The winners of the 47th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards were announced during a ceremony held Saturday at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center.
Maui musicians won multiple awards and were showcased throughout the event, which took time to recognize the ongoing recovery taking place following the August 2023 wildfires.
Maui’s Kalaʻe Camarillo took home three Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Music Video of the Year, Song of the Year and Single of the Year, bringing to six his overall Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards over his career. In accepting the award for “Sands of Old Lahaina” he said, “I’m born and raised on Maui… so this song, this video is special for us—to be able to do that for our family and the people of Lahaina.” Camarillo wrote the mele two days after the wildfires and dedicated the award to the people of Maui and Lahaina.
“This was probably the fastest song I ever wrote and because of that, I know God put the words on my heart to this song,” said Camarillo in acceptance of the award.
He thanked fellow musician Tarvin Makia as someone who inspired him, as well as his dad Rama Camarillo. “To me, this is such a meaningful award because as songwriters, I know we have the power to shine light on people in dark places, and that’s what I intended to do with this song,” said Camarillo.
Among the big winners this year was Raiatea Helm, who received multiple awards, including Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year for her album “A Legacy of Hawaiian Song and String Volume One.” This year’s recognition brings to 10 the total number of Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards for Raiatea Helm, and the fourth she has received in the Female Vocalist of the Year category. She is also a two time Grammy nominee. Helm is originally from the island of Molokaʻi in Maui County and is also the first Hawaiian musical artist fellow of the Native Arts and Cultural Foundation.
Maui’s Shane Kahalehau earned the award for Most Promising Artist of the Year. Kahalehau was recognized for his work on Kaonohiokalā, an album produced by fellow Maui musicians Kason Gomes and Kalani Miles of Mea Nui Records. More on his journey is posted here.
Maui musicians Kealiʻi Reichel and Cody Pueo Pata won the Hawaiian Music Video of the Year for “He Hoʻoheno No ʻEʻeka.” The video was directed by Ruben Carillo, with music produced by Kealiʻi Reichel and Shawn Pimental. This was the second Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for Pata who was watching the broadcast from Japan, and the 39th award for Reichel, who was watching form his home in Kahikinui. The client for the video was Hawaiian Airlines.
Maui’s Ekolu won two Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards on Saturday for Longevity (Waiehu Records): one for Group of the Year and the other for Reggae Album of the Year. It marked their 11th and 12th Hōkū awards to date. The group is composed of Lukela Keala, bass player and vocalist Makapu Ho’opii, and Kalehua Kahele. Lead singer, Luekela Keala also has two awards from his solo release.
The Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year award went to Jeff Peterson for “Paniolo Sun.” In a text message the was read during the pre-show awards ceremony to accept the honor, Peterson said: “It’s a very meaningful album for me and is a tribute to my father who was a paniolo on the Haleakalā Ranch for many years. I’m so blessed to be able to share the music that I love and feel that my father is still with me wherever I am playing Kī Hō ʻalu.” The cover art for the album features a painting of Peterson’s father in Kaupō, Maui by artist Jan Kasprzycki.
Independent artist Kaʻimi Hananoʻeau, who is originally from the island of Maui, won Instrumental Album of the Year for “He Aha Kaia” (Loihi Inc.). Over the years, he has been nominated 15 times but this was his first Nā Hōkū award.
In the Liner Notes of the Year category, Maui Attorney, Lance D. Collins won the award for “Kāwili 2 Various Artists” (Hawaiʻi Institute for Philippine Studies). In accepting the award, Collins said, “Musicians can’t be replaced by machines. It’s one of the few things we can’t replace with technology. So music needs to be funded and children need to be given the time and space to know music and to be able to play music.”
General Categories
Album of the Year (Producer’s & Artist’s Award)
- A Legacy Of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One – Raiatea Helm – (Raiatea Helm Records)
EP (Extended Play”) of the Year
- In Your Hawaiian Way by Bruddah Waltah (Bless Up Hawaii): He earned this award posthumously. This was his second Nā Hōkū Hanohano award. The first he won in 1991 for the release Hawaiian Reggae.
Hawaiian EP (“Extended Play”) of the Year
- Piano Kauaheahe – Kenneth Makuakäne (Makuakane Music)
Single of the Year
- Sands of Old Lahaina – Kala’e Camarillo (Kala’e Camarillo)
Hawaiian Single of the Year
- I Leo Kakou by Kalenaku (Kalaʻe Parish Music). Earlier in the evening, Kalenaku was honored for the Christmas Single of the Year along with her husband Kalaʻe. This is her first solo award. Kalenaku Parish is a five time winner as the longtime keyboard and vocalist for the group Kapena. She is the daughter of musician Kelly Boy De Lima. To be eligible for this award, the track needed to be at least 75% in the Hawaiian language.
Christmas Album of the Year
- Hanau ‘ia – Zeo Worship (Zeo Music)
Christmas Single of the Year
- Mele Kalikimaka lã ‘Oe by Kala’e + Kalena (Kala’e Parish Music)
Music Video of the Year
- Sands of Old Lahaina – Kalaʻe Camarillo – Director: Nikki Miyamoto – Music Producer: Imua Garza.
Hawaiian Music Video of the Year
- He Hoʻoheno No ʻEʻeka – Kealiʻi Reichel and Cody Pueo Pata – Director: Ruben Carillo – Music Producers: Kealiʻi Reichel and Shawn Pimental.
Instrumental Composition of the Year (Composer’s Award)
- Heartbeat Melody – Brittni Paiva & Chardonnay Pao, Composers – from Heartbeat Melody – Brittni Paiva Music
Song of the Year (Composer’s Award)
- Sands of Old Lahaina by Kala’e Camarillo (Kala’e Camarillo)
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Raiatea Helm for A Legacy Of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One (Raiatea Helm Records)
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Sean Na’auao for e Kahiau (Maliona Records): Na’auao has won nine awards as a solo artist, but this was his first time being recognized as the Male Vocalist of the Year.
Group of the Year
- Ekolu for Longevity (Waiehu Records)
Most Promising Artist(s) of the Year
- Shane Kaonohiokala Kahalehau for Kaonohiokalā (Mea Nui Records LLC)
Genre Categories
Alternative Album of the Year:
- Peachy Keen – Eyes of Red (Tin Idol Productions)
Anthology of the Year (Producucers Award)
- Maui On My Mind – Mango, Pandanus Club & Kenneth Makuakāne (Makuakāne Music)
Compilation Album of the Year (Producer’s Award)
- Kalama O Kauaʻi: The Songs of Nathan Kalama, Volume One – Hōkū Zuttermeister, Mark Yamanaka, Kūpaoa & Poʻokela Wood; Kellen Paik, Producer (Hulu Kupuna Productions)
Contemporary Album of the Year
- A Tribute To Linda Ronstadt – Sandemonium (Tin Idol Productions) – This multi-genre band features band members from the island of Maui and Oʻahu. This is their first Nā Hōkū nomination and award.
Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year
- Kona Grown – Kenny Tagavilla (Kenny T. Music). Kenny T is a Big Island musician from Hōnaunau has been nominated five times. This was his first Nā Hōkū Hanohano award.
Hawaiian Music Album of the Year
- A Legacy Of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One – Raiatea Helm – (Raiatea Helm Records)
Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year
- Paniolo Sun – Jeff Peterson (Peterson Productions)
Kī Hō ʻalu Foundation “Slack Key Legacy”
Mo Keale “Aloha Is Award”
Hip Hop Album of the Year
- Kūʻokoʻa – Sudden Rush (Sudden Rush Nation). This is the first Nā Hōkū award for the group from Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The award recognizes their blend of English and Hawaiian lyrics with hip hop beats.
Instrumental Album of the Year
- He Aha Kaia – Kaʻimi Hananoʻeau (Loihi Inc.)
Island Music Album of the Year
- Uluwehi – Waipuna (Poki Records): Kale Hannahs, Matthew Kawiaola Sproat and David Kamakahi celebrate their 17th year as a group. This was their ninth Nā Hōkū Hanohano award.
Jazz Album of the Year
- My Story In Song – Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)
Metal Album of the Year
- Samurai – Storm (Tin Idol Productions)
R&B Album of the Year
- Moon of Manakoora – Stacie Kuʻulei (Tin Idol Productions)
Reggae Album of the Year
- Longevity – Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
Religious Album of the Year
- Death, Love And The Second Coming – Tiffa Garza (Zeo Music)
Rock Album of the Year
- Jesus Christ Supernova: “The Remake” – Tin Idols (Tin Idol Productions)
Favorite Entertainer of the Year
- Kenneth Makuakāne. He produced over 150 albums, has received over 150 nominations for these awards, and this is his 28th Nā Hōkū Hanohano award.
Adjudicated Categories
General Engineering of the Year
- Imua Garza for Pearls – Aolani (Aloha Aolani)
Hawaiian Engineering of the Year
- Dave Tucciarone – A Legacy of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One – Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm Records)
Graphics of the Year
- Kanaiʻa Nakamura for Uluwehi – Waipuna (Poki Records)
Haku Mele of the Year
- Kainani Kahaunaele, Composers for Keao’õpuaikamakaokanalu from A Legacy Of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One – Raiatea Helm – (Raiatea Helm Records). Kaunahele is a Kauaʻi girl that lives on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi. This is Kaunahele’s 13 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award of her career and her third in the Haku Mele category for composition.
Hawaiian Language Performance of the Year
- A Legacy Of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One – Raiatea Helm – (Raiatea Helm Records)
International Album of the Year – Special Recognition Award
- Lei O Nani ʻAilana – Kaulana (Kaulana Entertainment)
Liner Notes of the Year
- Lance D. Collins – Kāwili 2 Various Artists (Hawaiʻi Institute for Philippine Studies)
Hawaiian Liner Notes of the Year
- Noah Haʻalilio Solomon – A Legacy of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One – Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm Records)
Lifetime Achievement Award honorees for 2024 included the work and accomplishments of Milan Betosa, Keith and Carmen Haugen, Gaylord Holomālia, Samuel Kekulanui Kapū Jr., Janet Maduli and Rev. Joseph Recca. Additionally, this year’s 2024 Lifetime Legacy Recognition honorees include: Rev. Samuel Kauakahi Kapū and Samuel Kekulanui Kapū Sr.
The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, held annually, are synonymous with excellence and recognition of the highest caliber in the recording arts. The awards highlight the diversity and brilliance of the music across the Hawaiian islands, honoring both established legends and emerging talents in various categories.
The Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards not only celebrate the achievements of the winners but also serve as a platform to inspire future generations and preserve the essence of Hawaiʻi’s music and culture, according to HARA.
