Several Big Island recording artists came away winners Saturday night at the 2013 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
Several Big Island recording artists came away winners Saturday night at the 2013 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu.
Hilo ukulele whiz Brittni Paiva led the charge for the Big Islanders with two statuettes — the newly created Ukulele Album of the Year award for her album “Tell U What” and the Instrumental Composition of the Year for the CD’s title track.
Kohala slack key masters Sonny Lim and John Keawe were among several co-producers winning the Compilation Album of the Year award for “Lana‘i Slack Key Festival: Live Kiho‘alu at Ke‘ele.” Others sharing the award were Dennis Kamakahi, Kevin Brown, Brother Noland, Kenneth Martinez Burgmaier, Cindy Combs, Dave Lower and Hilo-born Benny Uyetake.
Hilo’s Kuana Torres Kahele, last year’s big winner with seven statuettes, kept his winning streak alive by taking Christmas Album of the Year honors with “Hilo for the Holidays.” In addition, “Ha‘a” by Na Palapalai, his duo with Kehau Tamure, won the Graphics Award for artist B. Kanai‘a Nakamura.
In addition, Hilo native Ku‘uipo Kumukahi won the Moe Keale “Aloha Is” Award for Community Service.
Traditional Hawaiian trio Na Hoa, led by Maui firefighter Ikaika Blackburn, was the evening’s big winner. Their self-titled debut CD won four of the seven awards it was nominated for: Album of the Year, Group of the Year, Most Promising Artist and Hawaiian Music Album of the Year.