Kalanai Pe'a earned nine Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards nominations for “Kuini.” Courtesy photo

Maui’s Kalani Pe’a has triumphed again with his latest album, “Kuini,” receiving nine Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards nominations for his Grammy-winning album.

The 2025 nominations were announced by the Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts.

Pe’a was nominated for Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Music Album, Hawaiian Language Performance for the song “Kuini,” Hawaiian Video (two nominations including for “Ka Naʻi Aupuni,” featuring Jake Shimabukuro and the Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble) Hawaiian Engineering for Michael Casil, Liner Notes with Riann Nālani Fujihara and Graphics for Daryl Fujiwara.

Pe’a had just woken up to congratulatory texts saying he had earned the most Hōkū nominations this year.

“I just woke up and saw this flood of text messages,” Pe’a said. “I’m so blessed. I’m very honored that the academy likes me. I’m still doing my part in this capacity of writing Hawaiian music, perpetuating Hawaiian music, the first music of the land. I’m present to perpetuate the music and arts of our people.”

In February, he won his fourth Grammy Award for “Kuini” in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category. He was the only artist from Hawaii among the five nominated in the category.

Other Maui musicians nominated for Hōkū awards included Kula resident Mick Fleetwood for his collaboration with Jake Shimabukuro on “Blues Experience,” which was nominated for Group of the Year, Ukulele Album and the song “Kula Blues” for Instrumental Composition.

Mick Fleetwood were nominated with Jake Shimabukuro for “Blues Experience.”

Fleetwood’s Mac’s co-founder teamed with the ukulele virtuoso for a memorable recording interpreting a bunch of classic songs from Procul Harem’s “Whiter Shade of Pale” to Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World.”

“It was a thrill to put out a blues-based selection of instrumental versions of some famous old classics played as only he can do,” Fleetwood commented.

Maui’s Nuff Sedd, led by Joshua Kahula, received the Group of the Year and Reggae Album nominations for “Cup Of Aloha.” Guests on the album included Big Mountain’s Joaquin “Quino” McWhinney, Shane Kahalehau and Innavision’s Koa Lopes. The inspiring “Cup Of Aloha” single promoted a message of unity, compassion and the enduring strength of aloha. It was also nominated for Engineering for Michael Casil and Calvin Canha.

Nuff Sedd is up for Group of the Year and Reggae Album after the 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards nominations were announced.

Andrew Molina’s album “Generations” was nominated for Ukulele Album of the Year, and his original song “The Secret Of Moloka’i” was nominated for Instrumental Composition. Praised by Ukulele Magazine for his “sheer virtuosity,” Molina’s “Generations” featured a collaboration with his father Jay Molina and interpretations of songs he enjoyed growing up from Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” to the Beatles’ “Come Together.”

“I wanted to feature my dad with a bigger part,” he said.

“The Secret Of Moloka’i,” he added, “was recorded in one take, and I was able to capture it in the studio.”

Maui born and raised Hōkū Award winner Greg Juan was nominated for Hawaiian EP for “Kauluwehi,” which featured four original songs and three covers. He was also nominated for Hawaiian Single for “He Mele No Ka Pāo’o.” As a former member of Na Wai ‘Eha, he earned a Grammy nomination in 2020. The EP was inspired by his late grandfather, Charles Kauluwehi Maxwell Sr. “If it wasn’t for him, I do not think I would be so passionate and deeply rooted in Hawaiian music and hula as I am today,” he said.

Maui’s Hōkū winning Tarvin Makia was nominated for Jazz Album for his collaboration with Faith Ako on “Ho’okanikapila, Mau’i.”

Featuring a collection of jazz standards with a few originals, the duo injected new life into classics like “Autumn Leaves,” “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Misty.” Makia previously collaborated with Ako on her Hawaiian recordings. The late drummer Paul Marchetti and keyboardist Sal Godinez both played on the album.

Led by Haiku-based Franklin Russell, Big Chief Thunder’s “Malama Aina” received the Alternative Album nomination. The band was previously nominated in 2024 for “Aloha Nui Loa.” They won Alternative Album at the 46th annual awards for “Shine Your Light.”

Josh Tatofi received two nominations for Single and Song of the Year for his Samoan language song “Le Tu’una Oe.” “By Special Request” by George Kahumoku Jr. was nominated for Slack Key Album, and Jeff Peterson’s “Slack Key For The Holidays” was nominated for Christmas Album.

Kamehameha Schools Maui teacher Kawika Boro was nominated for R&B Album and Most Promising Artist for his soulful debut, “Ua Kō `Ia Iho Nō.” Boro recently opened for Josh Tatofi at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. And former Maui Waena Intermediate ukulele teacher Desmond Yap received an Island Music Album nomination for “He Hawai’i Au.”

A remarkable album that honored Lahaina, “Ha’ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele,” was nominated for Compilation Album of the Year. Students from the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawai’i Maui College wrote and sang about Lahaina, its rich history and their hopes for its future. It was produced by Keola Donaghy, Joel Katz, Stephen Fox and Lance D. Collins.

“Some of the folks had deep Lahaina roots, and some were already established musicians,” said Donaghy.

The co-founder of the Maui-based bands Hau’ula and Mele ‘Ohana, Wayne Kamake’e’aina was nominated for Hawaiian EP for “Pahumoa.” The EP also received nominations for Hawaiian Engineering for Donaghy, Katz and Kamake’e’aina.

The awards ceremony will take place June 21 at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.