The Hawaiʻi Academy of Recording Arts has announced its finalists for the prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards. Nominees were selected for each of almost 30 categories. The awards include Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and more:
Album of the Year (Producer’s & Artist’s Award)
"Drifting On Island Time" by Kalaʻe Camarillo (Kalaʻe Camarillo)
"Ei Nei, Look At Us" by Ei Nei (Ei Nei LLC)
"Ku‘u Lei Lokelani" by Anthony Pfluke (Anthony Pfluke)
"Mānaiakalani" by Kamalei Kawaʻa (Kamalei Kawaʻa Music LLC)
"Mele Pūnana Leo" by Various Artists (Kāhuli Leo Leʻa)
"Strictly Originals" by Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
Extended Play of the Year
"All To You" by C4 Worship (Zeo Music LLC)
"Just to Love You" by C4 Worship (Zeo Music LLC)
"Ku’u Hawai’i" by Kimié Miner (Kimié Miner Music LLC)
"Lookinʻ For Love" by Kahiau Lam Ho (Lam Ho Records)
"Summertime" by Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)
Hawaiian Extended Play of the Year
"Hanohano Hōnaunau" by Baba Tavares (Joshua Tavares)
"Hoʻomaka" by Kahiau Lam Ho (Lam Ho Records)
"Kahiliaulani" by David Ka‘io (Laie Dreamz Studios)
"Ukulele Virtuoso" by Jonathan Hoomanawanui (Island Motive Productions)
Single of the Year
"Drifting On Island Time" by Kalaʻe Camarillo (Kalaʻe Camarillo)
“Forever Blessed” by Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
"Hawai‘i Forever" by Ei Nei (Ei Nei LLC)
"Hawaiian Honey" by Kala'e + Kalena (Kamakoa Productions)
"Uihā Whoa" by Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko Records LLC)
Hawaiian Single of the Year
"Ahe Nani ka Laulā o Puna" by Kainani Kahaunaele & Kaniaulono Hāpai feat. Kalehua Ontai, Keaʻa Morales & Pūkoʻa Morales (Kāhuli Leo Leʻa)
"E Ola Kākou Ē" by Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo)
"Ka Wā Makahiki" by Ei Nei (Ei Nei LLC)
"Ku’u Hawai’i" by Kimie Miner (Kimie Miner Music LLC)
"Ku‘u Makamaka" by Mālie Lyman (Mālie Lyman)
Christmas Single of the Year
"All Alone on Christmas" by Kahiau Lam Ho (Lam Ho Records)
"Christmas Christmas Time is Here" by Kala'e + Kalena & Zeo Worship (Zeo Music LLC)
"The Angels Cried" by Kenny Tagavilla & Sandy Essman (Tin Idol Productions)
"Winter Things" by Brittni Paiva (Brittni Paiva Music)
"You Make It Feel Like Christmas" by Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
Music Video of the Year
"Christmas Christmas Time is Here" by Kalaʻe + Kalena & Zeo Worship (Zeo Music LLC)
"Hawaiian Honey" by Kalaʻe + Kalena (Kamakoa Productions)
"Loyal Man" by Kamaka Camrillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke)
"Uihā Whoa" by Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko Records LLC)
"You Deserve Me" by Chardonnay & High Watah (Revive The Live, LLC)
Hawaiian Music Video of the Year
"E Ola Kākou Ē" by Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke)
"Ka Pule A Ka Haku" by Zeo Worship (Zeo Music LLC)
"Ku’u Hawai’i"(Offcial Music Video) by Kimié Miner (Kimié Miner Music LLC)
"Mānaiakalani" by Kamalei Kawaʻa (Kamalei Kawaʻa Music LLC)
"Pua Melie" by Gregory Juan (Kahikina Productions)
Instrumental Composition of the Year (Composer's Award)
"Happiness" by Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)
"Lauleʻa" by Jeff Peterson (Jeff Peterson Productions)
"Mālie" by Herb Ohta, Jr. (Lele Music Productions)
"Pīkake Princess (Instrumental)" by Taimane (Diamond Entertainment LLC)
"Sunrise At Kumukahi" by Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane Music)
Song of the Year (Composer's Award)
"Ahe Nani ka Laulā o Puna" by Various Artists (Kāhuli Leo Leʻa)
"Drifting On Island Time" by Kalaʻe Camarillo (Kalaʻe Camarillo)
"E Ola Kākou Ē" by Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo)
"Forever Blessed" by Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
"Hawaiʻi Forever" by Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC)
Female Vocalist of the Year
Charly (Tin Idol Productions)
Kimié Miner (Kimié Miner Music LLC)
Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)
Maka Gallinger (808 Ohana)
Sarah Bethany (Mana Music & Media)
Male Vocalist of the Year
Anthony Pfluke (Anthony Pfluke)
Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)
Izik (Izik)
Kalaʻe Camarillo (Kalaʻe Camarillo)
Kamalei Kawaʻa (Kamalei Kawaʻa Music LLC)
Group of the Year
Ei Nei (Ei Nei LLC)
Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
High Watah (High Watah LLC)
ʻŌlauniu (ʻŌlauniu)
Sons of Yeshua & Nalu Kay (Bless Up Hawaiʻi LLC)
Most Promising Artist(s) of the Year
Ahe Mālie (K-Bay Records)
Baba Tavares (Joshua Tavares)
Makana Arce (Makana Arce)
ʻŌlauniu (ʻŌlauniu)
Rickey Kamai (R.I.K Entertainment LLC)
Alternative Album of the Year
"Imua" by Big Chief Thunder (Bamboo Room Recording)
"KŌWĀ" by Izik (Izik)
"Kupukupu" by Kupukupu (Pacific Records)
"Shine" by Kamuela Kahoano (Green Light Go HI Productions)
"Surrender" by Clara Stegall (Clara Stegall)
Anthology of the Year (Producucer's Award)
"A Tin Idol Christmas: Volume One" by Various Artists (Tin Idol Productions)
"Jeff Rasmussen Anthology Through The Years" by Jeff Ramussen (Mango Tree Music Records
LLC)
"Kalapana 50th Anniversary - Timeless Voyage" by Kalapana (Pony Canyon Inc.)
"Makuakane (God In Me)" by Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane Music)
"ʻUkulele Jazz Collection Volume 1" by Abe Lagrimas Jr. (On The Up Records)
Compilation Album of the Year (Producer's Award)
"All the Things I Leave You (Patawid)" OST by Various Artists (HI Institute for Philippine Studies)
"Mele Pūnana Leo" by Various Artists (Kāhuli Leo Leʻa)
"Music Tech: The Christmas Album Vol. 1" by Music Tech (Music Tech)
Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year
"Ku‘u Lei Lokelani" by Anthony Pfluke (Anthony Pfluke)
"My Fatherʻs Land" by Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane Music)
"The Life Of A Song" by Kenny Tagavilla & Sandy Essman (Tin Idol Productions)
"Where've You Been" by Danny Johnson (Living Room Sessions)
Contemporary Album of the Year
"Drifting On Island Time" by Kalaʻe Camarillo (Kalaʻe Camarillo)
"Nahenahe Vibez" by Sons of Yeshua (Bless Up Hawaiʻi LLC)
"Prelude" by PARTYFOUL (Pono Entertainment)
"Queen of Hearts" by Lovejack (Lovejack Music)
"The Woman In Me" by Charly (Tin Idol Productions)
Hawaiian Music Album of the Year
"Ka Leo Hou" by Makana Arce (Makana Arce)
"Mānaiakalani" by Kamalei Kawaʻa (Kamalei Kawaʻa Music LLC)
"ʻŌlauniu" by ʻŌlauniu (ʻŌlauniu)
"Pōpoloheno - Songs of Resilience & Joy" by Various Artists (Dancetera)
Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year
"E Kahe Mele" by Darrell Aquino (Mana Recordings)
"Hoene" by Sonny Lim (Lele Music Productions)
"Slack Key Serenade" by Jeff Peterson (Jeff Peterson Productions)
Hip Hop Album of the Year
"DREAMZTAPE" by PK DREAMZ (Five AM)
"Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke" by Super Groupers & Punahele (Zenbu Records)
"The New Untouchables" by Paniolo Prince & Queen Maile (Fat Mullet Productions)
Instrumental Album of the Year
"He Kaikamahine O Kekahi Moku" by T.J. Keanu Tario (Lōʻihi Records)
"Kakahiaka" by Jonah Davis (Aʻo ʻUkulele Productions)
"Over The Open Fields" by Jacob Staron (Nahaku Records)
"Songs For Mayumi" by Gerard K. Gonsalves (Tin Idol Productions)
"ʻUkulele Story" by Herb Ohta, Jr. (Lele Music Productions)
Island Music Album of the Year
"Ei Nei, Look At Us" by Ei Nei (Ei Nei LLC)
"Kalāhoʻonani" by Michael Keale (Pono Ridge Music)
"Po'okela" by Poʻokela (Mana Recordings)
"This Island Life" by Matt Krahula (Pacific Records)
"Waikīkī to Rarotonga" by Darrell Aquino and Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter (Christy Leinaʻala Lassiter)
Jazz Album of the Year
"Almost Home" by Groovology (Sugar Town Records)
"Echoes Of A Decade" by Absolute Joy Hawaiʻi (Absolute Joy Hawaiʻi)
"Enchantment Under the Kiawe Tree: Live @ House Without A Key" by The WAITIKI7 (WaitikiInternational)
"Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live @ House Without A Key" by The WAITIKI7
(WaitikiInternational)
"Yesterday's Lives" by Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)
Metal Album of the Year
"Disaster Squad" by Disaster Squad (Tin Idol Productions)
"Madame Pele" by Storm (Tin Idol Productions)
"Misfortune Teller" by Anxiety Suite (Tin Idol Productions)
Reggae Album of the Year
"Livin' Love" by Billy Cruz (Keolani Music)
"Represent" by Kawao (Kawao Music Publishing LLC)
"Revolution" by Maka Gallinger (808 Ohana)
"Strictly Originals" by Ekolu (Waiehu Records)
"Today Better Than Yesterday" by Human Era (Human Era)
"Watah Boys, Vol. 1" by High Watah (High Watah LLC)
Religious Album of the Year
"I Give My Praise To You" by Ben Borthwick (Koʻolau Productions)
"Illuminate" by Sarah Bethany (Mana Music & Media)
"Legacy 2025" by Abby Brilhante (Abby Brilhante)
"LIVE" by Zeo Worship (Zeo Music LLC)
"Me Ka Fiyah" by Tania Manaba (Bu Print Records)
Rock Album of the Year
"A Tribute To Van Halen" by Tin Idols (Tin Idol Productions)
"Life Tips on Dumpster Diving" by Kauz of Affliction (Big Rock Records)
"Uncovered" by Average Joes (PLAY THAT DISCO PRODUCTIONS)
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
