It's four in a row for the Hawaiian Grammy.

Slack-key guitar prevailed again for the fourth consecutive year when "Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," a compilation of ki ho'alu and Hawaiian vocals, copped the Hawaiian Music Grammy Award today in Los Angeles.

It was the third consecutive win for Daniel Ho, a musician-producer formerly from Honolulu but now based in Los Angeles, and his fellow co-producers George Kahumoku Jr., Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong, who collectively have reaped the benefits of slack key's popularity — and weathered a local backlash against Grammy voters' favoritism toward the sound of ki ho'alu.

"As soon as I heard 'Treasures' (announced as the winner), I went a little crazy," Ho said. "It's no less exciting than the last time. We had butterflies."

The Hawaiian Grammy was awarded during a program at the Los Angeles Convention Center that began at 11:30 a.m. Hawai'i time. Later today, additional awards will be announced during a ceremony that will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Hawai'i time on CBS.

"Treasures" was one of five Hawaiian Music nominees for albums released in 2007. The others are:

• "Ka Hikina O Ka Hau (The Coming Of The Snow)," by Keola Beamer (Dancing Cat Productions).

• "Hawaiiana," by Tia Carrere (Daniel Ho Creations).

• He'iea," by Cyril Pahinui (Dancing Cat Productions).

• "Hawaiian Blossom," by Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm Records).

"Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 1" won in 2006 and last year his "Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar: Live From Maui" also won. They were produced on Ho's Daniel Ho Creations label.

Hawai'i's first Hawaiian Grammy winner in 2005 was "Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2," a compilation by Charles Michael Brotman.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.