2 groups prepare to honor Hawaiian music figures

The month of May brings not only the Na Hoku Hano­hano Awards on May 24, but also two other music awards. The Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame honors new inductees Thursday, and the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts pre­sents its 2014 Na Hoku Hano­hano Lifetime Achievement Awards on Saturday.

With two organizations dedicated to the preservation and advancement of Hawaiian music presenting separate sets of awards two days apart, one might wonder what the difference is.

The Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame was founded in 1994 with the objective of creating greater interest in traditional Hawaiian music. For the first 10 years, all but three of the inductions were posthumous — the exceptions were Irmgard Farden Aluli (1998), Genoa Keawe (2001) and Kahauanu Lake (2004).

Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts was founded in 1982 for the purpose of administrating the Hoku Awards and recognizing excellence in Hawaiian music and the Hawaii recording industry.

The group’s Lifetime Achievement Awards honor music industry professionals who have spent their lives contributing toward those goals.

Beginning in 2009, HARA has also presented a special industry award to an organization or business that it wishes to recognize.

In 2012 the award was renamed the Krash Kealoha Award in honor of the founder of the Hoku Awards. This year’s recipient is the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Here’s a quick look at each group’s honorees:

HAWAIIAN MUSIC HALL OF FAME

» Don Ho (1930-2007): One of the best-known Hawaiian entertainers of the 20th century, Ho redefined public perceptions of Hawaiian music during his five-year engagement as the leader of Don Ho & the Aliis at Duke Kahanamoku’s in the International Market Place (1964-1969). Ho continued as a Waikiki showroom headliner and a solo artist until his death in 2007. He was also active as a mentor to aspiring artists. His best-known hits include "Tiny Bubbles," "I’ll Remember You," "Suck ‘Em Up," "Nightlife" and "Who Is the Lolo (Who Stole My Pakalolo)." He received the Sidney Grayson Award (the precursor of the HARA Lifetime Achievement Award) in 1979.

» Matthew Ho‘onani Kane (1871-1920): Musician, composer and educator, Kane wrote or co-wrote "Pua Carnation" (co-written with Charles E. King), "Ka Makani Ka‘ilialoha," "Moloka‘i Nui a Hina" and "‘Aina Kaulana," better known as "Moloka‘i Waltz."

» ‘Iolani Luahine (1915-1978): Luahine was considered the most esteemed hula dancer of her generation. She carried on the traditions taught her by her great-aunt and hanai mother Julia Keahi Luahine, and taught hula but did not consider herself a kumu hula. Luahine was featured in two documentary films on Hawaiian culture and several television programs.

» Napua Stevens Poire (1918-1990): Poire’s resume included credits as a singer, hula dancer, musician, teacher, radio and television host, producer and author. She was noted for her recordings of "Beyond the Reef," "Hawaiian Hospitality," "I Want to Learn to Speak Hawaiian," "Pretty Red Hibiscus," "May Day Is Lei Day in Hawaii" and "What Aloha Means." She danced hula with the Coral Islanders in the 1950s and wrote "The Hawaiian Quilt," an instruction guide and manual on the Hawaiian quilt.

» Kamaka Hawaii Inc.: Founded by Samuel Kaiali‘ili‘i Kamaka, Kamaka Hawaii has been a leading manufacturer of ukulele since 1916. Kamaka introduced the original oval-shaped "pineapple ukulele" in 1928. Traditions of exacting craftsmanship have been carried on by his sons, Samuel Kamaka Jr. and Frederick (now Fred Sr.), and their sons and grandsons.

NA HOKU HANOHANO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

» Gary Aiko: The charismatic eldest son of Genoa and Edward Puniwai Keawe-Aiko has been known in recent years for playing an acoustic bass guitar rather than an electric bass guitar or an acoustic stand-up bass. His musical career started in 1957, and he worked with Don Ho at Honey’s in Kaneohe in the early ’60s. He has been a featured vocalist with the Royal Hawaiian Band since 2004 and performs as a member of the Keawe Ohana on Thursdays at the Waikiki Beach Marriott.

» Sam Aiko (1942-1992): Aiko, the fourth son of Genoa and Edward Puniwai Keawe-Aiko, recorded several albums with his brother and mother, including "Hula Vol. 1" and "Aloha to Aloha Grill."

» ‘Iwalani Kahalewai (1934-2009): Kahalewai gained fame after she was heard around the world on Webley Edwards’ "Hawaii Calls" radio show. Her performance venues included Kaiser’s Hawaiian Village, Don the Beachcomber’s in the International Marketplace, the Halekulani and the Ala Moana Hotel, which hosted Tavana’s Polynesian Show.

» Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwo‘ole (1959-1997): Kamakawiwo‘ole was a founding member of the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau (1975-1993). He won two Hoku Awards for a solo album he recorded while still a member of the group. Kamakawiwo‘ole abruptly went solo in 1993 with continued success despite weight-related health problems; he died in 1997. Astute management has made IZ an international presence and the best-known Hawaiian singer since Don Ho. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 as a member of the Makaha Sons of Ni‘ihau.

» Cyril Pahinui: The Hoku Award-winning slack-key guitarist and vocalist has recording credits for albums with his father, Gabby Pahinui, with the Sandwich Isle Band, with the Peter Moon Band and as a solo artist. He recorded "Broken Promise" with Henry Kapono, Roland Cazimero and Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole.

» Ben Wood: The longtime entertainment writer has covered and supported local musicians and recording artists for decades. He writes the "Wood Craft" column that runs Fridays in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Today section.