38th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award Winners
See the full list of 2015 winners at the prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, given by the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts.
General Categories
Female Vocalist of the Year
Best performance by a female artist.
MAILANI, A Lot Like Love (Hā)
Instrumental Composition
(Composer’s award) Best achievement in creating a first-time recorded instrumental composition.
“1,000 Crystals,” by Pali Ka‘aihue from 1,000 CRYSTALS, Pali Ka‘aihue (PK)
Male Vocalist of the Year
Best performance by a male artist.
KEALI‘I REICHEL, Kawaiokalena (Punahele)
Group of the Year
Best performance by a vocal duo or group.
HŪ‘EWA, Hū‘ewa (Hā)
Most Promising Artist of the Year
Most promising first-recorded effort as a featured artist or group.
Single of the Year
Best-recorded performance of a song released as a single in either physical (CD) or digital format.
“‘OHAI ALI‘I KALUHEA,” Kuana Torres Kahele (KTK)
EP (“Extended Play”) of the Year
Best extended play release (between 3 and 8 songs and less than 30 minutes of total playing time) of newly released material.
CHA-LANG-A-LANG CHRISTMAS, Nā Hoa (Nā Hoa)
Album of the Year
Best album release of the year.
KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele) Keali‘i Reichel, Fred Krauss, Jim Linkner, Shawn Pimental, and Michael Grande – producers
Song of the Year
Best achievement in creating a first-time recorded song.
“KAWAIOKALENA” by Keali‘i Reichel from KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Genre Categories
Contemporary Album of the Year
Best performance in a contemporary style.
REUNION, Amy & Willie K (Island Soul)
Island Music Album of the Year
Best contemporary performance of music of or about Hawai‘i.
KU‘U ‘ĀINA ALOHA, Kawika Kahiapo (Pono)
Rock Album of the Year
Best performance of music in a rock style.
LIVE DUKE’S ON SUNDAY 2, Henry Kapono (Kapono)
Hawaiian Music Album of the Year
Best performance of Hawaiian music.
KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Jazz Album of the Year
Best jazz performance.
GOOD THING, Maggie Herron (no label)
Instrumental Album of the Year
Best instrumental performance.
JUS’ CRUZIN’, Ledward Kaapana (Jus’ Press)
Alternative Album of the Year
Best performance of alternative music.
KALAKAUA AVENUE, Streetlight Cadence (Streetlight Cadence)
Christmas Album of the Year
Best performance in a Christmas theme.
ENDLESS CHRISTMAS, Ginai (Black Hawaiian)
Slack Key Album of the Year
Best performance of slack key or vocals with slack key accompaniment.
HO‘OMALUHIA, Kawika Kahiapo (Pono)
Reggae Album of the Year
Best performance of music in a reggae style.
PARADISE, Kolohe Kai (RKD)
Religious Album of the Year
Best performance of religious material.
VICTORIOUS, New Hope O‘ahu (Dream Worship)
R&B Album of the Year
Best performance of music in an R&B style.
WAKING UP, Maryanne Ito (InTribal Scribings)
Compilation Album of the Year
Producer’s award. Best performance of newly released material by a minimum of three distinct artists. Award to local producer(s).
ISLAND STYLE UKULELE 2, Various Artists (Neos) Bob and Pati St. John – producers
Favorite Entertainer of the Year
Best performance by an artist or group.
KEALI‘I REICHEL
Technical Categories
Graphic artists and Liner Notes writers must be residents of the state of Hawai‘i.
Graphics Award
Award for the best total packaging – exterior (cover) and interior (booklet/insert, disc art) graphics – that artistically conveys the record’s theme. Digital download–only releases are not eligible for a Graphics award.
WAILANI ARTATES, for OLANUI by Sean Robbins (Sean Robbins)
Liner Notes Awards
Award for best liner notes that enlightens the reader about the artist, the project’s theme, significance of song choices, and in the case of Hawaiian language recordings, provides lyrics and translations. Digital download–only releases are not eligible for a Liner Notes award.
NEIL J. HANNAHS, for E MAU KE ALOHA by Waipuna (Poki)
Adjudicated Categories
The following categories are judged by separate panels of judges. Listings are for informational purpose only.
Haku Mele Award
(Composer’s Award) Best first–released song or chant primarily in the Hawaiian language.
KAWAIOKALENA, by Keali‘i Reichel from KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Hawaiian Language Performance Award
(Artist Award) Best performance in the Hawaiian language.
KAWIKA KAHIAPO, Ku‘u ‘Āina Aloha (Pono)
Engineering Award: Hawaiian Genre Category
Best technical achievement in a sound recording and mix-down.
MICHAEL GRANDE, JIM LINKNER, AND SHAWN PIMENTAL, for Kawaiokalena, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Engineering Award: Non-Hawaiian Genre Category
Best technical achievement in a sound recording and mix-down.
MICHAEL GRANDE, for They Come and They Go, Reggie Padilla (Pass Out)
International Album — Special Recongition Award
Award is restricted to non-U.S. artists.
KEPANĪ, Kentaro Tsushima (School Bus)
