waipuna
3. "Pūnāwai" by Jeff Peterson from SLACK KEY TRAVELS, Jeff Peterson
4. "Ray of Light," by Pali Ka’aihue from ALL IN, Pali Ka’aihue
5. "Slackmenco" by Makana and Jeff Peterson from RIPE, Makana

GENRE CATEGORIES

Alternative Album of the Year
1. DATELESS IN JULY, Paradox Lockdown
2. JUST DREAM, Amanda Frazier
3. NICKEL & DIMIN’ IT, LifeinPursuit
4. VINTAGE, Jade Summers

Anthology Album of the Year
1. CARMEN TAKES THE LEAD – SINGING TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN FAVORITES, Carmen U’ilani Haugen; Keith Haugen – producer
2. EIA, Natalie Ai Kamauu; Dave Tucciarone, Iolani Kamauu, and Natalie Ai Kamauu – producers
3. OLD FRIENDS, NEW FRIENDS, Dennis and Christy Soares; Dennis Soares – producer
4. ‘UMI: A PASS OUT RECORDS ANTHOLOGY, Various Artists; Eric Lagrimas, Abe Lagimas Jr., and Randy Wong – producers

Christmas Album of the Year
1. CHRISTMAS IN HAWAII, Dennis and Christy Soares
2. I WISH CHRISTMAS WAS EVERYDAY, Henry Kapono
3. LEI KULĀIA, Nāpua
4. MERRY UKULELE CHRISTMAS, Kalei Gamiao
5. MY ISLAND CHRISTMAS, Mailani

Compilation Album of the Year
1. CROSSINGS, Various Artists; Dennis Soares – producer
2. HAUMĀNA SOUNDTRACK, THE, Various Artists; Shawn Pimental and Keo Woolford – producers
3. HISESSIONS LIVE, VOL.1, Various Artists; Jon Yamasato and Darin Leong – producers
4. KANA’IOLOWALU SONGBOOK, THE, Various Artists; Brickwood Galuteria and Kenneth Makuakāne – producers
5. LOVE YOUR MOTHER, Various Artists; Brandon Apeles and Michelle Aquino – producers

Contemporary Album of the Year
1. BUTTERFLIES – LIVE, Anuhea
2. CAST YOUR CARES, Kapena De Lima
3. LIVE ALOHA, Mānoa DNA
4. RIPE, Makana
5. ROBI CALLING, Robi Kahakalau

Hawaiian Music Album of the Year
1. A HE LEO WALE NŌ E, Hulu Lindsey
2. HULA 2, Robert Cazimero
3. KĀHELE, Kuana Torres Kahele
4. LEI MAILE, Mark Yamanaka
5. NA’AUAO, Sean Na’auao

Hip Hop Album of the Year
1. AKIRA PROJECT, THE, The Akira Project
2. LISTEN & SHARE, Kwalified
3. T.M.T.T.H. – TOO MUCH TALENT TO HIDE, Jazi
4. VIDDY THE HORROR SHOW, The Horror Show
5. WAIT ON ME, King Kekai

Instrumental Album of the Year
1. BORN AND RAISED – NEW MUSIC FOR SOLO GUITAR, Ian O’Sullivan
2. HE MAKANA O NĀ MELE: THE GIFT OF MUSIC: THE GOLDEN AGES OF WAIKIKI, Hawaii Youth Symphony
3. STAINLESS – STEEL GUITAR STYLINGS OF GREG SARDINHA, Greg Sardinha
4. WALKING THE PATCH, Dennis Soares

Island Music Album of the Year
1. BUMBYE, Kūpaoa
2. MAMO, Mamo
3. MANAWA, Mailani
4. ROMANTIC WAIKIKI, Nā Leo
5. TUAHINE, Hapa

Jazz Album of the Year
1. A HUI HOU – UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, Hula Honeys
2. STEP INTO MY LIFE… THE LAGACY AND THE LEGEND, Henry Allen Band with Wayne Hernderson
3. SWANKY, Patrick von Wiegandt

Music Video/DVD
1. GRAND UKULELE – LIVE IN BOULDER, Jake Shimabukuro
2. HABITUALLY LATE, VIVO
3. LETʻS PLAY MUSIC – SLACK KEY WITH CYRIL PAHINUI & FRIENDS, Various Artists; Na’alehu Anthony and Cyril Pahinui – producers

R&B Album of the Year
1. BORN AND RAISED II – THE REBIRTH, Fiji
2. LIGHTNING, Larry Dupio
3. YOZA, Yoza

Reggae Album of the Year
1. CARRY ON, Conscious Roots
2. HAWAI’I ’13, The Green
3. PERSEVERANCE, Ekolu

Religious Album of the Year
1. BRAND NEW DAY, Sherry V. Graham
2. FOR THE WORLD TO SEE, Mo Scanlan
3. HOPE IS ALIVE, New Hope Oahu with Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
4. LORD OF ALL SEASONS, Carolyn Vargas

Rock Album of the Year
1. DANGEROUS CROSSING, Stuart Hollinger
2. KILROY WAS HERE, 11th Hour
3. MILE25, Mile25
4. PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS, Man On a String
5. TIKI TONIC, Tiki Taboo

Slack Key Album of the Year
1. AIKANE KUIKAWA, Paul Togioka
2. HUANANI, Ben Ka’ili
3. KE AU HOU, Danny Carvalho
4. SLACK KEY TRAVELS, Jeff Peterson
5. SOUL SOUND SLACK, Stephen Inglis

‘Ukulele Album of the Year
1. ALL IN, Pali Ka’aihue
2. BEGINNING, THE, Andrew Molina
3. FABLES, Corey Fujimoto
4. PURE ‘UKULELE, Herb Ohta, Jr.

TECHNICAL CATEGORIES

Graphics Award
1. KAMOKILA de MELLO, for SOUNDWAVE, Makua Rothman
2. DARYL FUJIWARA, for HANU ‘A’ALA, Kamaka Kukona
3. LAYNE MATSUSAKI, for LEI MAILE, Mark Yamanaka
4. JASON OSHIRO, for SIMPLE SESSION, Simple Session
5. KEITH USHER AND KAMOKILA de MELLO, for NAʻAUAO, Sean Naʻauao

Liner Notes Award
1. KALE CHANG AND KALIKOLĪHAU HANNAHS, for LEI MAILE, Mark Yamanaka
2. KAMAKA KUKONA, for HANU ‘A’ALA, Kamaka Kukona
3. CHELLE PAHINUI, for KANI PŪ KOLU, Cyril Pahinui
4. KUANA TORRES KAHELE, for KĀHELE, Kuana Torres Kahele
5. NEIL J. HANNAHS, for NĀPILI, Waipuna

ADJUDICATED CATEGORIES

Haku Mele (Composer’s Award)
1. "’Ano ʻAi E Hilo" by Ka’ena’aloha Hopkins (YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW, KUmZ)
2. "Bumbye" by Puakea Nogelmeier (BUMBYE, Kupaoa)
3. "Kūnihi KaʻAla" by Mehanaokala Hind (HAUMANA SOUNDTRACK, Various Artists)
4. "Lei Maile" by Kalikolihau Paik and Mark Yamanaka (LEI MAILE, Mark Yamanaka)
5. "Nanina" by Kuana Torres Kahele (KAHELE, Kuana Torres Kahele)

Hawaiian Language Performance (Artist Award)
1. ROBERT CAZIMERO, for HULA 2
2. KAMAKA KUKONA, for HANU ‘A’ALA
3. KŪPAOA, for BUMBYE
4. WAIPUNA, for NAPILI
5. MARK YAMANAKA, for LEI MAILE

Engineering Award
1. KAPENA DELIMA, for PARADISE (Roman of Kolohe Kai)
2. IMUA GARZA, for FOR THE WORLD TO SEE (Mo Scanlan)
3. DAVE TUCCIARONE, for MANAWA (Mailani)
4. DAVE TUCCIARONE and LAWRENCE YURONG, for ON A PERSONAL NOTE (Kristian Lei)
5. LAWRENCE YURONG, for NA’AUAO (Sean Na’auao)

International Recognition Album of the Year
1. BORN OF SONG, Ian Shiroma
2. J, Seiji Katz
3. KO’OLUA, Koʻolua
4. MOE’UHANE, Hoene
5. NOE, Yuri Chika