Add another Grammy to slack key masters

Maui's Hawaiian music producers have done it again.

George Kahumoku Jr. and friends captured another Hawaiian music Grammy Award for their "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2" album, which also features several Maui musicians.

The award was announced Sunday afternoon at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards pre-telecast ceremony in Los Angeles.

"One more, number four," Kahumoku said via cell phone Sunday afternoon, noting this was his fourth Grammy award. "Four out of five (nominations), that's not so bad."

"It feels really great just to win," he said as he and his fellow award winners were driving to dinner. "I got to admit it; I'm not a good loser."

Kahumoku who splits his time on Maui between Kahakuloa and Lahaina, said he felt "disappointed" last year when they didn't win.

"I didn't give it my all," he said, noting he put more of his time into the Kahakuloa Acres Private Water Co. Inc.

Fellow producer Paul Konwiser said he was "very excited" to receive the music businesses' "top award."

"It's really a thrill. There's no getting around that," the Lahaina resident said via cell phone from Los Angeles.

This is also his fourth win.

But Konwiser said each year he feels they won't win as "it's always wonderful music that (has) always been nominated."

"We're proud to bring these home to Maui," he said.

In addition to Kahumoku and Konwiser, the other producers with Maui ties on the album are Wayne Wong and Daniel Ho. The trophies go to the producers, not the musicians.

Also nominated in the Hawaii music category was Maui's Amy Hanaiali'i for "Amy Hanaiali'i Friends & Family of Hawai'i."

Although Hanaiali'i didn't win, she and her brother, Eric Gilliom, performed on the Grammy's live telecast with artist Jamie Foxx on Sunday.

In its sixth year as a Grammy Award category, the Hawaiian music award nominees also included Tia Carrere and Ho's "He Nani" and Ho'okena's "Nani Maui Loa: Everlasting Beauty."

The slack key album was recorded live at Maui's Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar concert series, which is being held weekly at the Napili Kai Beach Resort.

Kahumoku thanked the resort and its management for the opportunity to perform there along with all of the artists on the album.

"We really pounded the pavement to promote this album," Kahumoku said, thanking supporters.

The group has also won a Grammy for its "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 1"

Among other highlights, Kahumoku said he got to

perform at the Grammy Museum on Friday for students as well as a "packed" performance later that night at the museum.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.