Nā Hōkū Hanohano Announces Award Winners

On Saturday, May 19, 2018, the 41st Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards handed out awards to the state’s top musicians, songwriters, composers, and producers in 36 categories, including 34 general and two honorary awards. More than 1,500 guests attended the sold out event, posing on the red carpet and enjoying unforgettable performances by icons in the island music scene including Jack Johnson, Ekolu, Josh Tatofi, Kapena, Keauhou, Mailani and more.

Kenneth Makuakane wins an award for Religious Album of the year for Simply for Ke Akua. PC: Mele Mei

“Over 41 years the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award show has evolved into a momentous evening for Hawai‘i,” said Pali Ka‘aihue, president of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts. “We are honored to continue to help showcase Hawai’i’s talented entertainers while perpetuating the culture of our beautiful aloha state. All of those celebrated here tonight are ambassadors of aloha and this is reflected in the beautiful music they share.”

Among this year’s recipients, Keauhou took home four awards for their album I Ke Ko A Ke Au. Kapena, celebrated their first family album, Palena ‘Ole, taking home four awards.

A full list of this yearʻs Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards recipients include:

GENERAL CATEGORIES

• ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Palena ‘Ole, Kapena (KDE) Kapena, producer
• EP (“EXTENDED PLAY”) OF THE YEAR: “Pali Ke Kua,” Mailani (Hā Enterprises)
• SONG OF THE YEAR: “Bamboo,” Kimie Miner from Proud As the Sun (Haku Records) Kimie Miner, Imua Garza, Jesse Epstein, and Isaac Moreno, composers
• SINGLE OF THE YEAR: “We Are Hawai’’i’s Finest,” Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
• HAWAIIAN SINGLE OF THE YEAR: “Kaulana Ka Inoa ‘o Hokule’a,” Chad Takatsugi featuring Na Hoa and Kuini (no label)
• INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION (Composer’s Award): “Kahulanui Boogie Woogie,” Kahulanui from Mele Ho’oilina (Kahulanui, LLC) Bill Noble, composer
• FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Kimie Miner, Proud As The Sun (Haku Records)
• GROUP OF THE YEAR: Kapena, Palena ‘Ole (KDE)
• MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Kamaka Kukona, ‘Ala Anuhea (Hanu)
• MOST PROMISING ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Leipono, Ku’u Pualei (no label)

GENRE CATEGORIES

• ALTERNATIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Stay Gold, Stef Mariani (Klever Kitty Records)
• ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR (Producer’s Award): Jus’ Bes’, Led Kaapana (Jus’ Press Productions)
• COMPILATION ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Na Mele ‘Ukulele, Various Artists (Neos Productions)
• CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Palena ‘Ole, Kapena (KDE)
• HAWAIIAN MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: I Ke Ko A Ke Au, Keauhou (Keauhou)
• HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Makana, Illtalian (no label)
• INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Across the Sea, Greg Sardinha, Tsun- Hui Hung, and Jeff Peterson (Keala Records)
• ISLAND MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR: So The Story Goes, Halemanu (Sounds Like Hale)
• JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Mele Ho’oilina, Kahulanui (Kahulanui LLC)
• METAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Zodiac, Storm (Tin Idol Production)
• MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR: “When I Come Home,” Kapena (KDE)
• R&B ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Genres of Soul, RJ Kaneao (Groove Plant Hawaii)
• REGGAE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Marching Orders, The Green (Easy Star Records)
• RELIGIOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Simply for Ke Akua, Kenneth Makuakane (KMM)
• ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Lightning Strikes Hilo, Larry Dupio (no label)
• ‘UKULELE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: ‘Ukulele Friends: The Sequel, Bryan Tolentino & Herb Ohta, Jr. (Neos Productions)
• FAVORITE ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Valentine, John

TECHNICAL CATEGORIES

• GRAPHICS AWARD: Wailani Artates for Makawalu, Nāpua (Pihana Productions)
• LINER NOTES: Zachary Alaka’i Lum for I Ke Ko A Ke Au, Keauhou (Keauhou)

ADJUDICATED CATEGORIES: HAKU MELE AWARD (2 Awards)

• “Aloha Maunalua,” by Nicholas Keali’i Lum, from I Ke Ko A Ke Au, Keauhou (Keauhou)
• “Ma ‘eli’eli,” by Zachary Alaka’i Lum, I Ke Ko A Ke Au, Keauhou (Keauhou)

HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE AWARD: Keauhou, I Ke Ko A Ke Au, Keauhou (Keauhou)

GENERAL ENGINEERING AWARD: Imua Garza and Jules Washington, for Proud As the Sun, Kimie Miner (Haku Records)

HAWAIIAN ENGINEERING AWARD: Dave Tucciarone, for Makawalu, Nāpua (Pihana Productions)

INTERNATIONAL ALBUM SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: Colors, Hook (Fukuhara Naoki)

The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards is one of Mele Mei’s 2018 signature events. Mele Mei, which translates to “May Hawaiian Music Month,” features a number of musical performances throughout the Hawaiian Islands. The celebration provides both residents and visitors from around the world a chance to immerse themselves in the islands’ local music and culture. This year’s schedule of performances will take place at various hotels and venues statewide and feature entertainment from ‘ukulele and steel guitar to traditional Hawaiian music and hula.

Mele Mei 2018 is sponsored by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority and Hawai’i Academy of Recording Art (HARA). An up-to-date schedule of this year’s events can be found online at www.melemei.com under the “events” tab.

For more information on Mele Mei please visit www.melemei.com. You can also follow Mele Mei on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MeleMeiHawaii, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/melemei, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/melemei as well as the hashtag #melemei2018.