Hawai'i Music Awards spin out Island favorites via Web votes

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

From left, Augie Tulba, Barry Flanagan, Andy Bumatai, Jordan Segundo and, below right, Raiatea Helm, are among those scheduled to participate at Sunday night's Hawai'i Music Awards program at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace and on the Internet. Hawai'i Music Awards Presented by the Music Foundation of Hawai'i 6-9 p.m. Sunday Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace and at hawaiimusicawards.com $10 951-6699, 536-2161

The Hawai'i Music Awards, not to be confused with the Hoku awards, offers an alternative: See it live at a club this Sunday, or monitor it from your computer at home or at work.

We asked organizer Johnny Kai about the reach, the intent and the future of the awards:

Herewith, the FAQs:

Question: How does online voting fare for you and the sponsoring Music Foundation of Hawaii? Wider access to interested voters?

Answer: When the goal is to promote the music industry, it makes sense to utilize the Internet to reach the maximum number of people to make (them) aware of our recording industry through the People's Choice Voting Ballots.

How many have voted so far?

This year, we exceeded 260,000 hits to the site. Out of that number, approximately 30,000 people participated.

Is there any accountability of padded votes?

Yes, the Internet Web site will only allow one vote per address; after that it refuses to validate a second try.

Because the awards are based on popular vote, not peers, how are you striving to get a broader participation from island artists?

The majority of voters come from the nominees themselves, their fan base, and the many links they know will support them. So it all starts with the Island artist, then branches out to their supporters; so the participation of the nominees is the most important part of the success of a People's Choice voting system.

Who are the performers scheduled to appear?

Augie Tulba; Andy Bumatai; Jeff Kino; Mel Cabang; Ginai (doing the national anthem); Raiatea Helm (traditional Hawaiian); Danny Couch (pop); Allison (children's music); Jordan Segundo; John Keawe (slack key); Nathan Aweau and Barry Flanagan (Hawaiian); Kawika Regidor (Island music); Ka'ala Boys (Island music); Amy K (hip-hop); Native Blend (Island music); Pacific Blue (Island music); B.E.T. with Katana (Island music); Pasteles (Latin music); Chance & the Blues Daddies (rock).

How do you assess the music scene in Hawai 'i today — stagnant, booming, hurting? — and explain your reasons why, or how it can grow or sustain.

The local music scene is stagnant; the music industry is well aware of this, and many are making headway in promoting their artist nationally and internationally and that's a good thing.

The goal of the Music Foundation of Hawaii is to help reorganize the way we do music business in Hawai'i. We believe the future of the music community will be in our ability to become a viable resource for the advertising and selling of tourism to Hawai'i, and only then will we see a broad support for 'live' music in Hawai'i.

The person who sells hotel rooms and airline tickets to this town rules. The music industry has to sell hotel rooms and airline tickets to have the support of corporate Hawai'i, the retail industry and the tourism industry. We can achieve this by improving our visibility and marketing value by creating more local music events and festivals to attract tourists. We also need to be a part of national and international music organizations to validate who we are and what we are worth to a media-driven world.

What are the major differences between the Hawai'i Music Awards and the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards?

The voting process is the dominant difference. The Hoku is a membership-selection process, and the Hawai'i Music Awards is the People's Choice or sometimes referred to as the popular vote. The goals of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards are industry-based; the Hawai'i Music Awards is an Internet-based marketing project to support music education, the music community and economic development for the state of Hawai'i.

Do you ever see the day when the two will become one?

We are already one when it comes to supporting music from Hawai'i. In the years we have been doing this, we see the benefits of providing more ways for local artists to gain visibility. Having two award events with winners selected by two different processes gives artists a second chance, or perhaps a chance to be recognized for the first time.