History of the Hawaiian

Grammy
Hawaiian Cultural Politics
Winter 2010

Mark Peters, Ellie Hunken, Jae Hunte, Elly Gates,

Nathan Hamet, Sam Bass
Outline
General Information
Original Aspirations for the Hawaiian Grammy
Category
The Hawaiian Grammy Category at the Present
Other Music Awards, and How They Compare
Conclusion
General Information
Timeline
1957- Two years after The Kingston Trio was formed,
they received a Grammy in “Folk” (the first in this
category)
2003- Hawaiian Albums that currently are entered but
do not fall into other categories are considered for
traditional folk and contemporary folk awards
Feb 25, 2003- Members of local music industry debate
over whether albums should be in entirely Hawaiian
Language or releases from the Islands
Timeline Cont.
June 7, 2004- “The Grammy Awards which consist of
103 categories is set to expand to 107 next year
including Hawaiian Music Grammy.” – BBC News
December 8, 2004- 47th annual Grammy Nominations
announced at L.A. press conference
February 13, 2005- Charles Michael Brotman
“Producer” wins first Hawaiian Music Grammy for
album “Slack Key Guitar Vol II”
Other winners listed later
Timeline Cont.
February 8, 2009- 3 time winner Daniel Ho & Tia
Carrere accept Hawaiian Grammy for “Ikena”

First year a single artist/ album won

First win for Ho as recording artist

Carrere became first woman to win in the category

Inside Story – Trail to Creation
Deborah Semer – Director of Pacific Northwest
(PNW) branch of the National Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences (NARAS) (1998-2004)
Main Goal: Expand NARAS by building membership
in all chapters to create competition
National Trustees Meeting 1999
PNW chapter tries to rebel
Karey Anne Oura- Riptide Records
Deborah tries to sway Hawaiian Members within the
different branches of NARAS to join their cause
Trail to Creation Cont.
Deborah’s reasons to create the category:

1. Hawaiians need a direct contact to the Academy -

someone who picks up the phone and cares
2. They need someone who is similar in style
3. They need someone to champion the cause within
the Academy and within the Hawaiian industry
4. PNW Branch needs membership to become a
Chapter (or the Academy would close it down)
Trail to Creation Cont.
5. We already visit Hawaii for the National Trustees
meeting so it would be more cost effective to do a
local event at that time
6. My Chapter happens to have a Trustee who lives in
Hawaii (Keith Olsen)
7. Hawaiians are the original people with their own
language - similar to PNW Native Americans, we are
sensitive their issues
8. Hawaiian music is distinct
9. Hawaii is Awesome - who doesn’t love Hawaii?
Next Steps
Meets with Merl Saunders Jr. – San Francisco Chapter
Years of Work
Met with the Kahunas of Hawaiian Music Community
Seen as a very political Haole Mainlander
Category Definition
Keith Olsen
Final Document
Contains traditional, progressive/modern
51% language requirement
Rules had to incorporate new types of Hawaiian Music
Commentary
People voicing their opinions about how Producers and
Compilations keep winning should be heard.

Compilations give a large variety of music styles which makes it

easier for voters to select it.

In order to quell complaints category should be limited to non-

compilation albums in order to hopefully give each artist a better
chance of winning.

There will always be controversy about the winner regardless of

the category, or the situation.
Question
Do you think Daniel Ho should be allowed to win
consecutive years in a row as mostly a producer, but
also as an artist?
Past Winners
2005 Slack Key Guitar Volume II
ARTISTS: John Cruz, John Keawe, Sonny Lim, Randy Lorenzo, Keoki Kahumoku, Jeff Peterson, Ken
Emerson, Charlie Recaido, Charles Michael Brotman and Bryan Kessler
PRODUCER: Charles Michael Brotman
LABEL: Palm Records
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: October 28, 2003

2006 Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 1

ARTISTS: Ledward Kaapana, George Kahumoku, Jr, Cyril Pahinui, Ozzie Kotani, Keoki Kahumoku, and
Daniel Ho
PRODUCERS: Daniel Ho, Keoki Kahumoku, and Wayne Wong
LABEL: Daniel Ho Creations
RELEASED: March 22, 2005
Past Winners Cont.
2007 Legends Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar: Live From Maui
ARTIST: Various Artists
PRODUCERS: Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong
LABEL: Daniel Ho Creations
RELEASED: 2006

2008 Treasures Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar

ARTISTS: Various Artists
PRODUCERS: Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong
LABEL: Daniel Ho Creations
Past Winners Cont.
2009 Ikena
 ARTISTS: Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho
 PRODUCERS: Daniel Ho and Amy K. Stillman
 LABEL: Daniel Ho Creations
 RELEASE DATE: September 2, 2008

2010 Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Volume 2

 ARTISTS: Bobby Ingano, Daniel Ho, Dennis Kamakahi, George Kahumoku, Jr., Kawika
Kahiapo, Keoki Kahumoku, Owana Salazar, Richard Hoopii, Sonny Lim, and Jeff Peterson
 PRODUCERS: Daniel Ho, George Kahumoku, Jr., Paul Konwiser and Wayne Wong
 LABEL: Danieo Ho Creations
 RELEASED: July 15, 2009
Commentary & Question
We find it interesting that a single artist has only won
once. We believe that compilations should be put into
a separate category.

Do you think the angry comments are at Daniel’s

background or at the fact that he keeps winning?

Would there be different results in the criticism if

compilation albums were put into a separate category?
Organizations Involved in the Creation
Process
NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences)
Established in 1957
Made up of Musicians, Producers, Recording engineers and
other recording professionals, dedicated to promoting
music
Famous for the GRAMMY AWARDS

Pacific Northwest Branch (PNW)

 Large influence on the creation of the Hawaiian Grammy Category
 Executive Director – Deborah Semer (1998-2004)
Organizations Involved in the Creation
Process Cont.
DBEDT (Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic
Development and Tourism)

Large promoter of the Hawaiian Grammy Category.

Since 2002 the Hawaiian Music Industry had grown

exponentially with the help of DBEDT

In 2005 DBEDT hired the company Pineapple Tweed to help

promote the new Hawaiian Grammy Category and get people
excited.
Organizations Involved in the Creation
Process Cont.
HARA (Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts)

Founded in 1982

Traces its roots to the Hawaiian radio station KCCN

Due to the fact that there was “too much red tape” in
order to create the Hawaiian Grammy Category the radio
station KCCN created the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards in
1978.
Commentary & Question
The three organizations that were primarily involved
in the foundation of the award each have different
reasons for the creation of the category.

Do you think these differences have contributed to the

current disputes surrounding the category?
Original Aspirations for the
Hawaiian Grammy Category
The Vision
Category to please “everyone” (viewers, artists,
producers, judges, fans, etc.)

Category that would be reflective of what was

happening on the Hawaiian music scene

Meet new category requirements

Expand outside of traditional/stereotypical Hawaiian

Music
The Hawaiian Grammy
Category at the Present
Eligibility of Music for Nomination
Award to: Artist(s) credited with 51% or more playing
time of the album.
Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) of
51% or more playing time on a winning album will be
recognized with a GRAMMY Award.
Certificate: Producer(s) & Engineer(s) of less than 51%
playing time of the album.
ELIGIBLE: Albums must contain 51% or more playing
time of newly recorded (previously unreleased)
material and 51% playing time of "Hawaiian" music.
Eligibility Cont.
Recordings of a more traditional nature, but allowing
contemporary recordings containing substantial traditional
elements. The Hawaiian language must be used in a
predominance of the vocal tracks on a album.

Vocal or Instrumental
Male or Female Solo Artists
Established Duos or Groups
Collaborations
Various Artists (Compilation Albums)
NOT ELIGIBLE: Singles, Tracks
Commentary
We feel that because the category was created in a
nationwide music contest entries should not be
limited to people from Hawaii or of Native Hawaiian
descent.

What is your opinion on this issue?

Other Music Awards, and
How They Compare
Na Hoku Hanohano Awards

Founded in 1978 by KCCN-AM radio personality Krash

Kealoha as a promotional event.
 The award was seen as a “people’s choice” award at its
conception but has since evolved into as highly
selective award given by the Hawaiian Academy of
Recording Arts (HARA).
The Board consists of eleven elected members that
govern the non-profit. HARA and the Na Hoku
Hanohano award aim to promote Hawaiian music and
the Hawaiian recording industry.
Hawaii Music Awards
Founded in 1995.
They are internet based awards that are voted on by
anybody who wishes to do so.
The aim of the award was to reach potential listeners
and producers who are not located in Hawaii and to
spread Hawaiian music.
Some years have seen over 90,000 voters from 100
countries.
Current “People’s Choice Awards”
Commentary
We feel that these are the awards that should be
limited to those who either live in Hawaii or are of
Native Hawaiian descent.

Do you feel it is fair that anyone can vote on the

Hawaiian Music Awards?
 Conclusion
The Hawaiian Grammy category has existed for six years with
essentially two different winners, one of which has won for five
consecutive years. This winner is not Native Hawaiian and lives
on the mainland.

The individuals who were responsible for creating the category

had envisioned an outcome that would recognize the Hawaiian
Music Industry. This vision has not come true.
Special Thanks To:
Deborah Semer - Director of PNW of NARAS (1998-2004)

Bill Freimuth – Grammy Vice President of Awards

Daniel Ho – Recording Artist, 5 time Grammy Winner

Professor Amy Stillman – University of Michigan, Grammy Award

Winner
Sources
Meyer, Bill. "There are many to thank for 'Best Hawaiian
Music'." Honolulu Advertiser 15 Feb. 2005, Print.
Semer, Deborah. "Hawaiian Grammy Category." Message
to grammyhistory@umich.edu. E-mail.
Freimuth, Bill. "Hawaiian Grammy Category." Message to
grammyhistory@umich.edu. E-mail.
Ho, Daniel. "Hawaiian Grammy Category." Message to
grammyhistory@umich.edu. E-mail.
Stillman, Amy. "Pacific Northwest Chapter profile."
Message to grammyhistory@umich.edu. 01 Apr. 2010. E-
mail.
Sources Cont.
Kai, Johnny. "Welcome to the New Website for Hawaii Music
Awards." Hawaii Music Awards. N.p., 2009. Web. 18 Apr 2010.
<http://web.me.com/thehawaiimusicawards/HMA/Introduct
ion.html>.

 “2009 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards." Hawaii Academy of

Recording Arts. Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts, n.d. Web.
09 Apr 2010.
<http://www.nahokuhanohano.org/cms/index.php?
page=Nahoku>.
Timeline Sources
 "Grammys May Soon Honor Hawaiian Music." Star Bulletin. Associated
Press, 25 Feb 2003. Web. 11 Apr 2010.
<http://archives.starbulletin.com/2003/02/25/news/story9.html>.

 Pierce, Gala M. Daily Herald Big Picture. Local Focus. Daily Herald, 17
Apr 2000. Web. 11 Apr 2010. <http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-
search/we/Archives?p_product=ADHB&p_theme=adhb&p_action=s
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D9041&p_field_direct0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD
_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM>.

 "Grammys to honour Hawaiian music." BBC News. BBC News, 07 Jun

2004. Web. 11 Apr 2010.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3784407.stm>.
Timeline Sources Cont.
 "Isle Musicians Hail Hawaiian Grammy as Win for all." Star Bulletin.
Associated Press, 08 Dec 2004. Web. 13 Apr 2010.
<http://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/12/08/news/story4.htm> .

 "Grammy Award for Best Hawaiian Music Album." Wikipedia The Free
Encyclopedia. Wikipedia Foundation Inc., February 18 2010. Web.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Hawaiian_
Music_Album.

 Berger, John. "Tia Carrere wins Grammy." Star Bulletin. Star Bulletin,
08 Feb 2009. Web. 13 Apr 2010.
<http://www.starbulletin.com/news/breaking/20090209_breaking_
tia_carrere_wins_grammy.html>.
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http://www.pipeline2paradise.com/sitebuildercontent
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http://www.grammymuseum.org/images/interior/ima
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http://www.hawaiiguitar.com/images/posts/Na-
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