Log on to select Hawai'i Music Awards winners
By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor
The Fifth Annual Hawai'i Music Awards, set for 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Waikiki Shell, is embracing the Internet for entry submissions, voting and a live webcast of the ceremonies.
For the first time, entries will be accepted electronically, through forms that will be on the Hawai'i Music Awards Web site, though three copies of recordings must be submitted to validate the entry.
Voting, starting Sept. 14, will be both via the Web site or a published ballot (details are being finalized).
"Our goal is to get one million voters world wide," said Johnny Kai, president of the recently formed Music Foundation of Hawai'i, a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that will administer the balloting. Kai said that he is aligning with the Hawai'i Tourism Authority to help promote and market not only the awards event, but a recording by the participating artists.
"We're also talking to Al Masini about possibly producing our show," Kai said. Masini was out of town and couldn't be reached. Voting will not be restricted to Islanders because Kai wants to increase global awareness of Island music, the island recording industry and his organization.
Billed as a People's Choice competition, the Hawai'i Music Awards recognizes achievement in categories that include video as well as more traditional areas such as rock and jazz. It is an alternative to the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts' more established Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
Entries are due by Aug. 31.
The ceremony will be shown live on the Internet but edited for a rebroadcast on Thanksgiving, Kai said. Vacations Hawai'i will offer voters a chance to win a trip for two to Las Vegas, where the webcast will be shown live at the California Hotel.
"The Web site will also add a shopping cart to encourage voters to purchase local recordings, and monies from the proceeds will benefit the Music Foundation of Hawai'i to support music education in the schools," Kai said.
Information: 951-6699.
