Big Island CD Compilation Nā Mele Moku 'O Keawe Nominated for Nā Hōku Hanohano Award

06/16/2008

Hilo, Hawai’i‘s Big Island (June 14, 2008) – A compilation CD featuring songs written and sung by local musicians about different regions of Hawai’i Island has been nominated for a Nā Hōku Hanohano Award in the Compilation Album of the Year category.

The CD, Nā Mele Moku ‘O Keawe (Songs from Hawai’i Island), a team effort last year by producer Keoki Kahumoku, executive producer Hawai’i Island Visitors Bureau, and Daniel Ho, is one of five nominees in the compilation category. The 31st Annual Nā Hōku Hanohano Awards (considered Hawai’i‘s version of the Grammy Awards), takes place Tuesday, June 17 at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

Proceeds from the CD, which retails for approximately $15, are used to support Kahumoku’s educations programs that perpetuate Hawaiian music on the island.

Hilo resident Keoki Kahumoku, together with HIVB, and local boy-turned-Grammy Award-winning producer Daniel Ho, of Daniel Ho Creations in Los Angeles, teamed up to make the CD happen. The songs, which are as varied as Hawai’i Island itself, celebrate different regions of Hawai’i‘s largest, most geographically diverse island.

For instance, Saddle Road tells the story of the infamous high-elevation road between East and West Hawai’i, and was written and sung by Dana Leilehua Yuen. Ka Lā Hui Pua’a, written by Larry Kimura, is performed by Daniel Kahikina Akaka, Jr. (Kalāhuipua’a, which translates to “Gathering of the Pigs,” is the Hawai’ian place name of Mauna Lani Resort, where Akaka works as director of cultural affairs.) And Keālia, the South Kona ranching district, was written by Lottie Koko’o Kahumoku, and is performed by Keoki Kahumoku, a master slack key guitarist, singer and ‘ukulele player.

The CD is available at most Hawai’i music and bookstores.

High-resolution digital images of the CD cover available upon request

NOTE: BIVB recognizes the use of diacritical markings, i.e., glottal stop (’), macron (ā), in place names of Hawai’i, such as Kīlauea. However, BIVB respects the individual use of these markings for names of organizations and businesses

Big Island Visitors Bureau Contact:
Jessica Ferracane, Irondog Communications, (808) 895-5740
jessica@irondogpr.com