2009 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards

Congratulations to all nominees and winners at the 2009 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, and a big mahalo to everyone who contributed to its success.

2009 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards

Album of the Year (to artist and producers): "...with Aloha," Pali (PK), D.J. Pratt and Pali T.W. Ka'aihue, producers
Song of the Year: "Island Days," by Pali T.W. Ka'aihue from "...with Aloha," Pali (PK)
Female vocalist: Natalie Ai Kamauu, "'I" (no label)
Male vocalist: Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole, "Kaumakaiwa" (Mountain Apple)
Group of the year: Holunape, "Ahea? 'Ano!" (Roy Sakuma)
Favorite entertainer: Led Kaapana and Mike Kaawa, "Force of Nature" (Jus Press)
Most promising artist: Kupaoa, "Pili o ke Ao" (Kupaoa)
Anthology (producers' award): "Unforgettable," Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and the Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau (Poki), Tim Mathre, Kata Maduli, Lea Uehara, producers
Christmas album: "E Ola ke Ali'i: The Na Kama Christmas Collection, Volume 1," Na Kama (Makani)
Compilation: "Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Masters Series Vol. II," various artists (Rhythm and Roots), Chris Lau,
Milton Lau, producers
Music video/DVD: "Kamehameha Schools 2008 Song Contest," Kamehameha Schools (Mountain Apple)
Contemporary: "Aumakua," Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom (Ua)
Hawaiian: "Ahea? 'Ano!" Holunape (Roy Sakuma)
Hip hop/R&B: "Reborn," A Touch of Gold (Golden Boy)
Instrumental: "Haleakala," Jeff Peterson and Riley Lee (Peterson)
Island music: "...with Aloha," Pali (PK)
Jazz: "Tropic Rhapsody," Teresa Bright (Teresa Bright)
Reggae: "Nothing to Hide," Rebel Souljahs (no label)
Religious: "All for One," Del Beazley (Mountain Apple)
Rock: "Many Classics, Kalapana Plays Their Best," Kalapana (OTB)
Slack key: "Hawaii Island ... Is My Home," John Keawe (Homestead)
Graphics (designer's award): Stacey Leong Design for "'Aina," Peter Apo & the Rainbow Nation Band (Mamo)
Engineering (studio engineers' award): Milan Bertosa, D.J. Pratt and Gaylord Holomalia for "Many Classics, Kalapana Plays Their Best," Kalapana (OTB)
Liner notes (annotators' award): Puakea Nogelmeier, Fred Krauss and Keali'i Reichel for "Kamalei: Keali'i Reichel Collection -- Two," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)
Hawaiian language performance: Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole for "Kaumakaiwa" (Mountain Apple)
Haku mele (composers' award for first-time recorded Hawaiian-language song): Joseph Brian Badis and Kellen Paik for "Uluwehikalunaoka'ala" from "Pili o ke Ao," Kupaoa (Kupaoa)

Special awards

Ki Ho'alu Foundation Legacy Award: George Kahumoku Jr.
Moe Keale "Aloha Is" Award for Community Service: Brother Noland
HARA Special Industry Award: "Hawaii Calls"
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Cecilio and Kapono, The Sons of Hawaii, Keola and Kapono Beamer, the late John Piilani Watkins and the late George Jarrett Helm

With Mahalo To Our 2009 Award Sponsors:

The Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) and Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards trace their origins to 1978 and KCCN-AM Radio, then the world’s only all-Hawaiian music radio station.

Conceived as a radio station promotion by Krash Kealoha (Victor ‘Ōpiopio), legendary deejay, program director and driving creative force behind KCCN-AM, in Nā Hōkū Hanohano (The Stars of Distinction), Kealoha envisioned a formal recognition and celebration of recorded musical excellence in Hawai‘i—so long ignored by mainland awards programs.

Kealoha—with the support of KCCN owner Sydney Grayson and Kealoha’s original deejay team including Kimo Kaho‘āno and Jacqueline “Skylark” Rossetti—launched the first Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards presentation in 1978.

As no organized “academy of artists” yet existed among Hawaii ’s musicians—the role HARA would come to play —the earliest awards were determined by public vote.

By 1982, Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards evolved into an industry awards ceremony administered by recording professionals. The Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts was patterned after the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (also referred to as NARAS or the Recording Academy), which produces the Grammy Awards. Each year the Hawai‘i Academy produces a live television broadcast of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards honoring the achievements of excellence in the recording arts. It has become the biggest annual entertainment event in Hawai‘i. Commercially available recordings created, produced, and/or engineered and primarily distributed in Hawai‘i are accepted for nomination.