The Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts is currently accepting submissions for the 2018 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.
All music artists who released product(s) between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017 are eligible to submit for the 2018 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. Entries and required supporting materials must be received by the Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts (HARA) by 4:00pm on January 19, 2018.
Here’s a quick list of eligibility requirements to help you with your submissions:
(Source: Na Hoku Hanohano Awards Submission Guidelines)
All releases must be available for sale by December 31, 2017.
- Physical products such as CDs and DVDs must be available for purchase at “brick-and-mortar” stores or established online retailers in order to be eligible.
- Digital download–only releases must be available for purchase through established online services such as iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, CD Baby, etc. in order to be eligible.
- Releases available through streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify and YouTube are also eligible, provided that they are generating revenue and are not for only for promotional purposes, and they are available for listening and/or viewing prior to December 31 of the eligibility year.
U.S. Mainland residents are only allowed to submit for the following awards:
- Hawaiian Album of the Year: Best performance of Hawaiian music. At least 75% of the album must contain material in the Hawaiian Language
- Slack Key Album of the Year: Best performance of slack key or vocals with slack key accompaniment. Release can be 100% vocal with slack key accompaniment, 100% instrumental or any combination of the two, provided that 75% of the instrumental tracks and instrumental accompaniment to vocals must be in a slack key tuning and played in a slack key style; 75% of the vocal tracks must be in Hawaiian Language.
- Haku Mele Award: (Composer’s Award) Best first–released song or chant primarily in the Hawaiian language. Only one (1) composition per composer per release is permitted. Compositions co-written with one or more composers may be submitted up to a total of three (3) distinct composer(s)/composer groups per release.
- Island Music Album of the Year: Best contemporary performance of music of or about Hawai’i. At least 50% of the album must contain material of or about Hawai’i
- ‘Ukulele Album of the Year: Best ‘ukulele performance. 75% of the tracks must feature the ‘ukulele predominately without vocals, and may feature ‘ukulele performance in any musical style; may contain up to 25% vocal tracks with ‘ukulele accompaniment, provided the ‘ukulele accompaniment is not subordinate to any other accompanying instrument.
- Hawaiian Language Performance Award: (Artist Award) Best performance in the Hawaiian language. Singles, EPs, anthologies and compilations are not eligible. At least 75% of the tracks must contain material in the Hawaiian language.
Visit nahokuhanohano.org for the entry form, guidelines and other documents.
Please contact the HARA office via email at info@nahokuhanohano.org if you have any questions.
Best of luck!
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ABOUT THE NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARDS
The Na Hoku Hanohano (The Stars of Distinction) was initially conceived as a radio station promotion by KCCN-AM deejay Krash Kealoha (Victor ‘Opiopio). Kealoha envisioned a formal recognition and celebration of recorded musical excellence in Hawai’i. The first Na Hoku Hanohano Awards was held in 1978. By 1982, Na Hoku Hanohano Awards evolved into an industry awards ceremony administered by recording professionals. The Hawai’i Academy of Recording Arts was patterned after the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which produces the Grammy Awards. Each year the Hawai’i Academy produces a live television broadcast of the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards honoring the achievements of excellence in the recording arts. It has become the biggest annual entertainment event in Hawai’i.