Maui kumu hula Kamaka Kukona is Hawaiian music’s lone champion in the 2015 Grammy Awards.
His debut album, "Hanu ‘A‘ala," was named a finalist in the best regional roots music category Friday. The Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning album is up against releases by three Cajun acts — Bonsoir, Catin; the Magnolia Sisters; and Jo-El Sonnier — and Native American Joe Tohonnie Jr.
The winners in all 83 categories will be announced at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards show Feb. 8 in Los Angeles.
"I’m in utter shock at this morning’s announcement," Kukona said via email.
Kukona’s album has already won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. He is only the sixth person in the history of the local awards to have won most promising artist and male vocalist of the year.
The regional roots music category was created after the Hawaiian music album and several other categories were eliminated in 2011. Hawaiian recordings now compete against Cajun, zydeco, polka and Native American albums.
George Kahumoku Jr., a three-time Grammy-winning record producer, made the final ballot in the regional roots category in 2012. Weldon Kekauoha was Hawaii’s lone Grammy finalist for 2013. Kahulanui, an octet from Hawaii island, were finalists for the 2014 Grammys.
Hawaii-born talent is also represented this year by "Our World in Song," a collaboration by Wu Man, Luis Conte and Daniel Ho. The album is one of the five finalists in the world music category. Ho, born and raised in Honolulu but now a resident of Los Angeles, is a winner of multiple Grammys as a record producer and recording artist in the old Hawaiian music category.
Responding via email from Los Angeles, Ho described "Our World in Song" as a personal musical milestone.
"Recording with Wu Man and Luis Conte was enlightening, as the chemistry of this unique collaboration brought together fascinating rhythmic elements, reharmonizations and instrumentation," Ho said. "As an illustration of this genre- and culture-crossing phenomenon, Queen Lili‘uokalani’s ‘Aloha ‘Oe’ was recorded with pipa (Chinese lute), kalimba, Hawaiian slack-key guitar, and bodhran (Irish drum)!"
He added, "I am so grateful for this nomination as our exciting musical journey continues. Imua!"
"Toumani & Sidiki," by Toumani Diabate & Sidiki Diabate; "Eve," by Angelique Kidjo; "Magic," by Sergio Mendes; and "Traces of You," by Anoushka Shankar, are the other finalists for world music album.
