Though it can't be considered an upset, the fact this year's Grammy award for best Hawaiian album didn't go to a slack-key guitar compilation album, as it has for the past four years, is certainly a break from the norm.

The Hawaiian music Grammy was awarded yesterday afternoon to singer and actress Tia Carrere and producer/guitarist Daniel Ho for their album "'Ikena."

Carrere was nominated in the Hawaiian music category last year for her album "Hawaiiana," but lost the award to the Ho-produced slack-key compilation album "Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar."

Ho has been nominated four times (he was double nominated this year), and has won the award three times for his work as co-producer on three slack-key albums.

The Los Angeles-based Ho and Carrere were both born and raised in the Islands.

The Grammy Award category for "Best Hawaiian Music Album" was introduced in 2005, and this is the first year a non-compilation album has been recognized.

This year, industry insiders said they had their fingers crossed that Island favorite and three-time Grammy nominee Amy Hanaiali'i would walk away with a gramophone statuette for her album " 'Aumakua," saying that a win for Hanaiali'i would go a long way toward legitimizing the Grammy award that, up until yesterday, celebrated only one small part of the Hawaiian music tradition.

Alan Yamamoto, a music industry veteran and former president of the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts, said:

"I think we were all pulling for Amy — even the other nominees were pulling for her. That particular recording, ' 'Aumakua,' really resonated with a lot of us from Hawai'i."

That " 'Aumakua" didn't have the same impact on the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences voters is a simple matter of familiarity, said Yamamoto at the Staples Center in Los Angeles where the Grammys are held annually.

"They just don't have access to Amy like they do to Daniel or Tia. Daniel works with a lot of musicians here in L.A. already, so there's that access to him, and that really makes a difference."

It's what's in a name, said Yamamoto. And a name like Tia Carrere comes with all kinds familiarity. After all, who could forget Cassandra, the fantasy dream girl of the popular "Wayne's World" movie that catapulted Carrere to Hollywood "it girl" status?

"It wasn't a total surprise that Tia won," said Yamamoto. "It's name recognition. People know who she is. Plus, she was asked to host the pretelecast show with Wayne Brady, so that kind of gave you the impression that she might get it."

In her acceptance speech, Carrere, said she was caught off guard by her win.

"I wasn't expecting this. I thought I was going to lose to Daniel Ho and instead I won with him. I am not worthy. I am truly not worthy of the people in this room that have done so much," said Carrere. "Thank you so much. Thank you, Hawai'i."

Phone calls to both Ho and Carrere were not returned by press time.

Hanaiali'i said the loss won't discourage her.

She said she'll continue to record with the hope that one day the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences voters might recognize her work with a Grammy.

"I congratulate Daniel Ho, a wonderful musician, and the lovely Tia Carrere, who won the hearts of Grammy voters this year. I congratulate them on their ongoing success. I promise I will keep singing and continue recording, and am thrilled that NARAS voters recognized not only the instrumental beauty of Hawai'i, but the vocals, too."