Two first-time recording artists lead the field this year as the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) announces the finalists in 32 categories for the 2017 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

Keauhou — a trio of Jonah Kahanuola Solatario, Nicholas Keali‘i Lum and Zachary Lum — leads the field with 12 nominations in nine categories for its debut album, “Keauhou.”

Kalani Pe‘a is second with nine nominations in nine categories for his Grammy Award-winning debut album, “E Walea.”

If Pe‘a’s album wins in any category, he will be the first to win a Hoku Award and a Grammy for the same album. Grammy Award winners Daniel Ho and George Kahumoku Jr. are also Hoku winners, but they received Hokus for other projects.

Hoku Zuttermeister and Raiatea Helm are tied for third at eight nominations. Cyril Pahinui and the group Kupaoa are tied for fourth with seven nominations each.

All these finalist tallies include technical award nominations that might go to other people — songwriters, liner notes writers, graphic arts designers and recording studio engineers. However, the Album of the Year award goes to the winning album’s producer(s) as well as to the recording artist, and since Helm, Keauhou, Pahinui and Zuttermeister participated as producers as well as artists, a win in that category would garner them two awards — one for their work as recording artists and a second for their work as producers.

Keauhou’s 12 finalist nominations include three in the adjudicated Haku Mele category for best newly written Hawaiian-language song — one by each member of the group. That reduces the maximum number of awards Keauhou can win to 10.

The HARA membership will determine the winners in 28 categories. The winner of Favorite Entertainer is determined by public vote. Winners in the two Hawaiian­-language categories (Haku Mele and Hawaiian Language Performance) are selected by a panel of specialists in Hawaiian songwriting.

The winner in the International Recognition Album category is also adjudicated. The criteria used in adjudicating that category and the qualifications of the adjudicators have not been made public.

The winners will be announced at the 40th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards on May 20, at the Hawai‘i Convention Center. Other awards might be announced there.

Here are the nominations in the major categories:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. “E Walea,” Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music) Dave Tucciarone, Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing and Allan Cool — producers

2. “He Leo Huali, ‘A Pure Voice,’” Raiatea Helm (Ra‘iatea Helm Records) Ra‘iatea Helm Records, Raiatea Helm and Dave Tucciarone — producers

3. “Hi‘ilawe,” Cyril Pahinui (Pahinui Productions) Cyril Pahinui — producer

4. “Keauhou,” Keauhou (Keauhou) Keauhou — producers

5. “Ku‘u Pua Sakura,” Hoku Zuttermeister (Kaleiola Records) Hoku Zuttermeister and Dave Tucciarone — producers

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

1. Amy Hanaiali‘i, “Remembering Napua” (Ua Rec­ords)

2. Raiatea Helm, “He Leo Huali, ‘A Pure Voice’” (Ra‘iatea Helm Records)

3. Maggie Herron, “Between the Music & the Moon” (Herron Song Records)

4. Mailani, “Alo i ke Alo” (Ha Enterprises)

5. Yoza, “Prologue” (Yoza Music)

GROUP OF THE YEAR

1. Keauhou, “Keauhou” (Keauhou)

2. Komakakino, “E Nipo Mai” (The Lahui Project)

3. Ron Kualaau & Zanuck Lindsey, “Koko” (Kapala Music Group)

4. Kupaoa, “Ho‘okele” (Hulu Kupuna Productions)

5. A Touch of Gold, “Whenever You Come Around” (Kuleana Breakfast Club)

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

1. Kawika Kahiapo, “Uke Can Call Me Cousin” (Pono Records)

2. Cyril Pahinui, “Hi‘ilawe” (Pahinui Productions)

3. Kalani Pe‘a, “E Walea” (Kalani Pe‘a Music)

4. Josh Tatofi, “Pua Kiele” (BuPrint Records)

5. Hoku Zuttermeister, “Ku‘u Pua Sakura” (Kaleiola Records)