Reichel's 11 Na Hoku nominations lead the way

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Keali'i Reichel has a good chance to win a Na Hoku Hanohano Award. Advertiser library photo

Ten of Reichel's nominations — including nods for album of the year, male vocalist of the year, favorite entertainer, and Hawaiian album of the year — are for the multi-Hoku Award-winning artist's best-selling "Ke'alaokamaile" album. "Pride of Punahele II," a multi-artist compilation on which Reichel served as a co-producer, received a nomination for anthology album of the year.

Reichel's 11 nominations make him the front-runner in the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts' 27th annual competition set for May 24 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village at 5:30 p.m. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live at 7:30 p.m. on KFVE.

Next in line with seven nominations apiece are traditional recordings by veteran group Ho'okena and Hawaiian-language scholar Kainani Kahaunaele.

Kahaunaele's debut recording "Na'u 'Oe" garnered nods including album of the year, song of the year ("Na'u 'Oe"), female vocalist of the year and most promising artist. Ho'okena's "Cool Elevation" nominations include album of the year, Hawaiian album of the year, group of the year and favorite entertainer.

Logging four nominations each are Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom & Willie K, Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Cecilio & Kapono, Maila Gibson, producer/engineer Jim Linkner, and composer Puakea Nogelmeier.

Members of the music-industry organization will vote in all 23 Na Hoku Hanohano categories. The public can vote in the category of Favorite Entertainer at Borders Books & Music stores statewide beginning in May.

Tickets for the awards ceremony — $95 each — are available by calling 235-9424.

Reach Derek Paiva at 525-8005 or dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.

2004 Na Hoku Hanohano Award nominations

Album of the Year (an artist/producer award)

• "Amy & Willie Live," Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom & Willie K (Blind Man Sound), Willie K, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Jim Linkner, & World Sound, producers
• "Cool Elevation," Ho'okena (Ho'omau), Ho'okena, producers
• "Ho'ulu'ulu 'Ekahi," Ku'uipo Kumukahi (Ke'alohi), Ku'uipo Kumukahi and Karen Aiu, producers
• "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele) Keali'i Reichel, Fred Krauss and Jim Linkner, producers
• "Na'u 'Oe," Kainani Kahaunaele ('Aha Punana Leo) 'Aha Punana Leo, producer

Song of the Year (a composer's award)

• "E Pili Mai" by Puakea Nogelmeier from "Two Voices, One Heart," Hema Pa'a (Hula)
• "Hanalei in the Moonlight" by Kawaikapuokalani Hewett from "Mo'o'olelo," Kawaikapuokalani Hewett (Makuakane Music)
• "Ka Nohona Pili Kai" by Keali'i Reichel and Puakea Nogelmeier from "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)
• "More" by Maila Gibson and Ben Vegas from "More," Maila Gibson (808e)
• "Na'u 'Oe" by Kainani Kahaunaele from "Na'u 'Oe," Kainani Kahaunaele ('Aha Punana Leo)

Favorite Entertainer

• Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K, "Amy & Willie Live"
• Keola Beamer, "Mohala Hou: Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance"
• Cecilio & Kapono, "Thirty Years of Friends — Lifetime Party"
• Ho'okena, "Cool Elevation"
• Kapena, "Won't Stop Now"
• Weldon Kekauoha and Tapa Groove, "Kanaka Maoli"
• Maunalua, "Kuleana"
• Azure McCall, "The Gift"
• Keali'i Reichel, "Ke'alaokamaile"
• Jake Shimabukuro, "Crosscurrent"

Female Vocalist of the Year

• Anelaikalani, "Among My Souvenirs" (Shaka)
• Maila Gibson, "More" (808e)
• Kainani Kahaunaele, "Na'u 'Oe" ('Aha Punana Leo)
• Azure McCall, "The Gift," (MUSEFX)
• Tani Lynn, "Tani Lynn" (Aloha Entertainment Group)

Male Vocalist of the Year

• Danny Couch, "Then & Now" (Danny Couch)
• Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, "Mo'o'olelo" (Makuakane Music)
• Weldon Kekauoha, "Kanaka Maoli" ('Ohelo)
• Martin Pahinui, "Ho'olohe (Listen)" (Dancing Cat)
• Keali'i Reichel, "Ke'alaokamaile" (Punahele)

Group of the Year

• Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K, "Amy & Willie Live" (Blind Man Sound)
• Cecilio & Kapono, "Thirty Years of Friends — Lifetime Party" (C&K)
• Ho'okena, "Cool Elevation" (Ho'omau)
• Kapena, "Won't Stop Now" (KDE)
• Maunalua, "Kuleana" (Lokahi)

Most Promising Artist(s)

• Manny K. Fernandez, "In This Enchanted Place" (Peke Kini)
• Maila Gibson, "More" (808e)
• 'Ike Pono, "Ka Mano Wai — The Source Of Life" (Ohana)
• Kainani Kahaunaele, "Na'u 'Oe" ('Aha Punana Leo)
• Kaumakaiwa Lopaka Kanaka'ole, "Ha'i Kupuna" (Hula)

Haku Mele (a composer's award)

• "He Aloha No Ku'u Aina" by C. Pueo Pata, "Holoholo Mai — Maui," various artists
• "Ka Hinano O Puna" by Kainani Kahaunaele, "Na'u 'Oe," Kainani Kahaunaele
• "Kaiona" by Puakea Nogelmeier, "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel
• "Laua'e O Nu'uanu" by Manu Boyd, "Cool Elevation," Ho'okena
• "Mele Ha'i Kupuna" by Kaumaka'iwa Lopaka Kanakaole, "Ha'i Kupuna," Kaumaka'iwa Lopaka Kanakaole

Hawaiian Language Performance

• Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, "Mo'o'olelo" (Makuakane Music)
• Ho'okena, "Cool Elevation" (Ho'omau)
• Kaumakaiwa Lopaka Kanaka'ole, "Ha'i Kupuna" (Hula)
• Kainani Kahaunaele, "Na'u 'Oe" ('Aha Punana Leo)
• Keali'i Reichel, "Ke'alaokamaile" (Punahele)

Hawaiian Album of the Year

• "Cool Elevation," Ho'okena (Ho'omau)
• "Ho'olohe (Listen)," Martin Pahinui (Dancing Cat)
• "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)
• "Kuleana," Maunalua (Lokahi)
• "Ululani," Richard Ho'opi'i (Mountain Apple)

Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year

• "Among My Hawaiian Souvenirs," George Na'ope (Duck Pond)
• "Amy & Willie K Live," Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K (Blind Man Sound)
• "Kanaka Maoli," Weldon Kekauoha and Tapa Groove ('Ohelo)
• "Ki Ho'alu: Journey of Hawaiian Slack Key," Makana (Punahele)
• "Mohala Hou: Music of the Hawaiian Renaissance," Keola Beamer ('Ohe)

Contemporary Album of the Year

• "The Gift," Azure McCall (MUSEFX )
• "More," Maila Gibson (808e)
• "Then & Now," Danny Couch (Danny Couch)
• "Thirty Years Of Friends — Lifetime Party," Cecilio & Kapono (C&K)
• "Won't Stop Now," Kapena (KDE)

Rock Album of the Year

• "Deaf Dog Blues," Chance and The Blues Daddies (Manawa)
• "On And On," Jack Johnson (The Moonshine Conspiracy)
• "Outside The Circle," Mark Coleman (Kekela Sounds)
• "Sugah Daddy," Sugah Daddy (Daddy Leopard)
• "Two Hearts," Dave Seawater (MSE Studios)

Reggae Album of the Year

• "The Circle," Natural Vibrations (Natural Vibrations)
• "Forward," Kahiau (Poi Pounder)
• "Reggae Soul," Butch Helemano (Neos)
• "Stay With Me," Norm (Neos)
• "Take You To The Jam," Ho'onu'a (Feel Good)

Jazz Album of the Year

• "Dreams Do Come True," Janine Alondres (Honu)
• "Message From Puna," Mark Mallory (Bamboo)
• "Ohana," Noel Okimoto (Roy Sakuma)
• "Ordinary Man," Bob Bangerter (Don't Stop Music)
• "Sounds of the City," Honolulu Jazz Quartet (HJQ)

Instrumental Album of the Year

• "Cool Breeze," Kohala (Palm)
• "Crosscurrent," Jake Shimabukuro (Four Strings)
• "Keaweualani," John Keawe (Homestead)
• "Manuela Boy," Ohta-san (M & H Hawai'i)
• "Ukulele Romance," Herb Ohta Jr. (Roy Sakuma)

Compilation Album of the Year (a producer's award)

• "Aloha Festivals Hawaiian Falsetto Contest Winners IV," various artists (Hula) Donald P. "Flip" McDiarmid III, William Baba Alimoot and Steve Kramer, producers
• "Girl Scouts Greatest Hits, V.6 -— Little Happy Camper," various artists (Legend) Melinda Caroll, producer
• "I Mua E Na Poki'i," various artists (Hawaiian Cultural Center/KSBE) Randie and Jamie Fong, Kenneth Makuakane and Tasha Tavares, producers
• "Our Ohana's 1st Christmas," various artists (Ohana) Carol Baguio and Diane Sunada Koshi, producers
• "Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2," various artists (Palm) Charles Michael Brotman, producer

Anthology Album of the Year (a producer's award)

• "All the Best of Darlene Ahuna, Volume 1," Darlene Ahuna (Hula) Donald P. "Flip" McDiarmid III, producer
• "The Dean of Hawaiian Music," John Kameaaloha Almeida (Hana Ola) Harry B. Soria Jr., producer
• "Ho'ulu'ulu 'Ekahi," Ku'uipo Kumukahi (Ke'alohi) Ku'uipo Kumukahi and Karen Aiu, producers
• "Nina," Nina Keali'iwahamana (Mountain Apple) Jack de Mello, producer
• "Pride of Punahele II," various artists (Punahele) Keali'i Reichel, Fred Krauss and Jim Linkner, producers

Christmas Album of the Year

• "Another Island Christmas," Randy, Gay and Andrew Hongo (Christian Vision)
• "Mele Kalikimaka," Allison (Kina)
• "Mele Kalikimaka From Kanilau," Kanilau (Nani Lawai)
• "A Real Steel Christmas," Greg and Junko MacDonald (GMM)
• "Shaka Kalikimaka," Imua (808e)

Religious Album of the Year

• "At This Fork in the River," Inventory Man
• "For an Audience of One," Rupert Tripp, Jr. (L&L)
• "Hosana," Na Leo Ho'onani (Un 2 One)
• "In The Midst," Jan Kaeo
• "Warriors Come Home," June Mataia (Warriors Come Home)

Best Achievement in Album Cover Design

• Design Logix for "I Mua E Na Poki'i," various artists (Hawaiian Cultural Center/KSBE)
• Kevin Hughes for "Ki Ho'alu: Journey of Hawaiian Slack Key," Makana (Punahele)
• Scott Johnson for "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)
• Craig Okino for "One," Jon Yamasato (808e)
• Brian Onaga for "Mo'o'olelo," Kawaikapuokalani Hewett (Makuakane Music)

Best Achievement in Engineering

• Milan Bertosa for "Ohana," Noel Okimoto (Roy Sakuma)
• Troy Gonzalez for "Cool Elevation," Ho'okena (Ho'omau)
• Gaylord Holomalia for "Thirty Years Of Friends — Lifetime Party," Cecilio & Kapono (C&K)
• Jim Linkner for "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)
• Dave Russell for "Ordinary Man," Bob Bangerter (Don't Stop Music)

Best Achievement in Album Annotation (Liner Notes)

• 'Aha Punana Leo for "Na'u 'Oe," Kainani Kahaunaele ('Aha Punana Leo)
• Gary Chun for "Ohana," Noel Okimoto (Roy Sakuma)
• Randie Fong for "I Mua E Na Poki'i," various artists (Hawaiian Cultural Center/KSBE)
• Fred Krauss, Puakea Nogelmeier, Keali'i Reichel for "Ke'alaokamaile," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)
• Harry B. Soria Jr. for "The Dean of Hawaiian Music," John Kameaaloha Almeida (Hana Ola)