2007 Hoku nominations announced

[Leo Lakio]

http://honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070516/LIFE/705160391/1076

[tutusue]

Hey, Pali! Congrats on your plethora of nominations! Way to go! :)

[mediababy67]

Where's the S-B's Hoku nom story? Isn't it the self-proclaimed "local" paper? What's more "local" than the best of Hawaii music?

[Leo Lakio]

Where's the S-B's Hoku nom story?I ask that question (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showpost.php?p=146395&postcount=131) too...:confused:

[koloagirl]

:)

Aloha kakahiaka!

I am so excited because not only did my best friend get nominated in "2" Hoku categories (Female Vocalist and Christmas Album) she was asked to perform live on the TV broadcast! Leilani Rivera Bond from here on Kaua'i.

While I always have good fun going to the Hoku's with Leilani, this year will be very special because she will actually be on stage singing (I think with Ku'uipo Kumukahi and Karen Keawehawai'i) -- boy will this be a special year for all of us at her table!

Now the big question -- WHAT TO WEAR??
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Koloagirl/beachpics001.jpg
Hooray!!!

Malama Pono,
Janet

[Leo Lakio]

That's wonderful news, Janet. Our halau in Seattle still dances "O Kamawaelualani" as she taught it several years ago.

[dcfanaddicts]

2007 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards
HONOLULU (KFVE) - K5 The Home Team (KFVE-TV) presents live coverage
of the 2007 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards on Wednesday, June 20 at 7:30 PM
from the Hawai'i Convention Center. The awards show will be
streamed live on http://www.k5thehometeam.com

Amy Hanaiali'i and Na Palapalai top this year's list of artists with
the eight nominations. Hanaiali'i's Grammy-nominated release,
Generation Hawai'i is on the ballot for Female Vocalist of the Year,
Hawaiian Album, Song, Album, Favorite Entertainer, Graphics,
Engineering, and Hawaiian Language Performance.

Na Palapalai's Ka Pua Hae Hawai'i is up for Group of the Year,
Hawaiian Album, Song, Album, Favorite Entertainer, Graphics,
Hawaiian Language Performance and Haku Mele.

The performance line-up includes Kaukahi, Kalapana, Native Hawaiian
Band, Nohelani Cypriano, Jerry Santos, Afatia, Malio, Gabe Baltazar,
Rene Paulo, Jimmy Borges and a special tribute to Don Ho.

The awards are given to Hawaii's musicians as voted by members of
the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts (HARA), a non-profit
organization formed in 1982 to stimulate interest in the local
recording industry and the music of Hawaii.

This year, academy members are also casting votes in two new
categories, Music Video DVD of the Year and R&B/Hip Hop Album of the
Year. A panel of Hawaiian music and language specialists selected
the final nominees and winners of the Haku Mele and Hawaiian
Language Performance Awards. The Favorite Entertainer of the Year is
determined by public voting.

The 2007 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards will rebroadcast on Saturday, June
23 at 10:30 p.m. on K5 The Home Team. http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/

http://www.dannycouchfanaddicts.com Comprehensive and Approved Fan
Appreciations Website
ON A PERSONAL NOTE:I am also personally extreemly honored to have
been asked to submit a graphic for the opening Title page of the
Official 30th Anniversary Hara, Na Hoko Hanohano Award Website at
http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/

Mahalos and Appreciation to Keola Donoghy at keola@nahenahe.net (http://keola@nahenahe.net)

[jdub]

What's the deal with the nominations? Are all of the to-be 2007 winners actually 2006 releases?

[Leo Lakio]

What's the deal with the nominations? Are all of the to-be 2007 winners actually 2006 releases?Yes. The eligibility year matches the calendar year, so albums released between 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2006 will be honored at the 2007 awards ceremony. It's a semantics issue - and no one wants to be accused of being "anti-semantic.":rolleyes:

So - is your album gonna be submitted for next year's awards then? Do we need to petition HARA to add a "Best Irish Rock Island-Style Album" category? What competition would you have?

[LikaNui]

It's a semantics issue - and no one wants to be accused of being "anti-semantic." This is the music section, so I say you can't post good quips like that one without adding a rimshot.
Man law.

:p

[Leo Lakio]

This is the music section, so I say you can't post good quips like that one without adding a rimshot.
Man law.Couldn't find the right "smiley" for it (Ryan hates 'em, you know.)

Bah-dum-bump.

[LikaNui]

Couldn't find the right "smiley" for it Here's your rimshot "smiley":

[jdub]

Yes. The eligibility year matches the calendar year, so albums released between 1/1/2006 and 12/31/2006 will be honored at the 2007 awards ceremony. It's a semantics issue - and no one wants to be accused of being "anti-semantic.":rolleyes:

So - is your album gonna be submitted for next year's awards then? Do we need to petition HARA to add a "Best Irish Rock Island-Style Album" category? What competition would you have?
But of course! I figure it'd file under "alternative." The studio and the band are enormously happy with the production value and performances. If rRed Elephant doesn't submit for next year, I sure as hell will.

Anti-semantic. Oy vay.

BTW, Leo, PM me with your mailing address. I've got to get you a copy for your show.

[mel]

The Hoku awards will be broadcast live on TV as they normally are, but for the first time the program will also be broadcast live, statewide on the radio. Visionary Communications radio stations will be carrying the show live to a statewide audience:

Stations to carry the Hokus, presented by the Hawaii Academy of Recording Artists, include KUMU-FM 94.7 on Oahu; KSRF-FM 95.9 on Kauai; KNUQ-FM, heard at 103.7 on the Big Island and South Maui and at 103.3 in Central and West Maui; and on KMKK-FM 102.3 on Molokai and in West Maui.

Read the entire article at this link (http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/17/business/engle.html).

[Peshkwe]

Anyone able to get the web stream to work?

It played all of five seconds and then stopped...all I can get is the commercial now.

[Peshkwe]

WOOT!!

Pali won! *does the happy dance*

[kiwidiva]

http://cover6.cduniverse.com/MuzeAudioArt/Large/21/801621.jpg http://a571.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01028/07/52/1028322570_l.jpg
Oh yeah... first timers Afatia Thompson & Paula Fuga both won Hoku awards! SEKI A SAMOA!! CHOOOOOO HOOOOOO!!!

Was it my TV or was the sound for the live performances really crappy? It didn't sound like it was mixed well to me! I don't think they got the sound right until the last number (the jazz song - which was AWESOME!)

Technical difficulties aside, a definite highlight was the song with Leilani Rivera Bond and the other ladies. They were fantastic!!

I would have liked to have heard Paula, Natalie Ai Kamau'u & big winner Amy Hanaiali'i sing - but I guess there is just so much talent and not enough time for everyone to perform.

[Leo Lakio]

Da winners ---

» Album of the Year (artist and producer's award): "Generation Hawai'i," Amy Hanaiali'i (Hanaiali'i), Michael Ruff and Hanaiali'i Records, producers
» Song of the Year (composer's award): "Life In These Islands" by Kawika Kahiapo, from "Life in These Islands," Kaukahi (OneHawaii)
» Favorite Entertainer (determined by public vote): Keali'i Reichel
» Most Promising Artist: Paula Fuga, Lilikoi (Pakipika)
» Female Vocalist: Amy Hanaiali'i, "Generation Hawai'i" (Hanaiali'i)
» Male Vocalist: Nathan Aweau, "The Hawai'i Classic Series Vol. II -- Hula" (B.P. Music Arts)
» Group of the Year: Kaukahi, "Life in These Islands" (OneHawaii)
» Haku Mele (composer's award): "Ni'ihau," by Pekelo Cosma and Ileialoha Beniamina, from "Hana by the Sea," Pekelo (Pekelo)
» Hawaiian Language Performance: Na Kama, "Kamakolu" (Makani)
» Ki Ho'alu Award (for a slack-key performer): Kawika Kahiapo
» Music Video DVD: "Makaha Sons Live at the Hawaii Theatre," Makaha Sons (Makaha Sons)
» Moe Keale "Aloha Is" Award for Community Service: Eddie Kamae

TOP ALBUMS BY CATEGORY
» Christmas: "Caz Christmas," Brothers Cazimero (Mountain Apple)
» Rock: "The Wild Hawaiian," Henry Kapono (Eclectic)
» Religious: "Keonemele O Kaumakapili," Kaumakapili Church Choir (Kaumakapili Publishing Committee)
» Anthology (producer's award): "Eddie Kamae & Friends," Eddie Kamae & Friends (Hawaii Sons), Eddie and Myrna Kamae, producers
» Instrumental: "Gently Weeps," Jake Shimabukuro (Hitchhike)
» R&B/Hip Hop: "5:45," Afatia (Tihati)
» Compilation (producer's award): "Hokule'a: The Legacy," various artists (Bishop Museum Press), Kenneth Makuakane, Alden Levi, Randie Kamuela Fong, Hiro Mihara and Lehua Heine, producers
» Reggae: "Mystical Fish," Brother Noland (Mountain Apple)
» Contemporary: "Pali Presents a Tribute," Pali (Discos Tropical)
» Contemporary Hawaiian: "Barefoot Natives," Barefoot Natives (Barefoot Natives)
» Hawaiian: "Generation Hawai'i," Amy Hanaiali'i (Hanaiali'i)

TECHNICAL AWARDS
» Graphics: Dalen Kahiapo and Todd Schlosser, for "Life in These Islands," Kaukahi (OneHawaii Music)
» Liner Notes: Puakea Nogelmeier, Fred Krauss and Keali'i Reichel, for "Maluhia," Keali'i Reichel (Punahele Productions)
» Engineering: Ron Pendragon and Michael Ruff, for "Generation Hawai'i," Amy Hanaiali'i (Hanaiali'i)

[LikaNui]

Was it my TV or was the sound for the live performances really crappy? It didn't sound like it was mixed well to me! No, it wasn't your TV. The audio really was crappy, but unfortunately that's a typical problem with KFVE. Every one of their "Hot Hawaiian Nights" shows for the past several years has had audio problems, and ditto for every Hoku Awards show. It's inexcusable to have that continue on shows for which audio is the critical function.
Time to switch to another network.

:(

[Peshkwe]

For the web feed I could have dealt with the funky sound. I was bummin over the the thing stopping dead for good chunks of the show and considering it started at 1:30am for my time zone, and that at the best of times I generally have the thought processes of a concussed squirrel on acid... the stop/restart points ended up being....erm...interesting.


Like, I was watching, every things cool...Pali starts to sing and as he hits the word 'night' it all goes to black.

me/ "WTF???...that is so not an amusing visual effect...make the lights go on again daggonit!" ~clickity ~ clickity ~ clickity~

It pops back to life but it's no longer the Hokus,

it's a microscopic multidimensional documentary on the secret life of the dryer lint people and how they shimmy up ribbons of dryer lint to steal your sock...

I always wondered what happened to the odd sock...guess I know now. :eek:



Then the lights go out again..so I'm back to

"Daggonnit!" ~clickity ~ clickity ~ clickity~
(Somebody pleeease tell me what that was all about?)



Lights go on again and it takes me a bit to figure out it's a tribute to Don Ho, then...

"Daggonnit!" ~clickity ~ clickity ~ clickity~

Random person playing something with strings (only see the hands)

"Daggonnit!" ~clickity ~ clickity ~ clickity~

'Nother act...then..."Daggonnit!" ~clickity ~ clickity ~ clickity~
*rinse and repeat*



The lights go on and the vid seems to stabilize

me/ "Cool!"

They intro AugieT who starts his bit and the vid starts to stutter

me/ "nooooooooo....."

the vid freezes with close head shot of Augie in mid word...so it's stuck on a big head in a fuzzy wig, shades 'n making kissy face.

I'm sure he's cute and all, but at this point he starts to resemble the evil dust bunnies that stalked me when I was up for ten days straight.



Then...

"Daggonnit!" ~clickity ~ clickity ~ clickity~
*rinse and repeat AGAIN!*





It finally stabilized enough to see some wins and then it was over. *sigh*

[scrivener]

It's inexcusable to have that continue on shows for which audio is the critical function.
Time to switch to another network.
I doubt that there is a television network on the planet that would be interested for even a moment in broadcasting these awards shows. Perhaps a radio network, like Sirius, would be more appropriate, since it has stations that are more specialized in programming.

[LikaNui]

I doubt that there is a television network on the planet that would be interested for even a moment in broadcasting these awards shows. What about the various local specials that do get shown locally on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox? (Emme's Island Moments, some of Eddie & Myrna Kamae's specials, Merrie Monarch, and many others, for example.) Clearly the local network affiliates can make room for local special events, especially in a non-sweeps month when all that would be displaced are reruns.
But since KHNL is the sister station of KFVE and would probably use the same audio folks, maybe better for the Hoku show to go with KHON, KITV or KGMB.

[cezanne]

Yeah Pali! Congratulations!


WOOT!!

Pali won! *does the happy dance*

[scrivener]

What about the various local specials that do get shown locally on ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox? (Emme's Island Moments, some of Eddie & Myrna Kamae's specials, Merrie Monarch, and many others, for example.) Clearly the local network affiliates can make room for local special events, especially in a non-sweeps month when all that would be displaced are reruns.
But since KHNL is the sister station of KFVE and would probably use the same audio folks, maybe better for the Hoku show to go with KHON, KITV or KGMB.
Those aren't shown on the networks, they're shown on the local stations, as you say. I'm sorry; I guess I misunderstood your post -- I thought you were suggesting that a NETWORK pick up the telecast, and I just didn't see that happening.

[LikaNui]

I'm sorry; I guess I misunderstood your post -- I thought you were suggesting that a NETWORK pick up the telecast, and I just didn't see that happening. Sorry, I should've specified "local network affiliates" originally. Clearly the Hoku Awards would never get picked up for a full nationwide network run.
And it wasn't just the audio that was bad. The entire production of the award show itself was pretty weak. Amateurish stage setting, to begin with. In the past, tons of beautiful local flowers and potted palms and such. But last night, diddly squat. A couple of cheesy Roman-esque columns and a nondescript background screen. Nothing at all that represented Hawai`i nei.

:(

[Peshkwe]

I had a friend make a copy of the 2004 Hokus and I remember there being a bunch more people up on stage at the end too. With this one it seemed a lot of people beat feet as soon as it was over..before really, since the place was empty and the MC was calling for people to come up during what for the TV viewers would have been the break.

The web feed, when it didn't break on it's own, was continuous for the most part. A few breaks were remembered but most weren't so we got the station break countdowns, views of the ceiling lights at times and random back stage type chit-chat.

[koloagirl]

Aloha from Kaua'i! :)

I attended the 2007 Hoku Hanohano Awards last week with one of the nominees, Leilani Rivera Bond (nominated for Female Vocalist and Christmas Album) -- altho' we didn't win (and didn't expect to, being up against heavy hitters like Amy Hanaiali'i and Caz Brothers - all from O'ahu) -- we had a blast!

This was the first year at the Convention Center -- I liked the ballroom in which they held the awards, but the "meet and greet" area outside was unbearably hot and we were all watching everyone's flowers go limp from the heat -- not to mention us ourselves!

The setting inside was similar to the ones at the Hilton Hawaiian Village -- huge screens set up on either side of the room to view the live broadcast -- the acceptance stage to one side and the performance stage in the center.
The backdrop wasn't terribly bad I thought -- kind of looked like the ocean with its swirling blues and greens.

I did think that there were tons of "Lifetime Achievement Awards", most of them posthumous -- it seemed there were more this year than in prior years.
Also, purely from the standpoint of sitting there and watching the awards, the bar was inside the ballroom this year and the noise gradually escalated from that area all night to the point where people sitting at the nearby tables were all "shushing" them loudly! If you pay $125. for a ticket, I'd sure like to hear the show and not a bunch of folks at the bar. :mad:

The other thing that I was sad at was the number of winners who weren't there to receive their awards -- Jake Shimabukuro, Keali'i Reichel, Henry Kapono, and many others sent substitutes up to pick the awards up -- that always is kind of a drag and letdown not to get to see them.

The live performances were amazing! My favorites were the FAB group "Kaukahi" (my absolutely favorites, I voted for them in every category they were up for!) , Jerry Santos singing "Ku'u Home Kahulu'u" and the tribute to Uncle Don Ho by Marlene Sai and friends -- very poignant and lovely!
Of course my absolute favorite was when my best friend got up to sing with Owana Salazar, Darlene Ahuna, Ku'uipo Kaumakahi and Mehana Souza -- this was her very first time singing on the live broadcast and it was so fun! She had a blast and the ladies treated her so lovely! They were good fun and Leilani just had the time of her life! She looked beautiful on TV also!

The weirdest moment was Nohelani Cypriano's song -- all of a sudden a gymnast started climbing up what looked like white curtains -- she climbed all the way to the top of the ceiling and then draped herself artistically and rolled down them at the climax of the song! All this while 2 hula dancers were also on stage dancing to the song! I wasn't sure if I was at the Hoku's or "Cirque du Soleil" to tell you the truth! I was kind of neat, but kind of unusual too! ;)

I'm afraid I'm a big proponent of Traditional Hawaiian Music, so I actually walked out during the R+B - Hip Hop portion that Afatia did -- it was so incongruous to me during a show that is meant to support Hawaiian music -- so why do we now have Reggae (Jamaican) and R+B Hip Hop (Black Culture) -- how exactly does this help perpetuate Hawaiian music? But that's just me!

It was good fun in all and Leilani and I got a chance to view all the fancy folks from Honolulu all dolled up! We kind of felt like Country Bumpkins in the middle of all that glamour -- altho' Leilani looked a knockout and had her makeup done that afternoon at MAC -- it looked great!

Anyway -- it was fun -- so onto next year!

Malama Pono

[LikaNui]

Also, purely from the standpoint of sitting there and watching the awards, the bar was inside the ballroom this year and the noise gradually escalated from that area all night to the point where people sitting at the nearby tables were all "shushing" them loudly! Wow. Bad choice on the producers part. The bar has always been outside the room when the Hokus were at the Sheraton Waikiki. And yes, it was the place to hang out when you or your friends weren't up for something at the moment. Plus the awards show itself was always way too long. Pre-party, dinner and minor awards, then the main show... five or six hours total. So yeah, lots of folks would get up and mosey around and chat rather than sit still for all that. So having the bar inside was just dumb.
Side note: they always had someone playing a piano near the bar. I always felt kinda sorry for them, having to play in front of all those Hoku winners and nominees. :p

The weirdest moment was Nohelani Cypriano's song -- all of a sudden a gymnast started climbing up what looked like white curtains -- she climbed all the way to the top of the ceiling and then draped herself artistically and rolled down them at the climax of the song! All this while 2 hula dancers were also on stage dancing to the song! I wasn't sure if I was at the Hoku's or "Cirque du Soleil" to tell you the truth! Right on! I had the "Cirque" flash too. The curtain swinger was a very strange thing for a Hoku show, and it distracted from Nohelani's song a lot. I didn't like it (the gymnast) at all.

I'm afraid I'm a big proponent of Traditional Hawaiian Music, so I actually walked out during the R+B - Hip Hop portion that Afatia did -- it was so incongruous to me during a show that is meant to support Hawaiian music -- so why do we now have Reggae (Jamaican) and R+B Hip Hop (Black Culture) -- how exactly does this help perpetuate Hawaiian music? I tend to agree with you, but we do have to remember that the Hokus are awards for Hawaiian musicians, not just Hawaiian music, so that does include all genres.

Anyway, thanks for your post and I'm glad you had a great time!

:)

[Leo Lakio]

Very cool "insiders" post, koloagirl - thanks for sharing it with us! (I didn't know you were a HARA member, too.) Please let Leilani know that our Seattle halau, Halau Hula O Napualani, still dances "O Kamawaelualani" the way she taught it to us a few years back.

[Auntie Maria]

"I tend to agree with you, but we do have to remember that the Hokus are awards for Hawaiian musicians, not just Hawaiian music, so that does include all genres."

Actually, Hoku awards are for musicians of Hawai`i -- and beyond (in some categories). This year HARA voted to add two categories (Hip-hop/R&B, and music video). You can learn more about HARA and the annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, on this website:
http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/
Eventually that new website will have an archive of all past winners. For now, the only full list is here (change years, right box):
http://www.mele.com/na_hoku_hanohano/2007//

This was my 12th Na Hoku night and -- despite some glitches -- this was #1 for me. Great venue, sound & light (live) was perfect, food & service were excellent. Bravo to new HARA President Marlene Sai and her committee for putting this together! :)

[Auntie Maria]

As a voting member of HARA -- and sponsor of this year's Na Hoku event -- I took particular interest in all of the comments posted here about that evening. Then I took the liberty of sending koloagirl's comments to HARA President Marlene Sai, and Na Hoku Chair Kenneth Makuakane -- because they want to hear constructive comments from the public. He replied -- and gave permission for that reply to be posted here. Feel free to contact the HARA office anytime (http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/contact.html). Here's Kenneth's reply:

Mahalo for sending this along. The comments are what the person
truly felt, so it is a real issue. From the standpoint of the
committee, we wish the audience only knew how difficult it was to put
on a production of this magnitude. The room was a totally new venue,
so we were unfamiliar with the layout during the live run through.
That was my second time in that room, so I didn't know the waiting
area was that hot. Even the staff were surprised.


Yes the bar needs to be outside, but we didn't know the noise
problems it would cause, because the folks from the Convention Center
said this never happened at any of the other functions before.


As far a Nohe's section, we only invite the artist. They are the
creative minds behind everything they do; we have no say.


As far as the decorations for the whole ballroom, the budget was
very, very small and I really feel the guys in charge did an
incredible job with what they had to work with. I apologize if it
wasn't gala looking, but everything costs money, that is why the
increase in the ticket sales occurred.


Not seeing the artists come up to accept their awards is just the way
it is. The most popular ones are always the most busiest, again
something out of their or our control. They probably booked their
gigs long before the Hoku date came up.


Here is the truth:
Every year, when we plan the Hoku Awards, we have no money. We have
to build a sponsorship packet and hit the ground running. We have to
sell a bunch of high end sponsorships early in the game in order to
have a chance of prepaying for things like the room, the food, etc.
Without that money, we can't secure anything. The next step is to
hit every single company possible and hope that our need is greater
and more impactful than the the other 100 packets on their desks that
week.
Then we try to plan our show, starting with our wish list. This year
Kealii wasn't around, neither was Henry. Barefoot Natives weren't
answering the call. As a matter of fact Eric Gilliom called for
tickets the afternoon before the event. We had to redo the seating
to accommodate him, because they were up for several awards. Amy was
in Japan; flew back the day of the Hoku's, so we couldn't count on
her until the manager called and said she would be available, too
late because the show was set. Only Moon Kauakahi was available to
perform - the Koko brothers were involved with something else, so the
Makaha Sons were out. So as we keep going down our wish list, it
gets slim. We tried to revive several bands, but to no avail. I
think we did well with the acts who were booked.
No one is going to be happy, but it is always going to be that way.
Until we get an Executive Director and/or a large benefactor, we are
scraping pennies and doing the very best we can with a volunteer
Board. Two months prior to the event, we all work on this
practically full time, foregoing our own day jobs. I am not
complaining, just telling you how it is. We are not professional
event promoters or event coordinators, but we are passionate about
our industry, so even though our people throw stones at us, we
continue to strive to be better.

Mahalo for letting me voice my views,
Kenneth

If you would like to forward this to those who commented, please feel
free. You can even give them the HARA office number and we would be
happy to talk to them.

[LikaNui]

Has the HARA board viewed a replay of the show and heard how bad KFVE's audio was?
It might be good for HARA to start sniffing around the other channels for next year, in case KFVE can't guarantee an improvement in the audio.

[koloagirl]

Aloha from Kaua'i!

Auntie Maria -- I appreciate (I think!) you sending my comments onto Ken -- I know Ken as he was the producer of Leilani's 2nd CD and I spent a couple of lovely days in his studio with Uncle Bill Kaiwa as he and Leilani worked on the CD. I saw him at the Hoku's this year and gave him a big hug and honi -- he is always so gracious and remembers me!

Ken is an absolutely wonderful guy who I have total respect for -- I don't want him to feel that I was criticizing him in any way for the bar situation or the overly warm waiting area -- those are just things that happen in a new location and I'm sure they will straighten them out next year.

It is always disappointing not having some of the big name winners there to accept their awards -- but I do understand that they have prior commitments. Again, not anyone's fault.

The entertainment was fantastic all night! So many chicken-skin moments and our whole table of Kaua'i-folk enjoyed ourselves big time!

I thought the ballroom was lovely and decorated so well -- I liked the blue swirly backdrop and the even-bigger screens to view all the action from anywhere in the room.

My feelings on the R+B and Hip-Hop are my opinions only -- I think it would be interesting though to talk to someone like Ken or Marlene Sai as to why those categories are being added -- it would be good to get their perspective on why some categories are added that seem to have nothing to do with Hawaiian music.

Anywho -- give my best love to Ken! Tell him that Darryl and Dougie are waiting to go back to the Waiwai Club!

Ken, I apologize if I said anything that seemed like criticism towards you or the other Board Members -- certainly not my intention at all!

Malama Pono,

[Auntie Maria]

koloagirl -- not to worry about hurting Kenneth's feelings; he (and Marlene) welcome constructive criticism...and I did not include your name. It was handed over as a totally anonymous post (along with some of the emails I've received on the same topic).

I'm a member of the HARA's Na Hoku selection committee -- and can tell you that the addition of R&B and Hip-Hop as categories this year, was due to the overwhelming number of R&B and Hip-Hop CDs which were submitted for consideration. Those two genre (genres??) began as a trickle about 5 years ago, but progressed to a large stream in 2006...resulting in them being qualified for inclusion in this year's voting.

There must be a minimum of 5 CDs in any genre, for Na Hoku inclusion each year...which is why genre like "comedy" and "Christmas" aren't always included. Too few releases = no Na Hoku category in the following year.

[LikaNui]

Has the HARA board viewed a replay of the show and heard how bad KFVE's audio was?
It might be good for HARA to start sniffing around the other channels for next year, in case KFVE can't guarantee an improvement in the audio. I'm still interested in hearing an answer. After all, what could be more important for a televised music awards show than having a good audio feed?

:confused:

[Auntie Maria]

I know the HARA Board is (was?) planning to meet to do a thorough review of Na Hoku 2007.

You can email the HARA office directly, anytime: nahokuhanohano@hotmail.com

Their website is being upgraded -- and already looks great!
http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/

[tutusue]

[...]I'm a member of the HARA's Na Hoku selection committee[...]
And, you were a presenter this year. Way to go, Auntie M!!!