There were other memorable
performances as well. Na Leo, shut out awards-wise for the first time in
memory, was joined on stage early in the evening by the Hilo Kalimas for
what was perhaps the single most exquisite number in the show. Raiatea
Helm shared her Hawaiian falsetto magic with backing from Ho'okena and
Nathan Aweau personified simplicity as he entertained with Buddy Fo
providing acoustic support on congas. Lets not forget Danny Couch singing
"When Hawaiian's Fall"
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RICHARD WALKER /
RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
Raiatea Helm, winner of the Most Promising Artist Award,
performed during the show.
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Cecilio & Kapono, who celebrate their 30th anniversary next month,
looked and sounded great in the final performance segment, but by that
time much of the crowd was gone.
Biggest winner of the night was producer Shawn Pimental of Koops 2,
whose franchise act, Na Palapalai, won in five categories, including Group
of the Year and Album of the Year, while label mates Three Plus won the
Reggae Album category.
As first-time winners, each member of Na Palapalai clearly relished
every opportunity to speak at the podium. Pimental added a few succinct
comments when he joined them to accept the Hoku for Album of the Year.
Traditional Hawaiian acts such as Na Palapalai won in almost every
possible category. Kalapana (Rock Album) and Danny Couch (Contemporary
Album) were as mainstream as it got in the winners' circle last night.
Kalapana members Gaylord Holomalia and D.J. Pratt shared a second Hoku
with Troy Gonzalez as co-engineers of the group's winning "Blue Album."
Veteran record producer Don McDiarmid Jr., Raiatea Helm, Nathan Aweau and
Jake Shimabukuro also received two Hokus apiece.
Helm, named Female Vocalist of the Year at Johnny Kai's 6th Annual
Hawai'i Music Awards last month, has now been voted Female Vocalist of the
Year by the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts as well.
Award presenters and winners alike contributed memorable moments at the
podium. Genoa Keawe wondered if the envelope had been sealed with super
glue. Frank DeLima slipped a commercial plug into his comments as he
announced Augie Tulba as the winner in the Comedy category. Tulba read his
acceptance speech off a sheet of paper that displayed a plea to listen to
his morning radio show.
Mihana Souza -- whose first solo album, "Rust on the Moon," won in the
Jazz category -- spoke movingly of her late mother, Irmgard Farden Aluli,
who composed the title song. "It's in her memory that I accept this, and
in her name."
Marlene Sai, left, and Genoa Keawe celebrated onstage
during the singing of "Hawai'i Aloha" at the end of the show.
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Jake Shimabukuro thanked his mother for always encouraging him to
"believe in what you do." Ki Ho'alu Award recipient John Keawe spoke with quiet dignity, but
few heard what he had to say because his was one of the 10 awards that
the HARA Board deemed unworthy of live television time. The new Moe
Keale "Aloha Is" Award for Community Service was among the others
announced before the start of the telecast while the crowd was loudly
feeding. The Bill Murata Memorial Scholarship recipients weren't even
allowed to address those present. This is shameful.
There is no excuse for denying any category winner the opportunity
to receive their Hoku Award and say their thanks during the live
broadcast. Cut two of the 12 performance segments, and trim the others
by a minute or less, and there would be time enough to give each award
the honor and respect it deserves.
And, again like last year, the presenter introductions and video
biographies from the separate Lifetime Achievement Awards show were
recycled during the television broadcast, although the recipients
weren't allowed to speak. It's not necessarily bad to recycle the
segments, since relatively few people attend the non-televised
separate show in March, but handing out five Lifetime Achievement
Awards each year reduces the significance of the honor. Two per year
would be more than enough.
The Winners ARE...
Aloha Music International
Na Hoku Hanohano Awards 2003 Winners!
LINER NOTES: Don McDiarmid Jr., for "Don McDiarmid Jr. Presents Hula
Records' Hits," various artists (Hula)
GRAPHICS: Brian Onaga for "Origins/Kinohi," 'Ale'a, (Poki)
COMPILATION ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Aloha Festivals Hawaiian Falsetto
Contest Winners III," various artists (Hula)
ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR, PRODUCER'S AWARD: "Don McDiarmid Jr. Presents
Hula Records' Hits," various artists (Hula), Don McDiarmid Jr.,
producer
SINGLE OF THE YEAR: "Aloha," Mana'o Company & Friends (Dan Pa)
ENGINEERING: Gaylord Holomalia, DJ Pratt and Troy Gonzalez for "Blue
Album," Kalapana (OceanBeat)
RELIGIOUS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "God Is in Control," Randy & Gay Hongo
(Christian Vision)
CHRISTMAS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "A Kanaka Christmas," Sean Na'auao (Poi
Pounder)
HAWAIIAN ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Makani 'Olu'olu," Na Palapalai, (Koops
2)
CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Something to
Remember," Danny Couch (Danny Couch).
REGGAE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "For You," Three Plus (Koops 2)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Buddy Fo
ISLAND CONTEMPORARY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Wahine Slack N' Steel,"
Owana Salazar (Moonbow)
COMEDY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Locally Disturbed," Augie Tulba (KDE).
HAKU MELE: "Pili Kapekepeke" by Julian Ako from "Makani 'Olu'olu, Na
Palapalai (Koops 2)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Linda Dela Cruz
ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Blue Album," Kalapana (OceanBeat)
SONG OF THE YEAR: COMPOSER'S AWARD: "E Apo Mai" by Nathan Aweau from
"E Apo Mai," Nathan Aweau (B.P. Music Arts)
JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Rust on the Moon," I. Mihana (I M
Recordings)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Raymond Kane
MOST PROMISING ARTIST: Raiatea Helm, "Far Away Heaven" (Rip Tide)
HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE PERFORMANCE: Na Palapalai for "Makani 'Olu'olu" (Koops
2)
FAVORITE ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR: Jake Shimabukuro, "Sunday
Morning."
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Jerry Byrd
INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Sunday Morning," Jake Shimabukuro
(Four Strings)
GROUP OF THE YEAR: Na Palapalai, for "Makani 'Olu'olu" (Koops 2)
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Raiatea Helm, "Far Away Heaven" (Rip
Tide)
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Lydia Ludin
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR: Nathan Aweau for "E Apo Mai" (B.P. Music
Arts)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: "Makani 'Olu'olu," Na Palapalai, (Koops 2)
MOE KEALE ALOHA IS AWARD FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE: Frank DeLima
KI HO 'ALU AWARD: John Keawe
BILL MURATA MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: Uilani Bobbitt, University of
Hawai'i-Manoa; Puakahiki Kaui Lauano from University of Hawai'i-Hilo
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