Kuana Torres Kahele, founding member of perennially popular Hawaiian traditionalists Na Palapalai, proved equally popular as a solo artist Sunday night as the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts announced the winners of the 2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
"It’s totally different," Kahele said of winning as a soloist, "but it’s an awesome experience. You’d think that after all these years being with Na Palapalai, you’d get used to it, but it is still fresh every time you step on that stage."
Kahele won six awards in five categories: Male Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Album of the Year, Song of the Year (for "Na Vaqueros"), Liner Notes and Album of the Year. All were related to his album "Kaunaloa."
The award for Album of the Year goes to the producer as well as the artist, and since Kahele co-produced the album with Dave Tucciarone, he earned one as the artist and a second for his work as a producer.
"I never really thought that the album would go this far," Kahele said.
But he recalled that creating a solo album was a promise he made to his mother.
"It was something I had to do for my mother, so being here tonight for my mother’s album is awesome," he said.
A seventh award, Graphics, went to Kuhao Zane and Kamele Eskaran for their work designing the album artwork and the beautiful liner notes booklet.
The awards were presented in the Kalakaua Ballroom of the Hawai‘i Convention Center.
The night was also a big one for Waipuna. The duo — Kale Hannahs and Matt Sproat — won Group of the Year and Island Music Album for the Year with their second album. "E Ho‘i Mai." Hannahs and Sproat picked up a third Hoku, Single of the Year, for "‘Ainahau."
Tucciarone picked up a second award for his work as the producer of the compilation album "Ho‘ala Iapana." (The award for Compilation of the Album of the year goes to the producer and not to the artists.)
Jake Shimabukuro won for Instrumental Album of the Year for the fifth time and was voted Favorite Entertainer for the fourth time.
Three men who have previously received HARA’s Lifetime Achievement Award showed that their "lifetime" as recording artists is far from over: Robert Cazimero, Benny Chong and Dennis Kamakahi won one award each.
The winners in most categories are determined by the HARA membership. Four categories are adjudicated. The recipients of three associated awards are determined by outside group but presented as part of the Hoku Awards. The winner of Favorite Artist is determined by public vote.
AND THE WINNERS ARE …
A list of the 2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards winners, with the record label in parentheses:
>> Female Vocalist of the Year: Natalie Ai Kamauu, “‘A” (Keko)
>> EP (“Extended Play” release) of the Year: “Na Mele o Ioana Keanaaina,” John Ioane Keanaaina Jr. (no label)
>> Religious Album of the Year: “Chucky Boy Chock and Friends,” Chucky Boy Chock (New Song Music)
>> Group of the Year: Waipuna, “E Ho‘i Mai” (Poki)
>> Hip-Hop Album of the Year: “Illnomadic,” Navid Najafi (‘Aumakua)
>> Compilation Album of the Year (producers’ award): “Ho‘ala Iapana,” various artists (no label), Dave Tucciarone, producer
>> Single of the Year: “‘Ainahau,” Waipuna (Poki)
>> Male Vocalist of the Year: Kuana Torres Kahele, “Kaunaloa” (Kuana Torres Kahele)
>> Anthology Album of the Year (producers’ award): “Kekumuwai,” Pandanus Club (Makuakane), Kenneth Makuakane, Chris Kealiiaa and Tasha Tavares-Makuakane, producers
>> Jazz Album of the Year (tie): “Salt,” Starr Kalahiki (Kipuka); “Ukulele Jazz Live In Concert Hilo, Hawaii,” Benny Chong (no label)
>> Instrumental Album of the Year: “Peace Love Ukulele,” Jake Shimabukuro (Hitchhike)
>> Slack-Key Album of the Year: “Waimaka Helelei,”?Dennis Kamakahi and Stephen Inglis (‘Aumakua)
>> Island Music Album of the Year: “E Ho‘i Mai,” Waipuna (Poki)
>> Contemporary Album of the Year: “Rising in Love,” Lehua Kalima (Kalima)
>> Reggae Album of the Year: “Simply for Love,” Ekolu (Waiehu)
>> Hawaiian Album of the Year: “Kaunaloa,” Kuana Torres Kahele
>> Rock Album of the Year: “Warehouse Blues,” Willie K (Maui Tribe)
>> Album of the Year (award to artist and to producers): “Kaunaloa,” Kuana Torres Kahele; Kahele and Dave Tucciarone, producers
>> Song of the Year (composer’s award): “Na Vaqueros,” by Kuana Torres Kahele, from “Kaunaloa”
>> Favorite Entertainer of the Year (by public vote): Jake Shimabukuro
>> Most Promising Artist(s): Starr Kalahiki, “Salt” (Kipuka)
>> Graphics (designers’ award): Kuhao Zane and Kamele Eskaran, for “Kaunaloa,” Kuana Torres Kahele
>> Liner Notes (writer’s award): Kuana Torres Kahele, for “Kaunaloa”
>> Engineering: Wendell Ching, Carl Noa and Matthew Honda for “Self Titled,” Hot Rain (Afflatus)
>> Hawaiian Language Performance: “Hula,” Robert Cazimero (Mountain Apple Co.)
>> Haku Mele (composer’s award): “Ku‘u Hoa Hi‘ikua,” by Kalehua Krug, from “Aia I Hi‘ialo,” Hi‘ikua
>> International Album of the Year (restricted to non-U.S. recording artists): “‘Ohana,” Kaulana (Kaulana)
>> Steel Guitar Legacy Award: The Tau Moe Family
|
