Grammy nominees have been announced, including four nominees for the Best Hawaiian Music album.
The Grammy awards recognize recordings released between Oct. 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009. Hawaiian Music is categorized under Folk Music, among more than 100 categories.
The nominees for Best Hawaiian Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental):
— “He Nani,” Tia Carrere & Daniel Ho
[Daniel Ho Creations]
— “Friends & Family Of Hawaii,” Amy Hanaialii
[UA Records]
— “Nani Mau Loa: Everlasting Beauty,” Hookena
[Hoomau Inc.]
— “Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2” (Various Artists)
Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser & Wayne Wong, producers
[Daniel Ho Creations]

Hanaialii, who is currently on a “Friends and Family Christmas Tour,” said she is stoked by the recognition of her music and “this place, my home that I pay homage to in my music.” She added while she would be honored to win a Grammy Award, “I do this for my küpuna and I do this for my culture.”
Manu Boyd, who leads Hookena, said the four-member group (Horace Dudoit III, Chris Kamaka and Glen H.K. Smith) is elated with its nomination. “Nani Mau Loa: Everlasting Beauty” is the 10th album project for the group formed 23 years ago.
“There’s so much good mana in this album,” Boyd said, noting that inspirations for songs ranged from Princess Bernice Pauahi, the great-granddaughter of King Kamehameha I, to President Obama. “Ka Nio O Makea çAilana,” was inspired by meeting then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
Ho, a 1986 St. Louis High School graduate, is the only nominee to have had a hand in winning four of the first five Grammy Awards in the category, now in its sixth year. It includes both vocals and instrumentals.
In February, the 2009 Hawaiian music Grammy was awarded to singer and actress Tia Carrere and producer/guitarist Daniel Ho for their album “Ikena,” marking the first year a non-compilation album has been recognized.

Only four nominees were included this year for Best Hawaiian Music Album, rather than the typical five. That could be because a tie involving more than two albums with substantially similar vote tallies, according to Alan Yamamoto, vice president of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts, Grammy voter and former president of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts.

Other musicians with Island ties were recognized by the Grammy organization.
For Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals:
— “Lucky,” Jason Mraz & Colbie Caillat
Track from: “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things” [Atlantic]
Caillat spent part of her youth on Kauai, and both Mraz and Caillat have connections with Honolulu’s Jack Johnson, and frequently visit the Islands.
— “Breathe,” Taylor Swift & Colbie Caillat
Track from: “Fearless” [Big Machine Records]
— “Baby, It's Cold Outside,” Willie Nelson & Norah Jones
Track from: “American Classic” [Blue Note]
Willie Nelson is a part-time Maui resident.
— “Blue Again,” The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Featuring Rick Vito
[429 Records]
Fleetwood is a part-time resident of the Islands, and has toured and performed with local musicans including Willie K., Raiatea Helm and Lopaka.

PAST WINNERS
Past winners in the Hawaiian music album category:
2009: Tia Carrere and producer/guitarist Daniel Ho for “çIkena”
2008: Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong, (producers) for “Treasures Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar”
2007: Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong for “Legends Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Live From Maui”
2006: Daniel Ho, Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong, producers for “Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Vol. 1”
2005: Charles Michael Brotman, producer for “Slack Key Guitar Volume 2”