Jason Genegabus photos

Welcome to the 31st annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards!

Myself and John Berger are at the Hawaii Convention Center to cover this gala event. He’s downstairs on the red carpet as we speak, while I’m getting set up just outside the Kalakaua Ballroom where a “Winner’s Circle” is set up for the media to do interviews.

More from the awards after the jump; be sure to click refresh on your browser in order to see the latest updates.

6:15 p.m.
I’ve made it up to the third floor of the HCC, where nobody really seems to know where we’re all supposed to go. Not really surprised, so I just started to make myself at home and everything fell into place.

KFVE is broadcasting the awards live on TV once again this year, and it looks like KHNL will be doing live updates on their newscasts. Stephanie Lum is hanging out in this area as well, taking candids of her co-workers with a digital camera.

The local radio stations are here, too, broadcasting live from the red carpet:

But the real action is upstairs at the bar:

Here’s the corner set aside for media. My stuff is all the way on the right.

More to come… anybody got questions for Stephanie? =)

6:36 p.m.
Billy V got the night started right on time, launching into a welcome speech right at 6:30 p.m. Then it was Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts president Hailama Farden who got to speak, followed by a series of thank yous and the pule to precede dinner.

Billy also took a moment to inform the artists that should they win, they’ll have just 30 seconds to speak. Should be interesting to see who follows directions.

6:39 p.m.
Gaylord Hoomaluhia is on stage to announce the winners for liner notes.

And the winner is: Robert Uluwei Cazimero for “‘Aina Kupuna,” by Hoku Zuttermeister (Kaleiola).

6:55 p.m.
More winners:

>> Graphics: Stacey Leong Design for “The Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Presents: Na Lani ‘Eha,” Ku’uipo Kumukahi & the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Serenaders (Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame).

Aaron Sala is on stage to announce the best compilation album.

>> Compilation Album of the Year: “Aloha Slack Key – A Tribute to Gabby ‘Pops’ Pahinui,” Various Artists (Hula Records); Donald P. “Flip” McDiarmid III and Donald P. McDiarmid Jr., producers.

Sala remains on stage to announce the best anthology album.

>> Anthology Album of the Year: “Bill Ali’iloa Lincoln Hawaii’s Falsetto Poet,” Bill Ali’iloa Lincoln (Cord International/HanaOla); Harry B. Soria Jr., producer.

Moon Kauakahi is now on stage to announce the best music video DVD.

>> Music Video DVD of the Year: “Kukahi - Live In Concert,” Keali’i Reichel (Punahele).

7:04 p.m.
This is starting to get a little dicey.

I’m trying to keep an eye on what’s going on inside, but they’re sending the winners out here to take pictures and talk story. It’s hard to do two things at the same time, you know?

At least the people inside get to eat. I just paid $6 for a Coke and a bottle of water.

Tonight’s menu:

Tropical Ceasar Salad
Steamed Kona Kampachi
Selection of Breads
Vanilla Bean Cheesecake with Caramel and Fresh Berries

>> Comedy Album of the Year: “Hawaii, I Love It,” Frank De Lima (Pocholinga).

And now Frank DeLima is outside, talking story with Augie Tulba. And KCCN’s Lina Girl just walked up and gave me a hug!

7:23 p.m.
Looks like the preliminary awards are done… here are a couple of shots I got of the winners so far:

Looks like Stephanie Lum and Walter Makaula are getting ready to go live. We’re less than 10 minutes away from the live broadcast!

7:34 p.m.
And we’re live on television. The Brothers Cazimero are on stage, and they just threw Walter Makaula and Stephanie Lum for a loop when they decided to play two songs in a row.

According to the program, we’ll be starting with the awards for best instrumental, best reggae album and best religious album.

7:45 p.m.
Stephanie Lum and Walter Makaula:

KINE-FM’s Randy Hudnall was the only one outside to get a plate, courtesy Alan Yamamoto.

First two winners have been announced. Jeff Peterson’s “Pure Slack Key” won Instrumental Album of the Year, while Natural Vibrations’ “From the Heart” took the award for Reggae Album of Year.

8 p.m.

Is KFVE having technical difficulties? I’m hearing that the online version of the awards is having problems.

Anyway… Natty Vibes came out to talk. The guys seem stoked, but at the same time it’s a little been-there-done-that since they’ve won multiple Hokus over the years.

One member of the group, guitarist Wayne Enos, wasn’t able to make the awards ceremony. After finishing with the media, all the guys gathered in a circle and called him at home to give him the news and share the glory.

Classy.

Next award: Religious Album of the Year. And the winner is… Gary Halemau’s “Redeemed.”

8:36 p.m.
Three more awards to announce…

>> Jazz Album of the Year: “For All We Know,” Joy Abbott and Betty Lou Taylor (Ladybug).

>> Haku Mele (Composer’s Award): “Mili’opua,” by Cody Pueo Pata from “He Aloha…,” Cody Pueo Pata (Ululoa).

>> Hawaiian Language Performance: “‘Aina Kupuna,” Hoku Zuttermeister (Kaleiola).

Big crowd response for Hoku Zuttermeister as he heads to the podium to accept his Hoku.

8:45 p.m.
Sources tell me the TV broadcast is, in fact, having trouble. I can only see the in-house feed, but from what I’m told, viewers at home are experiencing periods where they can only see video (or hear just audio).

From what I understand, KFVE is having trouble getting a clear signal for their satellite truck. No word if it will be fixed by the end of the broadcast.

9:01 p.m.
After more than an hour off the air, it looks like KFVE has the live broadcast back up and running.

More pictures from the winner’s circle. Here’s John Berger and Stacey Leong (Graphics):

Joy Abbott and Betty Lou Taylor (Jazz):

Hoku Zuttermeister (Hawaiian Language Performance):

>> Engineering Award: Dave Tucciarone for “Hawaiian Blossom,” Raiatea Helm (Raiatea Helm).

>> Christmas Album of the Year: “A Hawaiian Christmas,” Amy Hanaialii (Tiki Man).

9:21 p.m.
I am not a happy camper. They just announced the winners for best R&B/Hip-Hop and best Rock album.

>> R&B/Hip-Hop Album of the Year: “More Than Just a Song,” Nigel Kauanui.

>> Rock Album of the Year: “Where You Are,” Koa (Firestarter).

Now if you’re asking yourself, “Who the heck are these people,” please believe you’re not the only one. It’s a travesty that Nomasterbacks didn’t take best R&B/Hip-Hop.

And I’m sorry, but anyone BUT Koa should have won best Rock album. Dude didn’t even show up… what does THAT tell you?

9:44 p.m.
Two more winners…

>> Contemporary Album of the Year: “One of These Days,” John Cruz (Lilikoi).

>> Island Music Album of the Year: “He’eia,” Cyril Pahinui (Dancing Cat).

Pahinui seemed genuinely moved by the win, expressing his thanks to his family while on stage with John Berger. Be sure to check out the video tomorrow.

10:22 p.m.
We’re on the home stretch… John Cruz just got done performing, a few minutes after he was talking to John Berger in the winner’s circle about his latest Hoku win.

To catch up:

>> Most Promising Artist of the Year: Hoku Zuttermeister, “‘Aina Kupuna” (Kaleiola).

>> Song of the Year: “Ka Lehua ‘Ula” by Weldon Kekauoha from “Ka Lehua ‘Ula,” Weldon Kekauoha (’Ohelo).

>> Hawaiian Album of the Year: “‘Aina Kupuna,” Hoku Zuttermeister (Kaleiola).

>> Group of the Year: Maunalua, “Ho’okanaka” (Lokahi).

Still to come: Male and Female Vocalists of the Year, Favorite Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year.

10:46 p.m.
About half of the ballroom remained filled until the end of the night here at the Hawaii Convention Center. Too bad, because those who left missed a great live performance by the ladies of Mighty J.

The rest of the winners:

>> Male Vocalist of the Year: Hoku Zuttermeister, “‘Aina Kupuna” (Kaleiola).

>> Female Vocalist of the Year: Napua Greig, “Pihana” (Pihana).

>> Favorite Entertainer of the Year: Hoku Zuttermeister, “‘Aina Kupuna” (Kaleiola).

>> Album of the Year: “The Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame Presents: Na Lani ‘Eha,” Ku’uipo Kumukahi, Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame, Dr. Isaac Akuna, Karen Aiu, Ku’uipo Kumukahi and Steve Kramer, producers.

The crowd is singing “Hawaii Aloha” inside the ballroom… so we’re pau! Off to the newsroom to work on some video and post more photos, so check back in the morning for even more coverage from tonight’s awards.

Shoots!

12:34 a.m.
Thought I was done, huh?

Nope… I’m back! Here are the last bunch of pictures I got from the awards.

Dave Tucciarone (Engineering):

Amy Hanaiali’i Gilliom (Christmas Album):

Fernando Pacheco (aka Max Murdoch) and Eric Lagrimas (not winners, but cool guys anyway):

Walter Makaula and Stephanie Lum visiting with KINE’s Randy Hudnall and KCCN’s Lina Girl:

John Cruz (Contemporary Album):

Cyril Pahinui (Island Music Album):

Hoku Zuttermeister (Most Promising Artist):

Weldon Kekauoha (Song of the Year):

Maunalua (Group of the Year):

Okay, now I’m done. Check back on Wednesday for video.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm and is filed under Nightlife, Outside The Club, Music, Picture Blogs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response.