Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Finalists Announced

Finalists in the 40th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards have been announced, spotlighting Hawai’i’s top musical artists from across the Islands.

This year’s lineup features the top five artists, singles or albums in 34 different categories, selected by the more than 600 members of the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA).

The winners for each category will be announced on Saturday, May 20, during the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards show at the Hawai’i Convention Center. Tickets are $175 for General Admission, $150 for Kama`āina and $250 for Premium Seats. To purchase call (808) 593-9424 or visit www.nahokuhanohano.org/.

“This year’s Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards is one that no one will want to miss as we celebrate four decades honoring the very best in Hawai’i music,” said Pali Ka’aihue, president of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts. “Our team has been working for months to put together a special lineup of performances that we feel honors the beautiful history of Hawai’i’s music and those who have contributed to bringing it to the level of excellence that it enjoys today.”

Among the finalists are 17-year-old rock and hip hop guitarist, Kukani Lee from Waimea on Hawai’i Island.

“Being a finalist for this award is unlike anything I could’ve ever dreamed of,” said Lee. “I feel so very proud and honored to be the first in my family nominated into the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.”

Below are some of the 2017 Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalists. Click here for the full list.

Female Vocalist of the Year – Best performance by a female artist

• AMY HĀNAIALI‘I, REMEMBERING NAPUA (Ua Records)
• RA‘IĀTEA HELM, HE LEO HUALI, “A PURE VOICE” (Ra‘iātea Helm Records)
• MAGGIE HERRON, BETWEEN THE MUSIC & THE MOON (Herron Song Records)
• MAILANI, ALO I KE ALO (Hā Enterprises)
• YOZA, PROLOGUE (Yoza Music)

Group of the Year – Best performance by a vocal duo or group

• KEAUHOU, KEAUHOU (Keauhou)
• KOMAKAKINO, E NIPO MAI (The Lāhui Project)
• RON KUALAAU & ZANUCK LINDSEY, KOKO (Kapala Music Group)
• KŪPAOA, HO‘OKELE (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)
• TOUCH OF GOLD, A, WHENEVER YOU COME AROUND (Kuleana Breakfast Club)

Male Vocalist of the Year – Best performance by a male artist

• KAWIKA KAHIAPO, UKE CAN CALL ME COUSIN (Pono Records)
• CYRIL PAHINUI, HI‘ILAWE (Pahinui Productions)
• KALANI PE‘A, E WALEA (Kalani Pe‘a Music)
• JOSH TATOFI, PUA KIELE (Bu-Print Records)
• HŌKŪ ZUTTERMEISTER, KU‘U PUA SAKURA (Kaleiola Records)

Most Promising Artist of the Year – Most promising first-recorded effort as a featured artist or group. Tie in vote.

• AJA GAMPLE, HUA‘I (Aja Gample)
• IZIK, OBSIDIAN (Zeo Music)
• KAIMANA BAND, THE, THE MOMENT (Kaimana Music)
• KEAUHOU, KEAUHOU (Keauhou)
• KOLOMONA KU, FOUNTAIN AFTER THE DROUGHT (808 KO Music)
• KALANI PE‘A, E WALEA (Kalani Pe‘a Music)

Single of the Year – Best-recorded performance of a song released as a single in either physical (CD) or digital format

• “E NIPO MAI,” Komakakino (The Lāhui Project)
• “MOLOKA‘I ON MY MIND,” Blayne Asing (Asing A Song)
• “NANI KE ALOHA,” Mailani (Hā Enterprises)
• “PE‘AHI O MAKANA,” Lehua Kalima and Shawn Pimental featuring Devin Kamealoha Forrest (Koops2)
• “SHINE,” John Keawe (Homestead Productions)

EP (“Extended Play”) of the Year – Best extended play release (between three and eight songs) of newly released material

• ALO I KE ALO, Mailani (Hā Enterprises)
• HUA‘I, Aja Gample (Aja Gample)
• PROLOGUE, Yoza (Yoza Music)
• TASTE OF MY LOVE, Shar Carillo (Waiulu Music)
• WHENEVER YOU COME AROUND, A Touch of Gold (Kuleana Breakfast Club)

Album of the Year  – Best album release of the year

• E WALEA, Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music) Dave Tucciarone, Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, and Allan Cool – producers
• HE LEO HUALI, “A PURE VOICE,” Ra‘iātea Helm (Ra‘iātea Helm Records) Ra‘iātea Helm Records, Ra‘iātea Helm, and Dave Tucciarone – producers
• HI‘ILAWE, Cyril Pahinui (Pahinui Productions) Cyril Pahinui – producer
• KEAUHOU, Keauhou (Keauhou) Keauhou – producers
• KU‘U PUA SAKURA, Hōkū Zuttermeister (Kaleiola Records) Hōkū Zuttermeister and Dave Tucciarone – producers

Song of the Year – Best achievement in creating a first-time recorded son

• “HANOHANO HA‘IKŪ,” by Zachary Alaka‘i Lum from KEAUHOU (Keauhou)
• “HE LEI ALOHA (NO HILO), by Kalani Pe‘a and Devin Kamealoha Forrest from E WALEA, Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music)
• “KU‘U PUA SAKURA,” by Hōkū Zuttermeister from KU‘U PUA SAKURA, Hōkū Zuttermeister (Kaleiola Records)
• “LEI HALA,” by Josh Tatofi and Kamakakehau Fernandez from PUA KIELE, Josh Tatofi (Bu-Print Records)
• “MOLOKA‘I ON MY MIND,” by Blayne Asing from MOLOKA‘I ON MY MIND, Blayne Asing, (Asing A Song)