Two of Hawaii’s most popular groups were the big winners at the 41st annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, held before a sold-out crowd of music industry professionals and fans Saturday at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
Kapena — founded by Kelly “Kelly Boy” De Lima and Tiva and Timo Tatofi in 1984, and now made up of De Lima and his three adult children — won Hokus for album of year for “Palena ‘Ole,” as well as for group of the year, contemporary album of the year and music video of the year, the latter a new category.
In addition, since the album of the year award goes to the winning album’s producers as well as to the recording artist, the win earned each member of Kapena a second Hoku for their work as producers of the album.
Keauhou, the young trio of Jonah Kahanuola Solatario, Nicholas Keali‘i Lum and Zachary Alaka‘i Lum that swept last year’s Hokus with nine wins, prevailed in four categories. They were repeat winners for Hawaiian music album and Hawaiian language performance, and Zachary Lum won Hokus for liner notes and haku mele for best new Hawaiian language song or chant — also for the second year in a row.
The difference this year was that the haku mele category was a tie, with a second Hoku going to bandmate and brother Nicholas Lum.
Mailani Makainai was another repeat winner, capturing the Hoku for her EP (extended play) recording of “Pali Ke Kua,” and Grammy Award-winning studio engineer Dave Tucciarone won for engineering in Hawaiian music for the third time running.
Kamaka Kukona was named male vocalist of the year, Kimie Miner won female vocalist and Chad Takatsugi made history as the first winner in the new Hawaiian single of the year category.
As in previous years, the winners in 28 categories were voted by the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts membership. The award for favorite entertainer of the year was determined by a public vote.
Winners in the two Hawaiian language categories (haku mele and Hawaiian language performance) and the two engineering categories (engineering/general and engineering/Hawaiian) were selected by panels of specialists.
2018 NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARD WINNERS
Album
>> “Palena ‘Ole,” Kapena (KDE), Kapena, producer
EP
>> “Pali Ke Kua,” Mailani (Ha Enterprises)
Single
>> “We Are Hawai‘i’s Finest,” Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
Hawaiian single
>> “Kaulana Ka Inoa ‘o Hokule‘a,” Chad Takatsugi featuring Na Hoa and Kuini (no label)
Song (composer’s award)
>> “Bamboo,” Kimie Miner, from “Proud As the Sun” (Haku Records), Kimie Miner, Imua Garza, Jesse Epstein and Isaac Moreno, composers
Instrumental composition (composer’s award)
>> “Kahulanui Boogie Woogie,” Kahulanui from “Mele Ho‘oilina” (Kahulanui, LLC), Bill Noble, composer
Female vocalist
>> Kimie Miner, “Proud As the Sun” (Haku Records)
Group
>> Kapena, “Palena ‘Ole” (KDE)
Male vocalist
>> Kamaka Kukona, “‘Ala Anuhea” (Hanu)
Most promising artist
>> Leipono, “Ku‘u Pualei” (no label)
Alternative album
>> “Stay Gold,” Stef Mariani (Klever Kitty Records)
Anthology
>> “Jus’ Bes’,” Led Kaapana (Jus’ Press Productions)
Compilation
>> “Na Mele ‘Ukulele,” Various Artists (Neos Productions)
Contemporary album
>> “Palena ‘Ole,” Kapena (KDE)
Hawaiian music album
>> “I Ke Ko A Ke Au,” Keauhou (Keauhou)
Hip-hop album
>> “Makana,” Illtalian (no label)
Instrumental album
>> “Across the Sea,” Greg Sardinha, Tsun-Hui Hung and Jeff Peterson (Keala Records)
Island music album
>> “So the Story Goes,” Halemanu (Sounds Like Hale)
Jazz album
>> “Mele Ho‘oilina,” Kahulanui (Kahulanui, LLC)
Metal album
>> “Zodiac,” Storm (Tin Idol Productions)
Music video
>> “When I Come Home,” Kapena (KDE)
R&B album
>> “Genres of Soul,” RJ Kaneao (Groove Plant Hawaii)
Reggae album
>> “Marching Orders,” The Green (Easy Star Records)
Religious album
>> “Simply for Ke Akua,” Kenneth Makuakane (KMM)
Rock album
>> “Lightning Strikes Hilo,” Larry Dupio (no label)
Ukulele album
>> “‘Ukulele Friends: The Sequel,” Bryan Tolentino & Herb Ohta Jr. (Neos Productions)
Favorite entertainer
>> John Valentine
Graphics
>> Wailani Artates, “Makawalu,” Napua (Pihana Productions)
Liner notes
>> Zachary Alaka‘i Lum, “I Ke Ko A Ke Au,” Keauhou (Keauhou)
Haku Mele (tie) (composer’s award)
>> “Aloha Maunalua,” Nicholas Keali‘i Lum, from “I Ke Ko A Ke Au,” Keauhou (Keauhou)
>> “Ma‘eli‘eli,” Zachary Alaka‘i Lum, from “I Ke Ko A Ke Au,” Keauhou (Keauhou)
Hawaiian language performance
>> Keauhou, “I Ke Ko A Ke Au” (Keauhou)
Engineering/general
>> Imua Garza, Jules Washington, “Proud As The Sun,” Kimie Miner (Haku Records)
Engineering/Hawaiian
>> Dave Tucciarone, “Makawalu,” Napua (Pihana Productions)
International album
>> “Colors,” Hook (Fukuhara Naoki)
Ki Ho‘alu Foundation Legacy Award
>> Brother Noland
Moe Keale “Aloha Is” Award for Community Service
>> Kumu hula Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
