The Hawaiian Grammys are going "live" this year. For the first time, the preliminary ceremony, during which the Hawaiian Music Grammy is awarded, will stream as video online at the Grammy Awards Web site.

That means Hawai'i fans can watch in real time, learning who wins the trophy and seeing winners' reactions.

The Hawaiian music category is in its fourth year. In past years, Grammy winners in some categories, including Hawaiian music, were announced in a pre-show accessible only to those in attendance.

The pre-show takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Afterward, a show is filmed for broadcast on CBS at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The Hawai'i winner will also be announced online and via an onscreen "crawl" during the prime time show.

The site for the live webcast and winner announcements is www.grammy.com. Watch the pre-show from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in Hawai'i (beginning at 1 p.m. Pacific time).

Island musicians involved with three of the five Hawaiian music Grammy nominees will appear together in meet-and-greet and album-signing events in California next week.

Cyril Pahinui ("He'eia"), Tia Carrere with Daniel Ho ("Hawaiiana"), and Keoki Kahumoku, along with Ho ("Treasures of the Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar") will be among those making appearances at Borders stores. Ho was involved with two Grammy-nominated CDs; he produced Carrere's disc and co-produced and performed on the slack key nominee. The other two nominees, Keola Beamer ("Ka Hikina O Ka Hau — The Coming of Snow") and Raiatea Helm ("Hawaiian Blossom"), will not be in California for the Grammy events.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.