Nominees Announced for This Year’s Best Ukulele Albums

By Greg Olwell

Nominees for the Na Hoku Hanohano awards were announced in preliminary ballots and many ukulele players are among the nominees.

The Na Hoku Hanohano awards, which is an awards program from the Hawaiian Academy for Recording Arts and are often referred to as the “Hawaiian Grammys,” is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The award winners will be announced in an awards show at the Hawaii Convention Center on May 20, 2017.

Some of the nominees include:

ʻUkulele Album of the Year

Best ʻukulele performance. (All nominees will appear on the final ballot.)

• Jus’ Press, Vol. 2, Led Kaapana
• My ‘Ukulele World, Herb Ohta Jr.
• These Moments, Kalei Gamiao
• ‘Ukulele … Off the Couch, Arlie Avery Asiu
• ‘Ukulele Paintings, Neal Chin

Instrumental Composition

(Composerʻs award) Best Achievement in creating a first-time recorded instrumental composition.

• “Hawaii,” by Kris Fuchigami from Hawaii
• “Heartstrings,” by Kalei Gamiao from These Moments
• “Bubbie’s Song,” by Arlie-Avery Asiu from ‘Ukulele … Off the Couch
• “Lēʻahi Morning,” by Herb Ohta Jr. from My ‘Ukulele World
• “Three Dancers,” by Ryan Choi from Three Dancers
• “Tritone,” by Jake Shimabukuro, Nolan Verner, and Byron Yasui from Nashville Sessions

Jake’s Nashville Sessions album is also up for an Instrumental Album of the Year award.

Find the full preliminary ballot here.

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