2013 Hoku Awards Finalists Announced

Na Palapalai founding member and breakout solo recording artist Kuana Torres Kahele is a Na Hoku Hanohano Awards front-runner once again, setting the pace in 2013 with 11 nominations — six as a solo performer, five as a member of Na Palapalai — as the finalists in 32 categories were announced today by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.

Manu Boyd, Grammy Award-finalist Weldon Kekauoha, and first-time finalists Na Hoa — Ikaika Blackburn, Halehaku Seabury and Keoni Souza — received seven nominations each.

The winners will be announced at the 36th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards on Saturday, May 25, at the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

The big changes this year are the inauguration of separate categories for Alternative Album (separate from Rock), Ukulele Album (separate from Instrumental Album)?and Instrumental Composition (a composer’s award distinct from the existing Song of the Year Award).

2013 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards Finalists

Female Vocalist of the Year

• NUHEA, For Love (Anuhea Jams)

• SHAR CARILLO, Letting Go (Waiulu)

• AMY HANAIALI‘I, My Father’s Grandaughter (UA)

• MELVEEN LEED, I Wish You Love (ML Records)

• SUNWAY, I’m Here (Princess Lily)

Male Vocalist of the Year

• GARY AIKO, Poina ‘Ole ‘Ia (Genoa Keawe Records)

• NATHAN AWEAU, ‘Io (Bass Plus)

• MANU BOYD, Mele ‘Ailana – Manu Boyd Island Music (Hui Waianuhea)

• KUANA TORRES KAHELE, Hilo for the Holidays (Kuana Torres Kahele)

• WELDON KEKAUOHA, Pilialoha (‘Ohelo)

Group of the Year

• HO‘OKENA, Huliau – “Music for All Seasons” (Ho‘omau)

• KAHULANUI, Hula Ku‘i (Palm)

• EDDIE KAMAE AND THE SONS OF HAWAII, N? Keiki Mau Loa – Children Forever (Hawaiian Legacy)

• NA HOA, Na Hoa (Na Hoa)

• NA PALAPALAI, Ha‘a (Kuana Torres Kahele)

• PAHINUI HAWAIIAN BAND, Pahinui Hawaiian Band (Keala/Pahinui)

Slack Key Album of the Year

• KAPONOKAULIKE – TRADITIONAL HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITAR, Doug Fitch (Doug Fitch)

• LAPULE UA “SUNDAY RAIN” – OPEN TUNING IMPROVISATIONS VOLUME 2, Dennis Soares (Elation)

• SLACK KEY HUAKA‘I, Patrick Landeza (Addison Street)

Single of the Year

• “ALOHA KEAUHOU,” Kenneth Makuak?ne and Keola Donaghy (Makuak?ne)

• “IT’S NEVER EASY,” Bruddah Waltah (Rubbah Slippah)

• “MERRY CHRISTMAS DARLING,” Waipuna (Poki)

• “WHO LOVES YOU,” Cyril Pahinui and Diana Aki

• “YOU LOVE ME GOOD,” Ekolu (Waiehu)

Hawaiian Music Album of the Year

• HA‘A, Na Palapalai (Kuana Torres Kahele)

• MELE ‘AILANA – MANU BOYD ISLAND MUSIC, Manu Boyd (Hui Waianuhea)

• NA HOA, Na Hoa (Na Hoa)

• PAHINUI HAWAIIAN BAND, Pahinui Hawaiian Band (Keala/Pahinui)

• PILIALOHA, Weldon Kekauoha (‘Ohelo)

‘Ukulele Album of the Year

• GRAND UKULELE, Jake Shimabukuro (Hitchhike)

• REDEFINED, Kalei Gamiao (Neos)

• TELL U WHAT, Brittni Paiva (Brittni Paiva)

• ‘UKULELE DANCE, Taimane (Mountain Apple)

• ‘UKULELE LEGACY, Ohta-san & Herb Ohta, Jr. (Lele)

Compilation Album of the Year

• ALTERNATIVE HI, Various Artists (Mountain Apple) (Brandon Apeles and Shawn Livingston Moseley, producers)

• BEST OF TIHATI, VOLUME II, Tihati Productions (Tihati) (Jack Tihati Thompson, Afatia Thompson and Kale Chang, producers)

• HO’OLA LAHUI, HO’OULU PAE ‘AINA – VIBRANT PEOPLE, THRIVING LANDS, Various Artists (Kamehameha Schools) (Randie Fong, Jamie Fong, Kenneth Makuakane and Tasha Tavares­-Makuakane. producers)

• KUMU KELI‘I TAU‘A – A LIFETIME OF MELE, Various Artists (Sounds Like Hale) (Halemanu Villarimo, David Kauahikaua and Keli?i Tau??, producers)

• LANA’I SLACK KEY FESTIVAL – LIVE KIHO‘ALU AT KO‘ELE, Various Artists (Jazz Alley) (Dennis Kamakahi, Sonny Lim, John Keawe, Kevin Brown, Brother Noland, Kenneth Martinez Burgmaier, Cindy Combs, Benny Uyetake and Dave Lower, producers)

Album of the Year

• HA‘A, Na Palapalai (Kuana Torres Kahele) Dave Tucciarone and Kuana Torres Kahele – producers

• HULA KU‘I, Kahulanui (Palm) Charles Michael Brotman – producer

• ‘IO, Nathan Aweau (Bass Plus) Nathan Aweau – producer

• NA HOA, Na Hoa (Na Hoa) Na Hoa and Dave Tucciarone – producers

• PILIALOHA, Weldon Kekauoha (‘Ohelo) Dave Tucciarone and Weldon Kekauoha – producers

Song of the Year

• “Aia Ka La‘i I Ka‘uiki” by ‘Iliahi Paredes from PILIALOHA, Weldon Kekauoha (‘Ohelo)

• “Ka Pua ‘Ano Lani” by Kuana Torres Kahele from HA‘A, Na Palapalai (Kuana Torres Kahele)

• “Mele ‘Ailana” by Manu Boyd from MELE ‘AILANA – MANU BOYD ISLAND MUSIC, Manu Boyd (Hui Waianuhea)

• “Uhiwai” by Nathan Aweau from ‘IO, Nathan Aweau (Bass Plus)

• “Wahinekona” by Louis “Moon” Kauakahi from HULIAU –“MUSIC FOR ALL SEASONS,”Ho‘okena (Ho‘omau)

Favorite Entertainer of the Year

• ANUHEA

• NATHAN AWEAU

• KEOLA BEAMER

• MANU BOYD

• AMY HANAIALI‘I

• HO‘OKENA

• KUANA TORRES KAHELE

• WELDON KEKAUOHA

• NA HOA

• NA PALAPALAI

Hawaiian Language Performance

• MANU BOYD, Mele ?Ailana (Hui Waianuhea)

• KAMAKAKEHAU FERNANDEZ, Wahi Mahalo

• WELDON KEKAUOHA, Pilialoha (?Ohelo)

• NA HOA, Na Hoa (Na Hoa)

• VARIOUS ARTISTS, Ho’ola Lahui, Ho’oulu Pae ‘aina – Vibrant people, Thriving Lands (Kamehameha Schools)