This year's Na Hoku Hanohano nominations announced

Advertiser Staff

Nominations for the 26th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards have been announced. Awards will be presented May 28 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Ticket details: 235-9424. The awards will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. May 28 on KFVE-TV.

• Female Vocalist of the Year — Raiatea Helm, "Far Away Heaven" (Rip Tide); Ilona Irvine, "Keep It Comin'" (Hobo House On The Hill); Kekuhi Kanahele, "Honey ~ Boy" (Mountain Apple Co.); Hulu Lindsey, "Ho'anapau" (Kahulu); Owana Salazar, "Wahine Slack N' Steel" (Moonbow).

• Male Vocalist of the Year — Nathan Aweau, "E Apo Mai" (B.P. Music Arts); Kawai Cockett, "Still Strumming!" (Hula); Tony Conjugacion, "Tony C Sings ... Na Hulu Welo" (Family Treasures, MGC); Danny Couch, "Something to Remember" (Danny Couch); Sean Na'auao, "A Kanaka Christmas" (Poi Pounder).

• Group of the Year — 'Ale'a, "Origins/Kinohi," (Poki); Kalapana, "Blue Album" (OceanBeat); Kahauanu Lake Singers, "Na Mele 'Auhau" (Songs of Tribute, Hula); Na Leo Pilimehana, "Hawaiian Memories" (NLP Music); Na Palapalai, "Makani 'Olu'olu" (Koops 2).

• Single of the Year — "Aloha," Mana'o Company & Friends (Dan Pa); "Give Aloha," Various Artists (Synergy Hawai'i Day); "Hana Hou," Anelaikalani (Paradise); "He Mele No Ku'u Tutu," Hulu Lindsey (Kahulu); "Rock the Boat/Sweetly/Happy Jam," Tino & The Rhythm Klub (Shaka).

• Contemporary Album of the Year — "Believe," Believe (Hobo House On The Hill); "Coolest Drop of Rain," Daniel Ho (Daniel Ho Creations); "Island Feeling, Part II," Ten Feet (Mass Appeal); "Satisfied," Keahiwai (Island Groove); "Something to Remember," Danny Couch (Danny Couch).

• Reggae Album of the Year — "B.E.T. Volume 3," B.E.T. (Galmiche); "Chief Ragga," Chief Ragga (Hobo House On The Hill); "For You," Three Plus (Koops 2); "Keep It Together," Typical Hawaiians (Cinnamon Red); "Rascal in Paradise," O-Shen (Hobo House On The Hill).

• Comedy Album of the Year — "Half Nuts," Jeff Kino (My Son Jaren); "Johnny Sweetbread ... the Lost Tapes," Johnny Sweetbread (RHM); "Locally Disturbed," Augie Tulba (KDE).

• Jazz Album of the Year — "Hot Gypsy Nights," Tom Conway (Tomcat Music); "Rust on the Moon," I. Mihana (I M Recordings); "Watch What Happens," Benoit JazzWorks.

• Most Promising Artist(s): First-recorded effort — Pekelo Day, "Mai Na Kapuna Mai" (Ululoa); Raiatea Helm, "Far Away Heaven" (Rip Tide); Kahala Moon, "Collage" (Keala); Pali, "Pali" (P & K); Kawika Regidor, "The First Time" (Wind Wave).

• Compilation Album of the Year — "Aloha Festivals Hawaiian Falsetto Contest Winners III," various artists (Hula), Donald P. "Flip" McDiarmid III, William Baba Alimoot, Charles Michael Brotman, Chance Gardner, Janet Hyrne, Steve Kramer, Cody Pueo Pata, Jake Rohrer, Frank Shaner, Lynn Martin and Randy Sugata, producers; "Big Island's Own Hana Hou!" various artists (J.A.G.S.), Tommy Ching, producer; "Hawai'i Sings for the Children," various artists (Friends of Foster Kids), Friends of Foster Kids, producer; "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival — Vol. 1," various artists (Rhythm & Roots), Milton Lau, producer; "Tiny CD 2," various artists (Score), Dave Tucciarone, producer.

• Anthology of the Year: Producer's award — "Best of Flyin' Hawaiian, Vol. 3," various artists (Flyin' Hawai'ian), Lester Gantan, producer; "Don McDiarmid Jr. Presents Hula Records' Hits," various artists (Hula), Don McDiarmid Jr., producer; "A Gallery," Teresa Bright (Pumehana), Teresa Bright and Kata Maduli, producers; "Hawaiian Style 2," various artists (NEOS), Pati St. John, producer; "With Aloha From Hawai'i," various artists (United), Pat Rocco and Gregg Perry, producers.

• Instrumental of the Year — "Aloha Kaikua'ana," John Keawe (Homestead); "Instrumental Peace," Barry Flanagan (Finn); "Soliloquy — Ka Leo O Loko," Keola Beamer (Dancing Cat); "Sunday Morning," Jake Shimabukuro (Four Strings); "To Honor a Queen," Ozzie Kotani (Dancing Cat).

• Christmas Album of the Year — "A Father-Daughter Christmas," Stardancer (Golden Boy Music); "A Kanaka Christmas," Sean Na'auao (Poi Pounder); "Instrumental Christmas Classics," Jack de Mello (Mountain Apple Co.).

• Religious Album of the Year — "God Is in Control," Randy & Gay Hongo (Christian Vision); "Journal," Trisha Nakamoto (New Hope Pearl Community); "Pure Paradise," Un 2 One (Reign Music); "Songs of Praise," Randy, Gay & Andrew Hongo (Christian Vision); "Still Waters Run Deep," Mark Matthews (Tradewind Ministries).

• Rock Album of the Year — "At Random," Johnny Helm (Johnny Helm); "Blue Album," Kalapana (OceanBeat); "Eddie Would Go," Dan-O (Stink Eye); "Soul Arrival," Go Jimmy Go (Moonroom); "That Moon," Dave Seawater (Musically Sound).

• Island Contemporary Album of the Year — "Halau Hula Olana," Halau Hula Olana (Hula); "Koi Au," Makana (Makana Music); "Origins/Kinohi," 'Ale'a (Poki); "Pali," Pali (P & K); "Wahine Slack N' Steel," Owana Salazar (Moonbow).

• Hawaiian Album of the Year — "Far Away Heaven," Raiatea Helm (Rip Tide); "Hawaiian Memories," Na Leo Pilimehana (NLP Music); "Honey ~ Boy" Kekuhi Kanahele (Mountain Apple Co.); "Makani 'Olu'olu," Na Palapalai (Koops 2); "Still Strumming!" Kawai Cockett (Hula).

• Song of the Year: Composer's Award — "E Apo Mai" by Nathan Aweau from "E Apo Mai," Nathan Aweau (B.P. Music Arts); "He Mele No Ku'u Tutu" by Napua Greig from "Ho'anapau," Hulu Lindsey (Kahulu); "Nani O Waianae" by Kenneth Makuakane from "Hawaiian Memories," Na Leo Pilimehana (NLP Music); "Nani Waimea I Ka'uhiwai La" by Napua Greig and Kenneth Makuakane from "Ho'anapau," Hulu Lindsey (Kahulu); "Wailua" by Mary K. Puku'i and Bill Kaiwa from "Palama 'Ia Na Mele O Kaua'i," Leilani Rivera Bond (Leilani).

• Album of the Year: artist and producer award — "Far Away Heaven," Raiatea Helm (Rip Tide), Kenneth Makuakane and Alden Levi, producers; "Hawaiian Memories," Na Leo (NLP Music), Na Leo Pilimehana and Kenneth Makuakane, producers; "Ho'anapau," Hulu Lindsey (Kahulu), Kenneth Makuakane, producer; "Makani 'Olu'olu," Na Palapalai, (Koops 2), Shawn Pimental, producer; "Wahine Slack N' Steel," Owana Salazar (Moonbow Records), Owana Salazar, producer.

• Hawaiian Language Performance — Kawai Cockett for "Still Strumming!" (Hula); Kekuhi Kanahele for "Honey ~ Boy" (Mountain Apple Co.); Keawe Lopes for "He Aloha No" (Mana Pa'i); Na Palapalai for "Makani 'Olu'olu" (Koops 2); Kaiolohia Funes Smith for "Aloha Ku'u Home O Hana" (Ululoa).

• Haku Mele — "Aloha Nanakuli" by Keawe Lopes from "He Aloha No" (Mana Pa'i); "Lei O Kohala" by Kaha'i Topolinski from "Origins/Kinohi," 'Ale'a (Poki); "Pili Kapekepeke" by Julian Ako from "Makani 'Olu'olu, Na Palapalai (Koops 2); "Wailua" by Mary Kawena Puku'i and Bill Kaiwa from "Pulama Ia Na Mele O Kaua'i," Leilani Bond (Leilani); "Welina Manoa Mahalo (e) Manoa" by Keawe and Tracey Lopes from "He Aloha No" (Mana Pa'i).

• Favorite Entertainer of the Year: Best performance by an artist or artists — 'Ale'a, "Origins/Kinohi"; Keola Beamer, "Soliloquy — Ka Leo O Loko"; Teresa Bright, "A Gallery"; Kawai Cockett, "Still Strumming!"; Raiatea Helm, "Far Away Heaven"; I. Mihana, "Rust on the Moon"; Hulu Lindsey, "Ho'anapau"; Makana, "Koi Au"; Na Leo Pilimehana, "Hawaiian Memories"; Na Palapalai, "Makani 'Olu'olu"; Owana Salazar, "Wahine Slack N' Steel"; Jake Shimabukuro, "Sunday Morning."