40th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards
HARA announces finalists.
The votes are in. And the finalists for this year’s 40th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards include the best and brightest among Hawai’i’s music scene. On this year’s ballot are the top five artists, singles or albums in 34 different categories selected by the more than 600 members of the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA). Winners for each category will be revealed on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at the 40th Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards at the Hawai’i Convention Center. Tickets start at $175 for General Admission, $150 for Kama`āina and are $250 for Premium Seats. To purchase call 808-593-9424 or visit nahokuhanohano.org.
“This year’s Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards is one that no one will want to miss as we celebrate four decades honoring the very best in Hawai’i music,” said Pali Ka’aihue, president of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts. “Our team has been working for months to put together a special line up of performances that we feel honors the beautiful history of Hawai’i’s music and those who have contributed to bringing it to the level of excellence that it enjoys today.”
A few of this year’s 2017 Nā Hōkū Hanohano finalists are:
Female Vocalist of the Year – Best performance by a female artist.
• AMY HANAIALI‘I, REMEMBERING NAPUA (Ua Records)
• RA‘I TEA HELM, HE LEO HUALI, “A PURE VOICE” (Ra‘iātea Helm Records)
• MAGGIE HERRON, BETWEEN THE MUSIC & THE MOON (Herron Song Records)
• MAILANI, ALO I KE ALO (Hā Enterprises)
• YOZA, PROLOGUE (Yoza Music)
Group of the Year – Best performance by a vocal duo or group.
• KEAUHOU, KEAUHOU (Keauhou)
• KOMAKAKINO, E NIPO MAI (The Lāhui Project)
• RON KUALAAU & ZANUCK LINDSEY, KOKO (Kapala Music Group)
• KŪPAOA, HO‘OKELE (Hulu Kūpuna Productions)
• TOUCH OF GOLD, A, WHENEVER YOU COME AROUND (Kuleana Breakfast Club)
Male Vocalist of the Year – Best performance by a male artist.
• KAWIKA KAHIAPO, UKE CAN CALL ME COUSIN (Pono Records)
• CYRIL PAHINUI, HI‘ILAWE (Pahinui Productions)
• KALANI PE‘A, E WALEA (Kalani Pe‘a Music)
• JOSH TATOFI, PUA KIELE (Bu-Print Records)
• HŌKŪ ZUTTERMEISTER, KU‘U PUA SAKURA (Kaleiola Records)
Most Promising Artist of the Year – Most promising first-recorded effort as a featured artist or group. Tie in vote.
• AJA GAMPLE, HUA‘I (Aja Gample)
• IZIK, OBSIDIAN (Zeo Music)
• KAIMANA BAND, THE, THE MOMENT (Kaimana Music)
• KEAUHOU, KEAUHOU (Keauhou)
• KOLOMONA KU, FOUNTAIN AFTER THE DROUGHT (808 KO Music)
• KALANI PE‘A, E WALEA (Kalani Pe‘a Music)
Single of the Year – Best-recorded performance of a song released as a single in either physical (CD) or digital format.
• “E NIPO MAI,” Komakakino (The Lāhui Project)
• “MOLOKA‘I ON MY MIND,” Blayne Asing (Asing A Song)
• “NANI KE ALOHA,” Mailani (Hā Enterprises)
• “PE‘AHI O MAKANA,” Lehua Kalima and Shawn Pimental featuring Devin Kamealoha Forrest (Koops2)
• “SHINE,” John Keawe (Homestead Productions)
EP (“Extened Play”) of the Year – Best extended play release (between 3 and 8 songs) of newly released material.
• ALO I KE ALO, Mailani (Hā Enterprises)
• HUA‘I, Aja Gample (Aja Gample)
• PROLOGUE, Yoza (Yoza Music)
• TASTE OF MY LOVE, Shar Carillo (Waiulu Music)
• WHENEVER YOU COME AROUND, A Touch of Gold (Kuleana Breakfast Club)
Album of the Year – Best album release of the year.
• E WALEA, Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music) Dave Tucciarone, Kamakoa Lindsey-Asing, and
Allan Cool – producers
• HE LEO HUALI, “A PURE VOICE,” Ra‘iātea Helm (Ra‘iātea Helm Records) Ra‘iātea Helm
Records, Ra‘iātea Helm, and Dave Tucciarone – producers
• HI‘ILAWE, Cyril Pahinui (Pahinui Productions) Cyril Pahinui – producer
• KEAUHOU, Keauhou (Keauhou) Keauhou – producers
• KU‘U PUA SAKURA, Hōkū Zuttermeister (Kaleiola Records) Hōkū Zuttermeister and Dave
Tucciarone – producers
Song of the Year – Best achievement in creating a first-time recorded song.
• “HANOHANO HA‘IKŪ,” by Zachary Alaka‘i Lum from KEAUHOU (Keauhou)
• “HE LEI ALOHA (NO HILO), by Kalani Pe‘a and Devin Kamealoha Forrest from E WALEA,Kalani Pe‘a (Kalani Pe‘a Music)
• “KU‘U PUA SAKURA,” by Hōkū Zuttermeister from KU‘U PUA SAKURA, Hōkū Zuttermeister(Kaleiola Records)
• “LEI HALA,” by Josh Tatofi and Kamakakehau Fernandez from PUA KIELE, Josh Tatofi (Bu-Print Records)
• “MOLOKA‘I ON MY MIND,” by Blayne Asing from MOLOKA‘I ON MY MIND, Blayne Asing, (Asing A Song)
