Background of the Awards
The Na Hoku Hanohano Awards are Hawaii's version of the Grammy Music Awards. They are held on an annual basis each Spring. The Hokus were created in 1978 by Krash Kealoha and are currently being presented by the Hawaiian Acadamy of Recording Arts (HARA).The Favorite Entertainer of the year is voted on by the public. Ballots are distributed through record stores and radio stations in Hawaii a week prior to the awards. Members of the Hawaiian Music industry vote on all other categories except for the technical categories. The technical categories are voted on by local resident recording artists, studio technicians, engineers, producers, writers, graphic artists, liner note annotators and others with local recording credit.
The award ceremonies are broadcast on television throughout Hawaii. Some the groups and artists that have received the most Hoku awards over the years include the Brothers Cazimero, the Makaha Sons, Keali'i Reichel, Melveen Leed, and the Peter Moon Band.
Here are the Results from the 2001 Hoku Awards:
- Album of the Year: A POCKETFUL OF PARADISE by Na Leo
- Female Vocalist: Ku`uipo Kumukahi for E KU`U LEI E KU`UIPO
- Male Vocalist: Uluwehi Guerrero for IN MY HEART
- Group: `Ale`a for TAKE ME HOME
- Most Promising New Artist: `Ale`a for TAKE ME HOME
- Anthology Album: LEGENDS OF FALSETTO by Various Artists
- Compilation Album: ALOHA FESTIVALS HAWAIIAN FALSETTO CONTEST WINNERS by Various Artists
- Hawaiian Album: MAUNALUA by Maunalua
- Island Contemporary Album: TAKE ME HOME by `Ale`a
- Contemporary Album: ISLAND FEELING by Ten Feet
- Instrumental Album: BLACK SAND by Led Kaapana
- Religious Album: NA HIMENI HO`OMAIKA`I KE AKUA by `Ane Kanahele & `Ohana
- Rock Album: BIG ISLAND ROCK by Joe Battery Band
- Jazz Album: SAX FOR CHRISTMAS by Michael Paulo
- Christmas Album: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Ho`okena
- Reggae Album: IRON YOUTH by O-Shen
- Single: "Kuahiwi Nani" by Darlene Ahuna
- Haku Mele: "Mapu Mau Ke `Ala" composed by Julian Ako from TAKE ME HOME, `Ale`a
- Hawaiian Language Performance: `Ane Kanahele `Ohana for NA HIMENI HO`OMAIKA`I KE AKUA
- Song of the Year:
- "Ka Pilina" by Frank Kawai Hewett from NEUTRALIZE IT, Sean Na`auao
- "Saving Forever" by Lehua Kalima from A POCKETFUL OF PARADISE, Na Leo Pilimehana
- Favorite Entertainer of the Year: Colon
- Ki Ho`alu Award: Peter Moon
- Engineering: Milan Bertosa & Howard Wolen for POCKETFUL OF PARADISE by Na Leo Pilimehana
- Graphics: Nelson Makua for HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY CHRISTMAS by Various Artists
- Liner Notes: Sonny Ching & Nohea Kawakakiu for HO`OULU I KA NA`AUAO by Sonny Ching
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Myra English, Leina`ala Haili, Violet Pahu Lilikoi
The awards listed below have been updated with the 2000 Hoku Award winners. A full story on the 2000 Na Hoku Hanohano awards is available from the Honolulu Star Bulletin. You may also be interested in reading the 1999 Na Hoku Hanohano awards story from the Honolulu Star Bulletin.
The Award Winners
- Favorite Entertainer of the Year (Voted by the Public)
- Male Vocalist of the Year
- Female Vocalist of the Year
- Group of the Year
- Album of the Year
- Hawaiian Album of the Year / Popular Hawaiian Album of the Year
- Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year (1978-1994)
- Contemporary Album of the Year
- Island Contemporary Album of the Year
- Most Promising Artist of the Year
- Instrumental Album of the Year
- Song of the Year
- Single of the Year
- Haku Mele (Best new Song or Chant picked by Hawaiian Language Experts)
- Hawaiian Language Performance of the Year
- Religious Album of the Year
- Anthology Album of the Year
- Comedy Album of the Year
- Christmas Album of the Year
- Jazz Album of the Year
- Rock Album of the Year
- Lifetime Achievement Award/Sidney Grayson Award
- Ki Ho`Alu Award (Slack Key Guitar)
- Engineer of the Year/Best Engineered Album
- Graphics Awards
- Liner Notes Awards
- Other Awards
To see the awards sorted by year, visit the Hawaiian Music Island's Hoku Page.
