Na Palapalai Best Group of the Year and Hawaiian Album of the Year;
 Entering the evening with six nominations for the 2005 Na Hoku Awards this

group ended up winners!
All-time favorite Hawaiian Music group Na Palapalai took home Best Group of the Year and Hawaiian Album of the Year. With the ever-evolving changes and trends of contemporary Hawaiian Music Na Palapalai bring back the sound of when life was simple. Featuring their songs which are high on ha'i, the **falsetto. Congratulations to Keao, Kehau & Kuana for all their hard work and beautiful music Hawaiian Style.
(**Falsetto: originally called "false voice" because of the use of castrates (castrated males)when women were not allowed to sing in churches.)
 Home Page     LISTEN     Night Before the Stars Came Out

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Song of the year: "'Ala Anuhea" by Robert Cazimero, from "Some Call It Aloha ... Don't Tell,"

The 36th album from the Brothers Cazimero, Some Call It Aloha...Don't Tell is a full album of new tracks, but makes an attempt at covering the various styles and forms the Brothers have been working with over the years.The Brothers Cazimero are synonymous with contemporary Hawaiian Music, having recorded hit after hit and been awarded over 25 Hoku Awards. This CD is their best recording and the finest suite of brand new recorded performances they've ever made. It speaks of both their confidence in their talent and their passion for Hawaiian Music.

Their talent, longevity and sales success over the past 30 years have placed them in a league of their own, untouched by any other performer in the history of Hawaiian music.

Listen to Ala Anuhea

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Reiatea Helm Takes Home 4 Hoku Awards

Favorite entertainer of the year, Female vocalist of the year, Engineering, Graphics
As a keiki, She begged her parents to buy her a Kamaka Ukulele, and taught herself

 how to play it. Every day, behind her closed bedroom door, she would strum away at her ukulele and sing song along with the radio.
Raiatea Helm burst onto the Hawaiian music scene in 2000. It was hard to believe that the music on her CD "Far Away Heaven" was the work of a 18 year old, much less someone's first recording bringing her beautiful Hawaiian falsetto to light. Guest artists on her newest release Sweet and Lovely include Keali'i Reichel, Aunty Genoa Keawe, John Ka'imikaua and Zach Helm on a selection of songs out of her classic Hawaiian songbook.

Just one of the multitude of outstanding voices originating from paradise
http://www.raiateahelm.com/     Listen To Rai with Kealii Reichel Duet

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Male vocalist of the year: Dennis Pavao — "The Golden Voice of Hawai'i, Vol. 1"

The late Dennis Pavao (1951-2002) first came into the public eye as a teenager in the early 1970’s. He formed the legendary Island trio, Hui Ohana, along with his cousins, Nedward and Ledward Ka`apana , and he was instrumental in the renewed popularity of the male falsetto voice (ka leo ki`eki`e). After the breakup of the group, Pavao continued to record solo albums, and winning several Na Hoku Hanohano awards in the process. He performed extensively through Hawai`i, the Mainland
"Golden Voice of Hawai`i, Vol. 1" CD (2004)This beautiful new album highlights several previously unreleased Dennis Pavao tracks, completed after the artist’s passing "improved and re-arranged, re-mixed and re-mastered for added complexity." Guest Artists Amy Hanaiali`i Gilliom, Raiatea Helm, and Bobby Ingano.

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Brittni Paiva Most promising artist: "Brittni x 3"
16 Year Old Brittni Paiva received two Na Hoku Hanohano award nominations,

 Winning one of the two categories last week at the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards held at the Hilton Hawaiian Resort and Spa in Waikiki! Her smile lit the room as she walked quickly to the podium to receive her award.
Brittni Paiva's self-produced debut album was released haphazardly last summer, but with endorsements from her mentors, Keoki Kahumoku and Herb Ohta Jr., she was able to get a hearing from enough local radio stations to get air play, connect with the public, and win a Prestigious Hoku Award last week.
The album title and cover art introduce Paiva as someone who plays 'ukulele, slack key guitar, and electric bass guitar. Ki ho'alu, (Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar) which literally means "loosen the key," is the Hawaiian language name for the solo finger-picked style unique to Hawai'i. In this tradition, the strings (or "keys") are "slacked" to produce many different tunings. Each tuning produces a lingering sound behind the melody and has a characteristic resonance and fingering.

Brittni's repertoire is the usual cross-cultural mix favored by many young

 instrumentalists -- Hawaiian, hapa-haole, pop, world music, etc. "Thunderstorm Slack Key," and a second song she co-wrote with Kahumoku, show that Paiva is a promising composer as well. Truly the Hawaiian Darling of the string instruments.
HOKU HIGHS: Brittni Paiva, 16, playing onstage with Bill Tapia, 97 >>

Brittni's Website     LISTEN TO HULA BLUES     LISTEN TO G MINOR FLEA    LISTEN TO BRITTNI'S EWALU

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Brittni Paiva, 16, playing onstage with Bill Tapia, 97 at Hoku Awards '05
HOKU HIGHS: Brittni Paiva, 16, playing onstage with Bill Tapia, 97 at the 28th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in Waikiki... The Infamous Bill Tapia also featured as a Fanaddict on our site for singing sensation Danny Couch.
When Brittni Paiva, the 16-year-old Big Island 'ukulele and slack-key whiz, was in town for the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards last week (she was voted most promising artist), she was a darling on the club circuit, particularly at Honey's, (Don Ho's original club) where Ledward Ka'apana, a ki ho'alu whiz, waved a white "surrender" flag (signifying her instrumental savvy). Owana Salazar, the Best Jazz Album winner, offered her a free steel-guitar lesson, and Keith and Carmen Haugen offered, manuahi, the use of a 1920 Rickenbacher steel for as long as she wants to use it. Paiva sat in with the Honey's crew, including Mike Ka'awa, Ocean Kaowili, Paul Kim, Bryan Tolentino, and the famous Eddie Kamae (who was grinning ear to ear with delight), making her feel like one of the boys. ... Watch for much more from the young talent with the magic fingers!
 

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'Ale'a Best Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year '05
Together Ryan 'Gonzo' Gonzalez, Chad Takatsugi, Kaho`okeleholu Hannahs are known as the Hawaiian Group 'Ale'a winners for The Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year at the '05 Nâ Hôkű Hanohano Awards with their newest release "Kaulupono". The terrific harmonies of the (now) trio were nominated for the categories Group of the Year and Contemporary Hawaiian Album of the Year walking away with the prestegious Hoku Award in that category June 3.
Fanaddicts (pleased to feature this group online and very happy to have again spent some time with them) would like to extend our Congratulations to the trio on their win. We also would like to introduce you to this versatile and vocally talented band with harmonies very similar in type to other artists such as the very familiar Ho‘okena or the Makaha Sons but minus the traditionalism. A touch of contemporary styling goes a long way for these boys!
"Gonzo" has added his bit of personalization to our site by graciously adding his interview and Aloha to Share. The stars (Hokus) came out in all their splendor once again on June 3.
LISTEN     'ALEA FEATURE     'Alea Main Site     ~Mahalo

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CHARLES MICHAEL BROTMAN Grammy and Recent Hoku Winner Compilation album of the year: "Hula! Big Island Style Charles Michael Brotman, Grammy and Recent Hoku Winner Palm Records has produced a delightful mix of traditional and contemporary island hulas, that combine the talents of some award-winning Big Island artists. The collection of "NEW RECORDINGS" is produced by "Grammy Award" winner, Charles Michael Brotman, and has the "right stuff" to keep hula fans smiling and dancing.

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“The sound of acoustic and classical guitars has been a life-long obsession of mine”, says 47th Annual Grammy Award Winner Charles Michael Brotman. “There are magical moments when all the right components come together – a beautiful acoustic guitar, a great guitarist, the right room…”
Charles is a recipient of and was a multiple nominee for Hawaii's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for his guitar performances and role as Producer. In the past few years five of his guitar recordings have reached the top 10 on the national radio charts in World, Smooth Jazz, and New Age categories. Charles is known throughout Japan and the US for his role as the lead guitarist for KOHALA, the acoustic guitar trio from the Big Island of Hawaii. He is also known internationally as a composer, producer and guitarist.
Brotman currently performs and tours with his acoustic guitar trio "Kohala". This recording features Big Island artists performing some of their favorite hula songs.
Check out our complete coverage of the Grammy Awards and coming soon Mr. Charles Michael Brotman. ~mahalo

4 pages of complete Grammy Information Grammy Info
LISTEN TO MR BROTMAN'S WORK HOKU WINNING CLIP Listen to Kaleponi Hula

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Owana Salazar Won Hanohano Award for Jazz album of the Year:
Owana Salazar doesn't want to "lose the Hawaiian," but she isn't afraid to cross some genres on her new album, Hula Jazz

Ki = key
Ho`alu = to loosen
Kiho`alu = to loosen the key! SLACK KEY

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Frying Pan steel guitar refers to a guitar with its strings raised higher off the frets, played in the horizontal position.
Singer OWANA MAHEALANI-ROSE SALAZAR is currently the only known female steel guitar player in Hawai`i and is among the few wahine (woman) slack key players around. Owana Salazar is a princess all the way from Hawaii and she has talent: a fine singer and composer, a strong ki ho'alu (slack key) guitarist and the winner of the Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Jazz album of the year. Congratulations
LISTEN     Ms. Salazar's Main Site

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SUGahDADDY'S ALBUM - "UNDER A NATIVE MOON" WINS "ROCK ALBUM of the YEAR"
AT THE 2005 NA HOKUHANOHANO AWARDS!

Also won the "rock" category at the 8th Annual Hawaii Music Awards!
There's a new sound, original rockoriginal tunes that will give you a taste of Hawaii lyrically and crossover into the mainstream of rock on the streets of Honolulu. SUGahDADDY, e'hawaiianrockband, surprises listeners with the dynamic range of its performers, all veterans of stage and concert tours. These local musicians have an average of ten years production experience each, from Vegas showrooms to Carnegie Hall. All members of the production reside in the islands and together have focused their talents to archiving musically the experiences of everyday life at the edge of the Pacific Polynesian region. A blend of Adult Contemporary, Surf Rock and Hawaiian music give SUGahDADDY true diversity.

The principal driving force of the group is Kailua born musical director Darrell Aquino, on bass and vocals. Sean Thibadeaux handles SUGahDADDY's deft compositions on lead guitar. Mike Cueva adds a smooth edge with his saxophone prowess and the backbone and drive are provided by Captain John (Charleston) on drums. Rounding out this talented collection of singer/songwriters is Rev. Mat Kalani Souza on guitar and vocals

WATCH VIDEO    WATCH SECOND VIDEO     LISTEN     LISTEN purchase album online     CD available at
http://www.dannycouchfanaddicts.com   Features on artists for your enjoyment and my love of Hawaiian Music and introduction/promotion only, No sales hype, (Non-profit only)

****Jake Shimabukuro Best Instrumental Album
Best Instrumental Album of the Year at the '05 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for "Walking Down Rainhill." unprecedented third straight win in this category for him. Jake Shimabukuro is a young 28 yr ukulele virtuoso from Honolulu, Hawaii. Combining elements of jazz, rock, Hawaiian, and pop, he is often called the Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele. His discography includes the solo albums: Sunday Morning, Walking Down Rainhill, and Crosscurrent. He has also released an instructional DVD called "Play Loud Ukulele". His lightning fast fingers and revolutionary playing techniques, Jake Shimabukuro is a master of the ukulele. The 28 year old shatters musical boundaries. Not only does he play styles previously "taboo" on the four-string, two-octave instrument, but he is creating music never before thought possible. While Jake has great respect and love for traditional Hawaiian ukulele music, his mission is to show everyone that the ukulele is capable of so much more. His ever expanding repertoire includes jazz, blues, funk, classical, bluegrass, folk, flamenco and rock. Countless hours of practicing, Jake continues to strum, pluck, distort, and tap into the uke's potential. Jake masterfully extracts the pure "clean" natural acoustic sound of the uke, delicately making a single note cry or smile Three Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii's Grammy) and four Hawaii Music Awards for his solo albums firmly cement Jake's status as one of Hawaii's greatest musicians. "Walking Down Rainhill," landed on Billboard's World Music Chart.

LISTEN TO SAMPLE OF JAKE'S WORK What's up next for this music virtuoso? Shimabukuro to open for Jimmy Buffett in 7-show tour JAKE TO OPEN FOR BUFFETTS CONCERTS

DISCOGRAPHY & AWARDS ALBUMS Walking Down Rainhill (2004) · Ukulele Album of the Year – 2005 Hawaii Music Awards · Album of the Year Na Hoku Hanohano Awards '05 Crosscurrent (2003) · Instrumental Album of the Year – 2004 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards · Album of the Year – 2004 Hawaii Music Awards · Entertainer of the Year – 2004 Hawaii Music Awards · Instrumental Hawaiian Album of the Year – 2004 Hawaii Music Awards Sunday Morning (2002) · Instrumental Album of the Year – 2003 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards · Favorite Entertainer of the Year – 2003 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards DVDS Million Miles Away (2005) Play Loud Ukulele (2004)

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Rev. Dennis Kamakahi Hoku Winner Ki Ho'Alu Award: and Lilo & Stitch Soundtrack
Rev. Dennis Kamakahi At the age of 3, he started to play the ukulele and was taught by his Grandfather, David Naoo Kamakahi, the art of slack key guitar playing at the age of 10 years old. He joined the famous group called the "SONS OF HAWAII" replacing the legiondary slack key guitar legend, Gabby Pahinui for a lengthy tenure.(1974 - 1995) Now winning the prestigious Hoku Ki Ho'Alu Award for his work. Now in his early 50s, Kamakahi, along with being a highly respected performer, is a prolific composer, constantly adding to the repertoire. He also teaches and will soon be featured in a major Disney movie. On September 4, 2003 Dennis, along with his son David, were invited to the Walt Disney Studios to sing and play the main theme song for the animated sequel - LILO and STICH II - LILO and STICH 2: Stich Has A Glitch Scheduled release: August 30, 2005

See list of albums and sample Great feature article on Dennis and his son David     LISTEN     LISTEN 2 For comprehensive information on Danny Couch and all things Hawaiian, pay us a visit, We love Hawaii! Info and photos of Hokus and more

More features will come to our pages in the near future.

Danny would love to hear your comments on our guestbooks.

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Special "Mahalo" to Danny for your continued support for your Original Fan Site

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All contents, text, music, photos used in this website MAY NOT  be duplicated, copied or used in any fashion or other website, without written authorization from Danny Couch and Lea Cook, web-owner.

Site Contrived Jan. '01 Launched Apr. '02