Honolulu, HI – The Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (“HARA”) has announced the Final Ballot Nominees for the 34^th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, as follows:

Most Promising Artist(s)

1. STEVE GRIMES – Labor of Love

2. Heart & Soul – Take it Easy

3. CJ Helekahi – Ka Mahina

4. Michael Keale – Remember

5. Mark Yamanaka – Lei Pua Kenikeni

Female Vocalist of the Year

1. ‘Anelaikalani – E Mau Nō

2. Kainani Kahaunaele – Oha Ula

3. Kiani – Kiani

4. Napua Makua – Mōhalu  

5. Sistah Robi – An Island Christmas

Male Vocalist of the Year

1. Willie K – Willie Wonderland

2. Ledward Kaapana – The Legend

3. John Keawe – Play with Me Papa

4. Kenneth MakuakĀne – Kawaipono

5. Mark Yamanaka – Lei Pua Kenikeni

Group of the Year

1. Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm – Keola Beamer & Raiatea

2. Amy HĀnaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters – Amy Hānaiali‘i

    and the Slack Key Masters of Hawai‘i

3. Kumz – On the Summit

4. KŪpaoa – English Rose

5. Manoa DNA – Evolution

Album of the Year (tie)

1. Amy HĀnaiali‘i and the Slack Key Masters OF HAWAI‘I –

    Amy Hānaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters of Hawai‘i

2. Best of NĀ Palapalai, The – Nā Palapalai

3. English Rose – Kūpaoa

4. Keola Beamer & Raiatea – Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm

5. Lei Pua Kenikeni – Mark Yamanaka

6. Ohai Ula – Kainani Kahaunaele

Song of the Year

1. EIA KE ALOHA by Kainani Kahaunaele from OHAI ULA

2. ENGLISH ROSE by Kellen Paik from ENGLISH ROSE  

3. KĀHEALANI by Jeff Peterson from Amy HĀnaiali‘i and the Slack Key

     Masters OF HAWAI‘I

4. KALEOONĀLANI by Mark Yamanaka from LEI PUA KENIKENI

5. YOU SOMEBODY by Keola Beamer from KEOLA BEAMER AND RAIATEA

Single of the Year

1. Hawaiian Cowboy: HAILAMA FARDEN’S TRIBUTE TO UNCLE SOL K.

     BRIGHT – Hailama Farden

2. He Lei Kaulana – Nā Palapalai

3. Ka Lei Momi – Kenneth Makuakāne and Joseph Keola Donaghy

4. Moon Over Diamond Head – Bryan Kessler featuring Robi Kahakalau

5. This Child – Kanohowailuku Helm

Extended Play Release of the Year

1. Analogic – Analogic

2. Band Champ – JP Band

3. Hawaiian Girls – Talk to You Music (TTYM)

4. Solo Ukulele – The King of Pop – Abe Lagrimas, Jr. and Friends

5. UKULELE SERENADE – Tyler Gilman

Anthology of the Year – Producer’s Award

1. Best of NĀ Palapalai, The – Nā Palapalai; Shawn Pimental, producer

2. Island Love – Various Artists – Jon de Mello; producer

3. Marlene Sai Legacy – Marlene Sai; Mikihala LLC, producer

4. Music of Chucky Boy Chock Vol. I – Chucky Boy Chock; Chucky Boy

     Chock and Krash Kealoha, producers 

5. Pekelo Classics – Pekelo; Lui Burgess and Tim Mathre, producers

Christmas Album of the Year

1. ISLAND CHRISTMAS WIWTH SISTAH ROBI, AN – Sistah Robi

2. SEASONS’S GREETING FROM SOUL SOUND – Various Artists

3. UKULELE CHRISTMAS, AN – Various Artists

4. WILLIE WONDERLAND ­– Willie K

Compilation of the Year (Various artists) – Producer’s Award

1. AMPLIFY – Steven Lynch, Glenn Molina, producers

2. Kona – Dave Tucciarone, producer

3. Practicing Aloha – Songs of Cindy Paulos – Cindy Paulos, Fulton

    Tashombe, Carl Lange, producers
4. REPRESENT – Ace Loughmiller, producer

5. Tribute to NĀ Lani ‘EhĀ – Music of the Hawaiian Monarchy –

     C.T. Kata Maduli, producer

6. Wahine – Ululoa Productions, producer

Contemporary Album of the Year

1. Evolution – Manoa DNA

2. Forevermore – Ben Vegas and Maila Gibson

3. Slackin’ On Dylan – Stephen Inglis

4. Take It Easy – Heart & Soul

5. Vamonos De Fiesta – Let’s Go Party – Rolando Sanchez

Hawaiian Album of the Year

1. Kawaipono – Kenneth Makuakāne

2. Lei Pua Kenikeni – Mark Yamanaka

3. MŌhalu – Nāpua Makua

4. Ohai Ula – Kainani Kahaunaele

5. On the Summit – Kumz

Instrumental Album of the Year

1. Hawaiian Steel Vol. 6 – STEEL GUITAR INSTRUMENTALS OF CLASSIC

    HAPA HAOLE SONGS – Alan Akaka, Casey Olsen and Greg Sardinha

2. Hawaiian Style Ukulele 2 – Troy Fernandez

3. Simply Steel – Songs of Old Hawai‘i – Alan Akaka

4. ‘Ukulele Nahenahe – Herb Ohta, Jr.

5. Ukulele Summit – Kenneth Makuakāne

Island Music Album of the Year

1. Amy HĀnaiali‘i and the Slack Key Masters of Hawai‘i – Amy

    Hānaiali‘i and Slack Key Masters

2. English Rose – Kūpaoa

3. Ka Mahina – CJ Helekahi

4. Keola Beamer & Raiatea – Keola Beamer and Raiatea Helm

5. Remember – Michael Keale

Jazz Album of the Year

1. All That Hawaiian Jazz – Paul Shimomoto

2. Django Would Go – Hot Club of Hulaville

3. Golden Sun – Phil & Angela Benoit

4. Live Volume Five – The Olliephonic Horns

5. Pacific Tinge – Crosscurrent

R&B / Hip Hop

1. Aloha from Hawaii – Angry Locals

2. Beyond Paradise –  I.A.

3. Blue Room – Siaosi

4. Coconut Wireless – Kepa Cruse

5. Grown –Grysen G.

Reggae Album of the Year (tie)

1. Conscious Roots – Conscious Roots

2. Best of the Typical Hawaiians – Good Times Galore –

    Typical Hawaiians

3. Determined – Kawao

4. Green, The – The Green

5. Kiani – Kiani

6. Rock Easy – Maoli

Religious Album of the Year

1. Eyes of a Stranger – Malia Lee

2. Fixated – Daniel Lehman

3. Golden Street – Barrett and Tara Awai

4. Prodigal Sun – Kenneth Makuakāne

5. Somewhwere Up Ahead – Gospel Hymns of Hawaii, Vol. II –

    Ata Damasco

6. Still Standing – HHB

Rock Album of the Year

1. DUST FOR ANGELS – Friends of Adam

2. HAWK AND THE HUNTER – Sabrina

3. RESPECT – 86 List

4. REVISITED – Donovan Frankenreiter

5. RUMBLETONE – Rumbletone

6. STREAM DREAMS – Kamuela Kahoano

Slack Key Album of the Year

1. HANALEI TRADITION II – LIVE AT HALE HALAWAI ‘OHANA ‘O HANALEI –

    Doug and Sandy McMaster

2. KU‘U HONUA MELE – Patrick Landeza

3. LEGEND, THE – Ledward Kaapana

4. PINE TREE SLACK KEY – Pancho Graham

5. PLAY WITH ME PAPA – John Keawe

Favorite Entertainer

1. Amy HĀnaiali‘i and the Slack Key Masters

2. Troy Fernandez

3. Willie K

4. Ledward Kaapana

5. Kainani Kahaunaele

6. Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm

7. KŪPAOA

8. Napua Makua

9. Herb Ohta, Jr.

10. Mark Yamanaka

The 34^th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards will be held on Sunday, May 29, 2011, in the Kalākaua Ballroom at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.  It is sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines (www.hawaiianairlines.com), and will be telecast live on KFVE.  Tickets are $150 General Admission, $135 Kama‘āina, and $125 H.A.R.A. members.  For tickets, please contact

(808) 593-9424.  For more information, please visit www.nahokumusicfestival.com.

ABOUT THE NĀ HŌKŪ HANOHANO MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sponsored by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Hawaiian Airlines, and Kintetsu International, this 4-day music festival, May 26-29, offers the public a unique chance to experience a rich cultural interchange, making the connections between music, our culture, and the spirit of aloha, through interesting and unique workshops, demonstrations, performances and exhibitions.

For event and registration information, please go to www.nahokumusicfestival.com, call (808) 593-9424 or email info@nahokumusicfestival.com.  Look out for more information on all of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Music Festival events coming soon!