For Immediate Release: December 7, 2004
DBEDT Release News 04-37

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences today announced the five nominees in the new Grammy category for Best Hawaiian Music Album to be included in the upcoming 47th annual awards ceremony.

The nominees for this inaugural award are:

• "Some Call It Aloha...Don't Tell"
  The Brothers Cazimero
  [Mountain Apple Company]
• "Amy & Willie Live"
  Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom & Willie K
  [Blind Man Sound]
• "Cool Elevation"
  Ho‘okena
  [Ho‘omau Inc.]
• "Ke‘alaokamaile"
  Keali‘i Reichel
  [Punahele Productions]
• "Slack Key Guitar Volume 2"
  Various Artists
  Charles Michael Brotman, producer
  [Palm Records]

Creation of this awards category culminated 15 years of effort by the Hawaiian music community.

"These five historic Grammy nominations for Hawaiian music bring much deserved attention to our multi-talented performers and help expand our local music industry," said Governor Linda Lingle. "This strengthens our resolve to support the development of new opportunities for our local artists and their music, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations."

"This new category shines a bright international spotlight on Hawai‘i's talented performers and their music, providing greater exposure and increasing worldwide appreciation for their unique sound," said Theodore E. Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. "This is a groundbreaking acknowledgment of Hawai‘i's multi-talented recording artists and their distinctive musical style."

Albums released by Hawai‘i artists between October 1, 2003, and Sept. 30, 2004, that are predominately in the Hawaiian language were eligible to contend for the inaugural award.

This formal recognition by the world's most prestigious music awards program is a significant accomplishment for Hawaii's music industry, which has experienced a steady growth in popularity beyond the shores of the islands, including the U.S. mainland, Japan and parts of Europe.

"This is an historic moment in Hawaiian cultural recognition," Liu said. "This will affect Hawaiian music forever and create new audiences for Hawaiian music around the world."

The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on the CBS television network at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) Feb. 13, 2005, from the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

For more information, contact:
Dave Young
Communications
Phone: (808) 587-1212
Email: dyoung@dbedt.hawaii.gov

Marsha Wienert, Tourism Liaison
Phone: (808) 586-2362
Email: marsha.wienert@hawaii.gov

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations, Office of the Governor
Phone: (808) 586-0043
Email: russell.pang@hawaii.gov