WAILUKU - Maui musical artists once again have risen to the top in The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts' Na Hoku Hanohano Awards nominations announced this week.
Kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero leads the field with seven nominations. "Uluwehi Sings Na Mele Hula Aloha," his third album released after a nine-year hiatus, is nominated in categories including Male Vocalist, Hawaiian Album, Song of the Year, Favorite Entertainer, Liner Notes, Hawaiian Language Performance and Album of the Year.
Close behind is the Valley Isle's Amy Hanaiali'i with five nominations, tying her with the group Na Palapalai. Hanaiali'i, who also performs as Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, said she was "extremely humbled" by the recognition for her "Friends & Family of Hawai'i," which features duets with many of the islands' best-known male vocalists.
Her nominations include Female Vocalist of the Year, Island Music Album of the Year and Song of the Year for "Pa Aheahe," as well inclusion in the Favorite Entertainer of the Year field. (The winner in this field of 10 nominees will be selected by online votes by the general public beginning in May.)
The prestigious recording awards are Hawaii's version of the Grammys. Sponsored by Hawaiian Airlines, the "Hokus," as they're commonly called, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. May 30 at the Hawai'i Convention Center.
Following recent victories by Maui's Halau Ke'alaokamaile under the direction of kumu hula Keali'i Reichel in both the women's kahiko and 'auana competitions at the Merrie Monarch hula competition, Na Hoku Hanohano nominations reflected another strong cultural showing for the Valley Isle.
Along with Guerrero and Hanaiali'i, the names of many Maui County musical artists are scattered throughout the nominations.
Molokai's Raiatea Helm's "Raiatea Live!" is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year and Music Video DVD of the Year. Also in that field is Maui's Willie K for "Uncle Willie K Live at Mulligan's on the Blue," recorded in Wailea, which is also nominated in the Male Vocalist category.
Anuhea Jenkins was nominated for Most Promising Artist of the Year and Contemporary Album of the Year for her recording of "Anuhea."
Ekolu is nominated for Reggae Album of the Year for "Ekolu Music II: Anthem." The Rock Album of the Year field features two Maui contenders: the Throwdowns for "Don't Slow Down" and Gail Swanson for "Simple Truth."
Ranga Pae's "Waihua" is nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year, and the Hula Honeys' "Girl Talk" is in the Best Jazz Album race.
"Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key," the Grammy winner whose producers include Maui's George Kahumoku Jr. and Paul Konwiser, is in contention for Compilation Album of the Year. Kahumoku also shares a nomination in the Slack Key race with Bob Brozman for "Kani Wai: Sound of Water." The competition in that category includes Jeff Peterson's "Maui on My Mind." Peterson is also in the Favorite Entertainer of the Year field, and Darin Leong is nominated for an Engineering Award for "Maui on My Mind.
In other categories, Scott Johnson is nominated for a Graphics Award for the album package for the Throwdowns' "Don't Slow Down." His competition includes Stacey Leong Design for Peterson's "Maui on My Mind." And along with Guerrero, the Liner Notes field includes George and Nancy Kahumoku for "Kani Wai: Sound of Water."
For a complete list of nominees, visit www.nahokuhanohano.org.
* Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Maui ukulele player Derick Sebastian and the new group Kulewa were omitted from a story on Page A3 Saturday highlighting Valley Isle nominees for Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Sebastian's album "From His Heart" is nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year, while Lahaina-based Kulewa is nominated for Most Promising Artist.
* Rick Chatenever can be reached at scene@mauinews.com.
* This article includes a correction from the original published on Saturday, April 17, 2010. Anuhea Jenkins was omitted from the Maui musical artists nominated for Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. The Maui News apologizes for the error.
