COURTESY KAINANI KAHAUNAELE
Tonight, the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) recognized Hawai‘i’s recording industry and brightest stars at the 44th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. With 12 live performances and 40 award categories, the Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards celebrated virtually with the theme of Ho‘āla Hou – A New Awakening.
“It’s been almost two years since the world shut down and many of our beloved HARA members were left to navigate their careers after having gigs and concerts cancelled,” said HARA President Amy Hānaiali‘i. “To recognize the resiliency, grace, creativity, and innovation of our recording artists, we chose the theme of Hoʻāla Hou – A New Awakening as a rebirth for the industry.”
One artist who clearly thrived during the 44th Annual Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards was Kainani Kahaunaele whose third album, Waipunalei, won seven awards in six categories. Kainani’s wins include two awards as both the artist and the producer of Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Hawaiian Music Album of the Year, and Hawaiian Language Performance. Hiapo K. Perreira and Kainani Kahaunaele also won a Hōkū for Haku Mele Award for Ohaoha Kou Lei Pua I Ka Hikina.
Other musical standouts included Lukela Keala who won Male Vocalist of the Year and Island Music Album of the Year for his namesake album. As the lead vocalist of the group Ekolu, Lukela allso who won Group of the Year and Reggae Album of the Year for 2020. Iolani and Natalie Ai Kamauu won three Hōkū’s for Single of the Year, Hawaiian Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year. Keilana was named as the Most Promising Artist of the Year and won R&B Album of the Year for I Am.
Here’s a list of all the winners: https://www.dropbox.com/s/r6q7u4zih2znw7l/2021%20Na%20Hoku%20Hanohano%20Winnerspdf.pdf?dl=0
If you missed the world premiere, the show will be rebroadcast on Saturday, October 9th on KGMB and Saturday, October 30th on KHNL.
Mahalo to this year’s presenting sponsor The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, legacy sponsor Kintetsu International Hawaii Company and supporting sponsors Papa Ola Lokahi, Ala Moana Hotel, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Queen’s Health Systems, Hawaii Theatre Center, Moanalua Gardens, Summit Media, Hawaii News Now, KoAloha Ukulele, Creative Labs of Hawai‘i, Hawai‘i’s Creative Industries, and DTL Hawai‘i for their unwavering commitment to Hawai‘i’s recording industry.
ABOUT THE HAWAI‘I ACADEMY OF RECORDING ARTS
The Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1982 to promote Hawai‘i’s recording industry and the music of Hawai‘i. HARA’s mission to preserve, protect, promote, foster and advance Hawai‘i’s recording industry and the music of Hawai‘i. Governed by a voluntary 13 member-elected Board with over 500 members, HARA’s origins date back to 1978 and KCCN-AM Radio, then the world’s only all-Hawaiian music radio station. HARA hosts the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards to honor the most prestigious and legendary entertainers in Hawai‘i’s recording industry. For more information about HARA, visit www.harahawaii.com.