2009 NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARD FINALISTS Aloha, fellow members of the Academy! Hula Records and Hula Records International congratulate this year's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards finalists. We invite you to read brief descriptions about each nominee and listen to their respective music clips. We hope you'll enjoy what you hear and we thank you in advance for your time and consideration. At the same time, we want to congratulate all the nominees who have contributed the wide variety of styles that make up the music of our Hawai‘i nei. Our many gifted singers and musicians make us proud to be part of this industry and happy to call Hawai‘i our home. AARON J. SALA NAPO‘ONA MAHINA: THE ILLUSION OF REALITY (Hula Records) LISTEN HERE • Male Vocalist of the Year: Best performance by a male artist. • Haku Mele: "Kanaenae A Ke Aloha" written by Manaiakalani Kalua & music by Aaron J. Sala. A composers award. Best achievement in creating a new song or chant primarily in the Hawaiian language. • Hawaiian Language Performance: Best performance using the Hawaiian language. • Graphics: Deby Chock and Lori Nuha, Design Logix. Best achievement in album cover design. Visit Website : http://aaronjsala.com/promo/ Aaron J. Sala, who last year added arrangements for Walt Disney Records, superstar Bette Midler and Kristen Chenoweth, of Broadway fame, to his long list of credits, has “a rare knack for combining Western classical music traditions with those of Hawaiian music” (Honolulu Star-Bulletin), but viewers of the recent Kamehameha Schools Song Contest, or his performances at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, and those who have heard him on albums by Na Palapalai, Natalie Ai, Raiatea Helm, or Weldon Kekauoha, know he also does justice to traditional Hawaiian music. Music critic John Berger called Sala’s recent release a “Grammy Award-worthy album,” and we think you’ll agree. MANOA VOICES - A UNIVERSITY HAWAIIAN COMBO MANOA VOICES (Hula Records International) LISTEN HERE • Most Promising Artists Of The Year: Most promising first-recorded effort as a featured artist or group. Visit Website : http://www.manoavoices.com “Their sound is fresh, though vintage…their style is simple, though refined (letting voices dominate, supported by precise and sparkling arrangements).” – Wayne Harada, Honolulu Advertiser “Manoa Voices, winners of the 2007 Ka Himeni Ana singing contest, takes another impressive step forward,” declared, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin’s John Berger. In naming Hawaii’s Top 10, he continued, “Imaginative vocal arrangements, traditional acoustic instrumentation and an eclectic repertoire make Manoa Voices’ self-titled album one of 2008’s most significant Hawaiian albums. All five members are strong lead voices and their harmonies are smooth and tight.” VARIOUS ARTISTS ALOHA FESTIVALS FALSETTO CONTEST WINNERS, BEST OF (Hula Records) LISTEN HERE • Anthology of the Year: Producer's award. Best album of previously released material. In honor of the 62nd Aloha Festivals and the year’s theme, “Hula, the Art of the Hawaiian Dance,” we selected winners’ performances culled from 15 years of falsetto recordings. This album includes memorable hulas and “best of” performances by past Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest Winners. Hawaiian falsetto singing – also known today as leo ki‘e ki‘e, literally “high voice” – was born almost 200 years ago on the Big Island. Eclectic influences inspired it, among them: songs of the Mexican vaqueros who worked the ranges with our local cowboys, Christian hymns, and ancient chants. Singers modulate from their normal voice and into their uppermost registers – with seeming ease, and intentional breaks (ha‘i) are often incorporated for emphasis and emotion. Learning leo ki‘e ki‘e is a difficult vocal challenge and this album showcases some of Hawai‘i's best young falsetto singers.
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