Hawai'i's musical luminaries gather on stage for a last song at the 2008 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. - Photos: Blaine Fergerstrom

By Liza Simon / Ka Wai Ola

In the midst of an economic downturn, it's understandable that many galas would become casualties of bottom lines and shrinking budgets. But not the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards ceremony – the show will go on for Hawai'i's Grammy-like awards June 9 in its former home at the Sheraton Waikīkī, which is set to welcome luminaries of the local music industry with their various humble backyard roots and beloved legacies.

Even if the evening indulges a taste for elegance, event organizer Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts says the expense is well worth the reward of honoring deserving music professionals. "In this challenging economic climate, where hotels have less than 60 percent occupancy, it's turning out that the musicians who play by the pool are the first to get the boot. And what a shame, since it was the musicians and their sound who put Hawai'i on the world map to begin with," said HARA board member Pali Ka'aihue, a Hōkū-award winning recording artist and a nominee in this year's competition.

"In addition to challenges of landing a steady gig, musicians are up against so many changes in the digital age in trying to get their music heard and their product out the public," Ka'aihue added, noting that CD sales are down and radio stations limit airplay of recording artists by sticking to set playlists.

To bring harmony to these sour notes in the music biz, HARA has added several special features to the usual Nā Hōkū Hanohano fare of award presentations, music and dance performances and tributes to local music heroes.

To begin with, the theme of the evening will be unity. "For the most part, we all wala'au with each other in the music scene. We are not exclusive with our audiences. We all work with one another anyway. So we want the awards night to show that rather than running parallel, we work with each other," said Ka'aihue.

Sprinkled between award presentations, the evening will feature unusual pairings of musical acts – old with new, traditional with contemporary. Ka'aihue said to expect some surprising juxtapositions including Amy Hanaiali'i with Ledward Ka'apana and Mike Ka'a'awa, Sean Na'auao with Rebel Souljaz, and Diana Aki with Holunape.

"This year there is a striking mixture of respected icons with newcomers vying for awards in the same category. Right alongside the Cazimeros, there are newly formed groups like Mānoa Voices, fresh off their first recording," said Ka'aihue, who sees this as evidence that the annual awards ceremony gives music-industry newcomers a goal to work toward, much as the Merrie Monarch competition does for hula performers.

In fact, for the second consecutive year, Ka'aihue said that a Tokyo production company will invite the top Hōkū and Merrie Monarch winners to be the featured stars of a televised celebration of Hawaiian music in Japan. "Getting a Hōkū award is so exciting. It's a springboard for developing creative new ventures," said Ka'aihue.

HARA exec and Hōk¯u winner Pali Ka'aihue. - Photo: Blaine Fergerstrom

This year won't be the first time that the Hōkū awards shine a spotlight on the sense of 'ohana that pervades Hawai'i's close-knit music scene. In addition to showcasing noted music makers, it's become known for giving props to behind-the-scenes and often unsung talent: audio engineers, liner notes writers, graphic arts designers, to mention a few of the honorees in categories that have grown to 26 this year. Then there's the ambience of the ceremony itself: While artists are encouraged to bust out their best aloha wear (should they be called up to the podium to deliver an acceptance speech), they maintain a hang-loose attitude, judging from the exchange of lei, the hugs, and the intimate talk story caught under the camera lights in the live telecast, though always better enjoyed in person, according to Ka'aihue. "The one moment that stands out for me was when Israel (Kamakawiwo'ole) was performing on stage and whatever rift he had with the Makaha Sons was no longer a problem. All of a sudden, (the Sons) got up from their seats, went to the stage and they played together. It was the first time in years they performed as one. There wasn't a dry eye in the house," said Ka'aihue.

HARA is also addressing hard economic times for musicians by deploying Internet technology to help promote the public profile of Hōkū nominees this year. For the first time, the winner of the Favorite Entertainer of the Year award will be selected by votes cast on the HARA web site, which offers biographical notes and musical selections of nominees. "Instead of just voting for a high profile name or a friend, this gives the public a chance to get to know artists a little better," Ka'aihue said of the online voting, which ended May 18. Favorite Entertainer of the Year is the only category decided by a vote from the public; all other nominees and finalists are chosen by HARA, which has a membership limited to Hawai'i-based music industry professionals.

In view of the economic challenges facing the music business, Ka'aihue said HARA board members are discussing ways to expand their kuleana into year-round web-based promotion of local artists and their products. Ka'aihue said organizers of the Hōkū awards want to be in step with the new realities of the music business, where consumers prefer downloads to CDs.

"Some of the established local music labels are on the forefront and know how to play in the digital arena, but for some of the kūpuna, used to bringing a box of manapua to the radio stations and talking story for an hour with deejays about their new record, it is sad to see the days are gone forever. But we have to realize that changes are here to stay and make adjustments," Ka'aihue said.

Along with forward-looking technology, HARA is also making changes at this year's award ceremony that pay tribute to Hawaiian tradition. There is a now special category for kī hō'alu music. In the past, recordings of Hawaiian slack key vied for honors in the same category as instrumental music. "That did not do justice to our talented slack key players," said Ka'aihue. Also, for the first time, the telecast of the ceremony will make history by presenting awards for Haku Mele, Hawaiian Language Performance and Hawaiian Album of the Year in 'ōlelo Hawai'i with English subtitles.

"This is a big night to dress up and be part of an event that makes Hawai'i so special," said Ka'aihue, adding that it is the biggest event of the year for the performing art that brings so many people together. "Go to the beach and you hear people playing guitar together. The parents know Kalapana or C&K. The kids will know the Jawaiian stuff well. But everyone knows at least a few lines of all the songs. That's how much we share the music."