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.
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)
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)
Best album release of the year.
KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele) Keali‘i Reichel, Fred Krauss, Jim Linkner, Shawn Pimental, and Michael Grande – producers
Best achievement in creating a first-time recorded song.
“KAWAIOKALENA” by Keali‘i Reichel from KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Best performance in a contemporary style.
REUNION, Amy & Willie K (Island Soul)
Best contemporary performance of music of or about Hawai‘i.
KU‘U ‘ĀINA ALOHA, Kawika Kahiapo (Pono)
Best performance of music in a rock style.
LIVE DUKE’S ON SUNDAY 2, Henry Kapono (Kapono)
Best performance of Hawaiian music.
KAWAIOKALENA, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Best jazz performance.
GOOD THING, Maggie Herron (no label)
Best instrumental performance.
JUS’ CRUZIN’, Ledward Kaapana (Jus’ Press)
Best performance of alternative music.
KALAKAUA AVENUE, Streetlight Cadence (Streetlight Cadence)
Best performance in a Christmas theme.
ENDLESS CHRISTMAS, Ginai (Black Hawaiian)
Best performance of slack key or vocals with slack key accompaniment.
HO‘OMALUHIA, Kawika Kahiapo (Pono)
Best performance of music in a reggae style.
PARADISE, Kolohe Kai (RKD)
Best performance of religious material.
VICTORIOUS, New Hope O‘ahu (Dream Worship)
Best performance of music in an R&B style.
WAKING UP, Maryanne Ito (InTribal Scribings)
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
Best performance by an artist or group.
KEALI‘I REICHEL
Graphic artists and Liner Notes writers must be residents of the state of Hawai‘i.
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)
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)
The following categories are judged by separate panels of judges. Listings are for informational purpose only.
(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)
(Artist Award) Best performance in the Hawaiian language.
KAWIKA KAHIAPO, Ku‘u ‘Āina Aloha (Pono)
Best technical achievement in a sound recording and mix-down.
MICHAEL GRANDE, JIM LINKNER, AND SHAWN PIMENTAL, for Kawaiokalena, Keali‘i Reichel (Punahele)
Best technical achievement in a sound recording and mix-down.
MICHAEL GRANDE, for They Come and They Go, Reggie Padilla (Pass Out)
Award is restricted to non-U.S. artists.
KEPANĪ, Kentaro Tsushima (School Bus)
Single of the Year
EP (“Extended Play”) of the Year
Album of the Year
Song of the Year
Genre Categories
Contemporary Album of the Year
Island Music Album of the Year
Rock Album of the Year
Hawaiian Music Album of the Year
Jazz Album of the Year
Instrumental Album of the Year
Alternative Album of the Year
Christmas Album of the Year
Slack Key Album of the Year
Reggae Album of the Year
Religious Album of the Year
R&B Album of the Year
Compilation Album of the Year
Favorite Entertainer of the Year
Technical Categories
Graphics Award
Liner Notes Awards
Adjudicated Categories
Haku Mele Award
Hawaiian Language Performance Award
Engineering Award: Hawaiian Genre Category
Engineering Award: Non-Hawaiian Genre Category
International Album — Special Recongition Award
