Mid May 2000
(© 2000 Susan Jaworowski)

Aloha mai!

Just came back from the Na Hoku Hanohano awards, Hawaii's equivalent of the Grammys for Hawaiian music. What a show! It ran late (three hours instead of two), but we were treated to some amazing performances, which made the time pass enjoyably. One of the most touching performances was Na Leo's rendition of their hit song, "You Don't Remember." Lehua dedicated the song to her mother, and her face was just radiant as she sang. It was a truly touching moment. Another chickenskin performance was Darlene Ahuna's solo, "Ka Pili Oha." She sang with such intensity and feeling that the room was hushed throughout her performance. She has demonstrated such growth as an artist!

Other crowd-pleasing performances included Hula Joe and the HutJumper's theme song, and Kapena's rockin' tribute to Jesus. A sweet touch was Keali'i Reichel's dedication of his song, "I Will Be Here," to Lehua Heine (the former Lehua Kalima from Na Leo) in honor of her recent wedding. Keali'i took home 5 Na Hoku awards, and he was characteristically modest each time. The Brown family was on hand to receive the co-award for Haku Mele given to the song "'Opi'opi'o" from their CD 'Ekolu. After an eloquent thanks by his grandfather, 'Ikaika just blurted out, "Gramps, you are da bomb!"

Here are the Na Hoku award winners:

Female Vocalist of the Year:
* Amy Hanaiali'i, "Nostalgia" (Mountain Apple)

Male Vocalist of the Year
* Keali'i Reichel, "Melelana" (Punahele)

Group of the Year
* Na Leo, "I Miss You, My Hawai'i" (Na Leo Pilimehana)

Most Promising Artist(s)
* Weldon Kekauoha, "Hawaiian Man" (A Guava Ding Thing)

Anthology of the Year
* "Na Leo," Na Leo (Na Leo Pilimehana), Na Leo Pilimehana and Kenneth Makuakane, producers

Compilation Album of the Year
* "Na Kumu Hula: Songs From the Source - Volume II," various artists (State Council on Hawaiian Heritage), Keahi Allen, producer

Hawaiian Album of the Year
* "Melelana," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)

Island Contemporary Album of the Year
* "I Miss You, My Hawai'i," Na Leo (Na Leo Pilimehana)

Contemporary Album of the Year
* "Pure Heart 2," Pure Heart (Four Strings)

Instrumental Album of the Year
* "Four Hands Hot & Sweet," Cyril Pahinui and Bob Brozman (Dancing Cat)

Comedy Album of the Year
* "Live at the Captain's Table," Frank DeLima (Pocholinga)

Christmas Album of the Year
* "Willie Kalikimaka," Willie K (Mountain Apple)

Religious Album of the Year
* "Hymns of Hawaii," George Kahumoku Jr. and Daniel Ho (Aire Music)

Rock Album of the Year
* "American Soul," Dave Brier (Big Pineapple)

Reggae Album of the Year
* "In a Positive Vibrations," Typical Hawaiians (Dinosaur Mountain)

Jazz Album of the Year
* "Hula Joe & The Hutjumpers," Hula Joe & The Hutjumpers (Black & Tan)

Single of the Year
* "These Islands," Danny Couch (Danny Couch)

Song of the Year
* "I Miss You, My Hawai'i," by Kenneth Makuakane from "I Miss You, My Hawai'i," Na Leo (Na Leo Pilimehana)

Album of the Year
* "Melelana," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele), Keali'i Reichel, Fred Krauss and Jim Linkner, producers

Graphics
* Preston Terada for "Pure Heart 2," Pure Heart (Four Strings)

Engineering
* Jim Linkner for "Melelana," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)

Liner Notes
* Keali'i Reichel and Puakea Nogelmeier for "Melelana," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele)

Haku Mele (tie)
* "Opi'opi'o" by Ida Pakulani Long from "Three Generations - 'Ekolu Hanauna Nei," 'Ikaika Brown and Three Generations (Pepeiao)
* "Pua A'ali'i," by Lee Ann Anuenue Punua from "Ho'okena 5," Ho'okena (Ho'omau)

Hawaiian Language Performance
* Ho'okena for "Ho'okena 5" (Ho'omau)

---

Recordings

Maunalua, Maunalua (Koa Records, Koa 103). Wow! This is a stand-out solid Hawaiian music CD that I highly recommend. These guys have a strong traditional style and they can do it all -- falsetto, slack key, harmony. They've got the instrumental chops and a happy, high energy style. Particularly memorable are "U'ilani/Baby Kalae" (falsetto) and "Maunaloa/Kalei E" (ki ho'alu), but the whole CD was so enjoyable that it's hard to pick out favorite tracks. This is a consistently enjoyable CD. Songs include: "Ku'u Lehua," "Ahi Wela," 77%so enjoyable that it's hard to pick out favorite tracks. This is a consistently enjoyable CD. Songs include: "Ku'u Lehua," "Ahi Wela," "Mahalo E Na Hoa," "Ke Kali Nei Au," and the only contemporary cover, "Teach Your Children Well," which they do in a style that would make Crosby Stills Nash and Young proud.

--Susan
susanj@lava.net

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