As with last year, slack key guitar-based albums dominated the category when nominations were announced yesterday by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences. In February, Ho, Wong and Konwiser took home a Grammy for producing "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar — Vol. 1."

"Grandmaster" features Ka'apana on slack key guitar, with several tracks accompanied by his vocals.

"Legends," a multi-artist compilation, features vocal and instrumental tracks by slack-key players Ka'apana, Ho, Kahumoku Jr., Cyril Pahinui, Martin Pahinui and Dennis Kamakahi, among others.

Ka'apana also features on "Kings" alongside an eclectic line-up, including Kamakahi and his son David, Milton Lau, Makana and Jack Johnson on instrumental and vocal tracks.

Hanaiali'i's "Generation Hawai'i" is a vocal album with Hawaiian lyrics and traditional instrumentation.

Kapono's "Wild Hawaiian" fuses Hawaiian lyrics with electric guitar and rock influences.

"It's pretty awesome. I was so shocked," said Kapono, about his nomination. "My wife woke me up this morning and said, 'You're nominated!' When it finally hit me, I went, 'Wow! This is pretty cool.'"

A three-decade pioneer of contemporary Hawaiian music known for his solo work and classic recordings as part of Cecilio & Kapono, Kapono said he'd long dreamed of a Grammy nomination. "But to be nominated for my first Hawaiian (language) album is pretty amazing," he said. "Everything that's been going on with this project has really been like a whole new life for me.

"I wasn't thinking about Grammys or anything else (while recording). I was just thinking about the importance of this project and what it meant to me as a Hawaiian person and how it could affect, in positive ways, generations to come."

The best Hawaiian music album category is part of Grammy's folk music field — not usually a home for voters with a love of electric guitar attacks. Kapono's disc, however, fits all requirements for the category, open to vocal or instrumental Hawaiian music albums.

Recordings may be traditional or contemporary with substantial use of traditional elements, but vocal tracks must contain a predominance of Hawaiian language. Kapono's disc was recorded entirely in Hawaiian.

"I think it brings a whole new energy to Hawaiian music," he said, of the disc. "I've always thought I was bringing out more of a warrior point of view by using the electric guitar. I was going to use all ipu and drums and stuff when I started. But it just didn't have that extra energy that it really needed.

"Adding electric guitar just made sense. It really takes Hawaiian music into another realm."

Hanaiali'i found out about her second nomination from a morning phone call from producer Allen Sviridoff, with whom she'd worked on the Matt Catingub Orchestra's "Return to Romance" CD.

"I was half asleep," said Hanaiali'i. "I asked, 'What happened?' He said, 'You were nominated again!' I said, 'Oh, awesome!'

"Then he told me Henry and Uncle Ledward were in the category, too. We're all really good friends, so I'm very excited for them as well. ... I'm happy for Henry."

Waiting at the airport for a flight to a San Francisco performance this weekend, Hanaiali'i cracked up when asked about early plans for her second trip to the Grammys.

"I literally woke up and changed a dirty diaper and came to the airport, so I haven't really processed it yet," she said, laughing.

Ka'apana can now claim most-valuable-player status in the category for two years running. He was nominated last year for his own album, "Kiho'alu — Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," and he played on the Grammy-winning "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar — Vol. 1."

He's on three nominated discs this year — "Legends," "Kings" and his own "Grandmaster."

Chuckling, he said, "I guess I'm going to go to work feeling good about the day."

The nominees were chosen from among 29 Hawaiian music albums selected from all submissions by a Grammy committee of Hawai'i-based experts knowledgeable in Hawaiian language and music. They received the most votes from academy members nationwide.

Prominent albums in the group of 29 that didn't make the final five included Na Hoku Hanohano Award-nominated discs "Ka 'Upu Aloha" by Aaron J. Sala and "He 'Olu" by Holunape.

HAWAI'I TIES

Former Hawai'i residents Bette Midler and Pussycat Doll lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger made the cut in other Grammy categories.

Midler was nominated for best traditional pop vocal album for "Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook."

Honolulu-born Scherzinger's Pussycat Dolls were nominated in the best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal category, for the single "Stickwitu."

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.