Kalani Pe‘a, shown here attending a Beyoncé concert, received the most Hōkū nominations this year, but he does not plan on attending the awards ceremony. Courtesy photo

While Maui resident Kalani Pe’a received the most Nā Hōkū Hanohano nominations for his latest album “Kuini,” he says he will not be attending the awards ceremony June 21 at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort.

Pe’a said he made the decision after being informed by Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts producers that he had not been allocated a live performance slot.

“They told me I wasn’t on the program and I was not given a slot although I have the most nominations,” Pe’a said over the phone from Los Angeles before attending a Beyoncé concert. “I wasn’t even part of the show. It’s interesting how they already had a show produced without me. I have the most nominations, and you would think I would be added to the awards show. So I prefer not to attend.”

“Kuini” received nine Hōkū nominations including 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.

“About two weeks ago, I planned to work with a hālau and had a vision to perform in collaboration with a guitarist who is also nominated,” he said. “I’m not saying I need to be performing, but I had a vision of who I wanted to perform with and who to honor. I should be able to fulfill my vision of what I want to sing on stage. So I decided not to do the Hōkū at all.”

In previous years, Pe’a’s debut album, “E Walea,” won a Hōkū for Contemporary Album of the Year. “Kau Ka Peʻa” earned him Hōkū awards for Male Vocalist and Song of the Year, and in 2023, he won the Hōkū for Contemporary Album for “Purple Christmas.”

Besides all the 2025 Hōkū nominations, Pe’a won his fourth Grammy Award for “Kuini” in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category in February. His previous albums, “E Walea,” “No ‘Ane’i” and “Kau Ka Pe’a,” have all won Grammy Awards.

In a Facebook post he contrasted how well he has been treated by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. “I performed in 2022 and they allowed me to sing in Hawaiian,” he wrote.

“They were amazing with me,” he said.

Having performed at previous awards shows, he said, “It’s just so hurtful to tell me that you had no slot for me. And it’s also hurtful to tell me what to do without me being creative as the artist. It’s Hawaii’s biggest night of music. I’ve always been creative. I’ve always been in the creative process. This time, I wasn’t given that opportunity. I was told what to do and I can’t do that.”

Asked if he might reconsider not attending in June, he said, “I don’t think so.”

Pe’a will present a free performance from 6-9 p.m. May 16 at the Royal Lahaina Resort for the grand opening of The Mana Up Market.