Kamakakehau Fernandez of Maui is the odds-on favorite to be named most promising artist in the 2013 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards to be announced Saturday by the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts.

His "Wahi Mahalo" is an impressive debut release and he’s got a great back story to match. Born in Arkansas, Fernandez was adopted a few days after birth, brought to Maui and immersed in Hawaiian language and culture. He’s been active in Hawaiian music for more than a decade and sings with a beautiful effortless falsetto.

Fernandez first gained notice when he represented King Kekaulike High School in Ty Okumura’s statewide Star Quest talent contest in 2002. He won the Richard Ho‘opi‘i Leo Ki‘eki‘e Contest on Maui a year later and was included on two of Flip McDiarmid’s falsetto contest winner compilations for Hula Records.

"Haleakala" stands out as the only hapa-haole song on the album, and the title song is an effective showcase for Fernandez’s lower-register (nonfalsetto) voice.

Another front-runner for most promising artist, Na Hoa — Ikaika Blackburn (ukulele), Halehaku Seabury-Akaka (guitar) and Keoni Souza (acoustic bass) — is also firmly rooted in Hawaiian music and language. The group’s self-titled album features traditional-style falsetto harmonies and a touch of wacky nostalgia with "Carburetor Song," a 1940s novelty number later popularized here by Myrtle K. Hilo.

Kahulanui, a Hawaii island ensemble, is likely too edgy to prevail, but the group’s firm commitment to Hawaiian music in the album "Hula Ku‘i" makes it a contender. The group is officially a quartet — Lolena Naipo Jr., Patrick Eskildsen, Robert Duke Tatom and Tim Taylor — whose members provide the guitar, bass, ukulele, drums and vocals. Several guest musicians create a larger ensemble to evoke classic Hawaiian swing music of the 1920s and ’30s with zesty arrangements of island classics.

"Ku‘u Home I Waimanalo," written by Naipo in honor of his home district, fits in perfectly with the old-time compositions.

Mike Love’s debut album, "The Change I’m Seeking," is an excellent blending of Jamaican rhythms, Rastafari religious perspectives and acoustic mainstream American pop music. But Jamaican-style music — be it Jawaiian or true reggae — is unlikely to prevail over Hawaiian artists in the lifetime of the current HARA membership.

Shar Carillo, whose album is titled "Letting Go," had enough of a following to make the final ballot, but her debut release lacked general distribution and promotion. That means the larger HARA membership is not going to vote for it — especially when there are three higher-profile Hawaiian acts to choose from.

For a complete list of finalists, visit www.nahokuhanohano.org.