If tradition rules, another slack key-oriented Island album — two compilations are front-runners — will again cop the Hawaiian Grammy in Sunday's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

The head-to-head faves appear to be "The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," a compilation produced by Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong, with a string of participating local artists, and "Hawaiian Slack Key Kings Masters Series, Vol. II," another multi-artist assembly produced by Chris Lau and Milton Lau.

The nod would seem to favor Ho and company, if the past is a barometer.

Since the Hawaiian Grammy was added to the list of categories, Ho and his 'ohana have been three-peat winners the last three times at bat. The year they didn't homer was in 2005, because they weren't nominated and Charles Michael Brotman and his fellow ki ho 'alu strummers won.

Great going for all previous winners. For slack-key guitar, a quadruple hurrah! But five reasons Amy Hanaiali'i — making her third appearance on the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences ballot (she was nominated in 2004 and 2006) with " 'Aumakua" — deserves to win:

1. It's time for a change. President Obama's mantra is not the bottom line here, but folks here are yawning when the Hawaiian Grammy is bestowed on another compilation of smooth slack-key fingers. The dominating Mainland vote is an issue since the Hawaiian genre falls under the folk umbrella, which suggests that many nonresident voters are folk-oriented instrumentalists even if the winners have featured vocals. Simply, the Hawai'i music community needs to bolster NARAS membership to possibly shape and determine the outcome.

2. Hanaiali'i's " 'Aumakua" CD is well positioned and splendid in every respect: vocals, musicianship, repertoire. Its theme of paying homage to highly regarded 'aumakua, or spiritual influences linked to culture, was aligned with stellar craftsmanship; the CD is an eclectic mix of a colorful palate that tells of her connections to people, things and elements that boost the spirit.

3. She reinvents herself with a few unlikely choices that ultimately radiate her talent: "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and "Feels Like Home," which project some Island imagery, depict her communicating abilities; "Ka Makani Ka 'ili Aloha" and "Kahalaopuna," with Hawaiian language intact, tap her Island foundations with unparalleled authenticity.

4. She does have slack-key elements, in the musicianship of Jeff Peterson, augmented by orchestral splendor from the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawai'i, for a comforting and nourishing veneer.

5. " 'Aumakua" — though targeted for the Island marketplace — has connections with the Mainland and Japan distribution, with clearly universal implications beyond conventional borders.

But one reason she probably won't win: "The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," with ongoing momentum and a tradition that seems unstoppable. There's no denying the wealth of talent aboard; Dennis Kamakahi, Owana Salazar, George Kahumoku, Sonny Lim, Keoki Kahumoku, Peter deAquino, Sterling Seaton, Norton Buffalo, Herb Ohta Jr., Daniel Ho and Richard Ho'opi'i, recorded live in an ongoing Maui Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar concert series.

Compilation awards go to the producers, however, not the acts, who mostly earn bragging rights. Besides Ho, the producers are George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong.

The other nominated Hawaiian Grammy CDs are "Ikena," by Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho, and "Force of Nature," by Ledward Ka'apana and Mike Kaawa.

Two others with Hawai'i ties are vying for Grammys, too; one is named, the other is part of a performing cast: Composer-novelist Dean Pitchford is one of five contenders for best spoken word album for children, for his "The Big One-Oh," while Loretta Ables Sayre, heard as Bloody Mary, her Tony-nominated role, is part of the original cast of "South Pacific," one of five CDs up for best musical show album.

Speaking of spoken word: "The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream" was a Grammy winner last year from then-candidate and now President Obama, for best spoken word album, an audio treatment of his best-seller. He beat out Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter in 2008, which was sort of audacious.

Could the third time on the ballot be the charm for Hanaiali'i? As an underdog, perhaps she will have that audacity of hope, going into Sunday's Grammys.