Pioneer Hawai'i musicians to be feted

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Editor

•	Ka Leo Hano Awards June 30, time to be announced Castle Theatre, Maui Arts & Cultural Center 572-5730

Organizers envision the award as a complement to the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, the state's signature music contest, which rewards achievement in the previous year. Ka Leo Hano, with ceremonies to be televised statewide from the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, will recognize veterans who have laid the groundwork for the current crop of active singers, groups, musicians, composers and other industry veterans.

Voting will be by peers, in four categories:

• Male Vocalist, 'Akialoa Award.
• Female Vocalist, 'Amakihi Award.
• Group/Duo Vocalist, 'Apapane Award.
• Nonperformer (producer, composer, etc.), 'I'iwi Award.

A fifth category, Ka Lei Hiwa, will be voted on by the public. It will honor a performer or industry technician deemed "the choice lei (person)" based on popular vote.

Karey Anne K. Oura, part-owner of Rip Tide Records on Maui, said the idea for the new award originated with Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award winner herself, who saw the need to honor and recognize kupuna who have made significant contributions to the music scene over the years.

"A couple of years ago, Amy had the vision for a program that would honor the kupuna," said Oura, 27. "I shared the idea with Mayor James 'Kimo' Apana, and he supported the notion."

With the help of such distributors as Olinda Road and Mountain Apple Co., Oura said, preliminary nomination ballots are being distributed to prospective peer voters. By the end of the month, a roster of 12 possible competitors will be assembled for the final ballot, which will list four nominees in each category. The public voting won't commence until April.

"Our concept, really, is to honor the pioneers who have laid the groundwork for our industry," Oura said. "While the Hoku Awards focuses on recording artists of today, and even have an honor for lifetime achievement, ours will focus on the elders, the kupuna, with the intention of serving as a bridge from the past to the present, kind of a conduit of passing the culture from one generation to the next."

The name of the award was coined by kumu hula Hokulani Padilla-Holt. It means "the respected or honored voice."

Why a minimum of 25 years of experience to qualify?

"We used the criteria for the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, used them as a model," Oura said. "They require at last 25 years for consideration."

Nominees in all categories must be Hawai'i residents. With the longevity factor, Ka Leo Hano is poised to become a "hall of fame" salute rather than a reflection of prevailing trend-setters or chart-topping talent.

The awards, however, are open to all kinds of music, not just Hawaiian, and are being initially financed by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority and Maui County. Other corporate sponsors will be sought, Oura said. Also, it's possible for Ka Leo Hano to bestow posthumous awards in its inaugural program, though the announcement concert will include performances, as well as video biographies of the honorees.

Ka Leo Hano does not require membership or dues, but participants must have some affiliation with the music industry in Hawai'i.

The show will be taped and edited for a one-hour TV special that will be beamed statewide.

Oura said future award evenings may be expanded to field an additional new category or two.