Celebrating Hawaiian music and poetry from the turn of the 19th century, Raiatea Helm’s remarkable recording “A Legacy Of Hawaiian Song & String Volume One,” was nominated for 8 awards including Album of the Year, Female Vocalist, Hawaiian Music Album, Haku Mele (for composer Kainani Kahaunaele), Hawaiian Language Performance, Hawaiian Engineering, Hawaiian Liner Notes, and Favorite Entertainer.

The acclaimed Molokai-born artist collaborated with the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings on the historical project. “This album was really meant to honor where a lot of the roots of Hawaiian music come from,” Helm explained. “It was a very fun project. We applied for a grant through the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation and I’m grateful for the Foundation supporting this album, because we’re able to provide quality. People don’t realize that it can be expensive to create an album. And I am very happy for all the many individuals that worked on this project.”

Kihei born brothers Kamaka and Kala’e Camarillo have 8 nominations between them. Both were nominated for Song of the Year, Kala’e for “Sands of Old Lahaina” and Kamaka for “E Māmā,” which features Anthony Pfluke. Kamaka was nominated for Male Vocalist, Hawaiian Single, EP and Favorite Entertainer, while Kala’e is also up Single of the Year and Music Video. The brothers are also included (with their father Rama) on “4 Strings 4 Maui Vol 1,” which is nominated for Anthology of the Year.

“It was unreal, especially to see my brother nominated for Song of the Year and me too,” said Kala’e Camarillo. He was inspired to compose the moving tribute “Sands of Old Lahaina” right after fires devastated Lahaina. “It came so fast, I wrote it two days after the fire,” he said. “In minutes, I had the melody and lyrics. It was God sent.”

Maui’s award-winning reggae band Ekolu scored once again gaining nominations for Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Reggae Album, and Favorite Entertainer for their latest “Longevity.” — Courtesy photo

With a wide range of material on “R.O.O.T.S Rhythms Of Our True Self,” Kamaka Camarillo’s nominations were especially meaningful as his song “E Māmā” reflected his “journey to learn my mother tongue and Hawaiian culture. It was inspired by Anthony (Pfluke). He’s pursuing a major in Hawaiian language.” He said he was surprised about the Male Vocalist nomination. “I wasn’t expecting that one.”

The Male Vocalist of the Year category also features “Hawaiian Home Boy,” Shane Kaonohiokala Kahalehau for “Kaonohiokālā.” Kahalehau was also nominated for Most Promising Artist and EP.

Maui’s award-winning reggae band Ekolu scored once again gaining nominations for Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Reggae Album, and Favorite Entertainer for their latest “Longevity.” We’re just so honored to represent Maui again with the nominations,” said Ekolu’s Lukela Keala. “We’ll take Maui with us in our hearts and go represent.” Ekolu previously won Group of the Year for their album “2020,” and co-founder/lead vocalist Keala earned Male Vocalist of the Year for his self-titled debut recording.

The Maui group Hoaka, featuring Kalani Miles and Kason Gomes, received nominations for Group of the Year and Island Music Album, as well as General Engineering for their third album, “He Mele Aloha.” “It’s awesome,” said Miles. “It shows the hard work we put into it. We recorded it on our own in our own studio. It feels good.”

A memorable song dedicated to the families impacted by the Aug. 8 fires on Maui, “E Ola Maui,” was nominated for Song of the Year and Hawaiian Music Video. Musicians

involved included Henry Kapono, Brother Noland, Amy Hanaiali’i, Tavana, Kala’e Parish, Kimie Miner, Kalenaku, Josh Kahula, and Kumu Cody Pueo Pata.

Multi award-winner Amy Hānaiali’i received two nominations, for EP for “Christmas In Hawai’i” and Single of the Year for “Pālehua–25th Anniversary.” Grammy winner Kalani Pe’a received two nominations, for Single and Hawaiian Video for “Kuini (Ku’u Lei Aloha).” And Josh Tatofi also received two nominations, for Single and Song of the Year for “I’m Gonna Love You.”

With seasonal classics like “White Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Silent Night,” Kanekoa’s “Make Any Kine Christmas,” was nominated for Christmas Album, while ukulele wizard Vince Esquire was nominated for Instrumental Album for “Tasty Jamz Volume 1.” “I’m stoked about that,” said Esquire. “We’re also very happy about the Christmas album.” A frequent Hōkū winner, Jeff Peterson was nominated for Slack Key Album for his Maui tribute, “Paniolo Son” and for Instrumental Composition for “You Will Thrive.” Ukulele player Andrew Molina was also nominated for Instrumental Composition for “You’re Not Alone.” Molina was also featured on “4 Strings 4 Maui Vol 1,” up for Anthology of the Year, which included compositions by fellow Maui musicians Neil Chin and Derick Sebastian.

University of Hawaii Maui College’s Keola Donaghy (with Kenneth Makuakāne) gained a nomination for Haku Mele for “Hulali.” Plus Donaghy said he, “wrote this Christmas lullaby to the melody of Brahms’ Lullaby” featured on Stacie Ku’ulei’s nominated “He Mele Hi’ilani Kalikimaka,” and he played “a lot of the electric guitars and bass” on Sandemonium’s “A Tribute To Linda Ronstadt,” nominated for Contemporary Album.

Franklin Russell’s band Big Chief Thunder is up for Alternative Album for “Aloha Nui Loa,” and he earned a Favorite Entertainer nomination. Danyel Alana’s “Soul Love” earned him nominations for Most Promising Artist and Rock Album.

Kumus Keali’i Reichel and Cody Pueo Pata received a nomination for Hawaiian Video for “He Ho’oheno No ‘E’eka,” which was created for Hawaiian Airlines. Reichel reported the video was filmed “where we did our photo shoot for our very first album. It brought back a flood of memories.”

Lance D. Collins was also nominated for Compilation Album as a producer on “Kawili 2”. Nominations also included Nick Lum for Haku Mele for “Ko I Manila,” and Keli’i Grace was a finalist as director for Hawaiian Music Video for the song “Ku’u Kulaiwi” on the album.

George Kahumoku Jr. was nominated for Island Music Album for “Live On Tour” with Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho. The Jazz Album category includes Louise Lambert for “Horizontal” and Cindy Paulos was nominated for Religious Album for “Sacred Rainbows.” And award-winning graphic designer Wailani Artates was nominated twice, for her work on Hoaka’s “He Mele Aloha” and Shane Kaonohiokala Kahalehau’s “Kaonohiokala.”