The countdown to the 2026 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards is on as the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts HARA) announces the finalists in 29 categories, including Group of the Year, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Group, and Most Promising Artist(s) for the 2026 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards.

The finalists in several “technical” categories where the winners are selected by panels of specialists, and the nominees for favorite entertainer, the only award category that is determined by public vote, will be announced later.

Frontrunners include Anthony Pfluke with eight nominations, Ei Nei and Ekolu with six nominations each, and Kala‘e Camarillo with five.

The 2026 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards are July 11 at the Sheraton Waikiki. Visit https://harahawaii.com Opens in a new tab for more information.

2026 NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARDS FINALISTS

>> Album of the Year (Producer’s & Artist’s Award)

 

“Drifting On Island Time” Kala‘e Camarillo (Kala’e Camarillo), Imua Garza and Kala‘e Camarillo producerss

“Ei Nei, Look At Us” Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC), Dane Fujiwara, Grant Kono, Ekolu Chang, and Imua Garza producers

“Ku‘u Lei Lokelani” Anthony Pfluke (Anthony Pfluke), Anthony John Pfluke and Dave Tucciarone producers

“Manaiakalani” Kamalei Kawa‘a (Kamalei Kawa‘a Music LLC), Kamalei Kawa‘a and Zachary Alakai Lum producers

“Mele Punana Leo” Various Artists (Kahuli Leo Le‘a), Zachary Lum producer

”Strictly Originals” Ekolu (Waiehu Records), Lukela Keala, Robert Tsuhako and Darnelle Keala producers

>> Male Vocalist of the Year

Anthony Pfluke (Anthony Pfluke)

Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)

Izik (Izik)

Kala‘e Camarillo (Kala‘e Camarillo)

Kamalei Kawa‘a (Kamalei Kawa‘a Music LLC)

>> Female Vocalist of the Year

Charly (Tin Idol Productions)

Kimié Miner (Kimié Miner Music LLC)

Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)

Maka Gallinger (808 Ohana)

Sarah Bethany (Mana Music & Media)

>> Group of the Year

Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC)

Ekolu (Waiehu Records)

High Watah (High Watah, LLC)

‘Olauniu (‘Olauniu)

Sons of Yeshua & Nalu Kay (Bless Up Hawaii LLC)

>> Most Promising Artist(s) of the Year

Ahe Malie (K-Bay Records)

Baba Tavares (Joshua Tavares)

Makana Arce (Makana Arce)

‘Olauniu (‘Olauniu)

Rickey Kamai (R.I.K Entertainment LLC)

>> EP (Extended Play) of the Year

“All To You” C4 Worship (Zeo Music, LLC)

“Just to Love You” C4 Worship (Zeo Music, LLC)

“Ku‘u Hawai‘i” Kimié Miner (Kimié Miner Music LLC)

“Lookin’ For Love” Kahiau Lam Ho (Lam Ho Records)

“Summertime” Henry Kapono (Kapono Records)

>> Hawaiian EP (Extended Play) of the Year

“Hanohano Honaunau” Baba Tavares (Joshua Tavares)

“Ho‘omaka” Kahiau Lam Ho (Lam Ho Records)

“Kahiliaulani” David Ka‘io (Laie Dreamz Studios)

“Ukulele Virtuoso” Jonathan Hoomanawanui (Island Motive Productions)

>> Single of the Year

“Drifting On Island Time” Kala‘e Camarillo (Kala‘e Camarillo)

“Forever Blessed” Ekolu (Waiehu Records)

“Hawai‘i Forever” Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC)

“Hawaiian Honey” Kala‘e + Kalena (Kamakoa Productions)

“Uiha Whoa” Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko Records LLC)

>> Hawaiian Single of the Year

“Ahe Nani ka Laula o Puna” Kainani Kahaunaele & Kaniaulono Hapai feat. Kalehua Ontai, Kea‘a Morales & Puko‘a Morales (Kahuli Leo Le‘a)

“E Ola Kakou E” Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo)

“Ka Wa Makahiki” Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC)

“Ku‘u Hawai‘i” Kimie Miner (Kimie Miner Music LLC)

“Ku‘u Makamaka” Malie Lyman (Malie Lyman)

>> Christmas Single of the Year

“All Alone on Christmas” Kahiau Lam Ho (Lam Ho Records)

“Christmas Christmas Time is Here” Kala‘e + Kalena & Zeo Worship (Zeo Music, LLC)

“The Angels Cried” Kenny Tagavilla & Sandy Essman (Tin Idol Productions)

“Winter Things” Brittni Paiva (Brittni Paiva Music)

“You Make It Feel Like Christmas” Ekolu (Waiehu Records)

>> Music Video of the Year

“Christmas Christmas Time is Here” Kala‘e + Kalena & Zeo Worship (Zeo Music, LLC)

“Hawaiian Honey” Kala‘e + Kalena (Kamakoa Productions)

“Loyal Man” Kamaka Camrillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke)

“Uiha Whoa” Natalie Ai Kamauu (Keko Records LLC)

“You Deserve Me” Chardonnay & High Watah (Revive The Live, LLC)

>> Hawaiian Music Video of the Year

“E Ola Kakou E” Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke)

“Ka Pule A Ka Haku” Zeo Worship (Zeo Music, LLC)

“Kimié Miner – Ku‘u Hawai‘i” (Official Music Video) Kimié Miner (Kimié Miner Music LLC)

“Msaiakalani” Kamalei Kawa’a (Kamalei Kawa’a Music LLC)

“Pua Melie” Gregory Juan (Kahikina Productions)

>> Instrumental Composition of the Year (Composer’s Award)

“Happiness” Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)

“Laule‘a” Jeff Peterson (Jeff Peterson Productions)

“Malie” Herb Ohta, Jr. (Lele Music Productions)

“Pikake Princess (Instrumental)” Taimane (Diamond Entertainment LLC)

“Sunrise At Kumukahi” Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane Music)

>> Song of the Year (Composer’s Award)

“Ahe Nani ka Laula o Puna” Various Artists (Kahuli Leo Le‘a)

“Drifting On Island Time” Kala‘e Camarillo (Kala‘e Camarillo)

“E Ola Kakou E” Kamaka Camarillo & Anthony Pfluke (Kamaka Camarillo)

“Forever Blessed” Ekolu (Waiehu Records)

“Hawai‘i Forever” by Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC)

>> Alternative Album of the Year

“Imua” Big Chief Thunder (Bamboo Room Recording)

“KOWA” Izik (Izik)

“Kupukupu” Kupukupu (Pacific Records)

“Shine” Kamuela Kahoano (Green Light Go HI Productions)

“Surrender” Clara Stegall (Clara Stegall)

>> Anthology of the Year (Producer’s Award)

“A Tin Idol Christmas: Volume One” Various Artists (Tin Idol Productions)

“Jeff Rasmussen Anthology Through The Years” Jeff Ramussen (Mango Tree Music Records LLC)

“Kalapana 50th Anniversary — Timeless Voyage” Kalapana (Pony Canyon Inc.)

“Makuakane (God In Me)” Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane Music)

“Ukulele Jazz Collection Volume 1” Abe Lagrimas Jr. (On The Up Records)

>> Compilation Album of the Year (Producer’s Award)

“All the Things I Leave You (Patawid) OST” Various Artists (HI Institute for Philippine Studies)

“Mele Punana Leo” Various Artists (Kahuli Leo Le’a)

“Music Tech: The Christmas Album Vol. 1” Music Tech (Music Tech)

>> Contemporary Acoustic Album of the Year

“Ku‘u Lei Lokelani” Anthony Pfluke (Anthony Pfluke)

“My Father’s Land” Kenneth Makuakane (Makuakane Music)

“The Life Of A Song” Kenny Tagavilla & Sandy Essman (Tin Idol Productions)

“Where’ve You Been” Danny Johnson (Living Room Sessions)

>> Contemporary Album of the Year

“Drifting On Island Time” Kala‘e Camarillo (Kala‘e Camarillo)

”Nahenahe Vibez” Sons of Yeshua (Bless Up Hawaii LLC)

“Prelude” PARTYFOUL (Pono Entertainment)

“Queen of Hearts” Lovejack (Lovejack Music)

“The Woman In Me Charly (Tin Idol Productions)

>> Hawaiian Music Album of the Year

“Ka Leo Hou” Makana Arce (Makana Arce)

“Manaiakalani” Kamalei Kawa‘a (Kamalei Kawa‘a Music LLC)

“’Olauniu” ‘Olauniu (‘Olauniu)

“Popoloheno – Songs of Resilience & Joy” Various Artists (Dancetera)

>> Hawaiian Slack Key Album of the Year

“E Kahe Mele” Darrell Aquino (Mana Recordings)

“Hoene” Sonny Lim (Lele Music Productions)

“Slack Key Serenade” Jeff Peterson (Jeff Peterson Productions)

>> Hip Hop Album of the Year

“DREAMZTAPE” PK DREAMZ (Five AM)

“Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike” Super Groupers & Punahele (Zenbu Records)

“The New Untouchables” Paniolo Prince & Queen Maile (Fat Mullet Productions)

>> Instrumental Album of the Year

“He Kaikamahine O Kekahi Moku” T.J. Keanu Tario (Lo’ihi Records)

“Kakahiaka” Jonah Davis (A‘o ‘Ukulele Productions)

“Over The Open Fields” Jacob Staron (Nahaku Records)

“Songs For Mayumi” Gerard K. Gonsalves (Tin Idol Productions)

”’Ukulele Story” Herb Ohta, Jr. (Lele Music Productions)

>> Island Music Album of the Year

“Ei Nei, Look At Us” Ei Nei (Ei Nei, LLC)

“Kalaho‘onani” Michael Keale (Pono Ridge Music)

“Po‘okela” Po‘okela (Mana Recordings)

“This Island Life” Matt Krahula (Pacific Records)

“Waikiki to Rarotonga” Darrell Aquino and Christy Leina’ala Lassiter (Christy Leina‘ala Lassiter)

>> Jazz Album of the Year

“Almost Home” Groovology (Sugar Town Records)

“Echoes Of A Decade” Absolute Joy Hawai‘i (Absolute Joy Hawai‘i)

“Enchantment Under the Kiawe Tree: Live @ House Without A Key” The WAITIKI7 (WaitikiInternational)

“Exotica Reborn: In Studio and Live @ House Without A Key” The WAITIKI7 (WaitikiInternational)

“Yesterday’s Lives” Maggie Herron (Herron Song Records)

>> Metal Album of the Year

“Disaster Squad” Disaster Squad (Tin Idol Productions)

“Madame Pele” Storm (Tin Idol Productions)

“Misfortune Teller” Anxiety Suite (Tin Idol Productions)

>> Reggae Album of the Year

“Livin’ Love” Billy Cruz (Keolani Music)

“Represent” Kawao (Kawao Music Publishing LLC)

“Revolution” Maka Gallinger (808 Ohana)

“Strictly Originals” Ekolu (Waiehu Records)

“Today Better Than Yesterday” Human Era (Human Era)

“Watah Boys, Vol. 1” High Watah (High Watah, LLC)

>> Religious Album of the Year

“I Give My Praise To You” Ben Borthwick (Ko‘olau Productions)

“Illuminate” Sarah Bethany (Mana Music & Media)

“Legacy 2025” Abby Brilhante (Abby Brilhante)

“LIVE” Zeo Worship (Zeo Music, LLC)

“Me Ka Fiyah” Tania Manaba (Bu Print Records)

>> Rock Album of the Year

“A Tribute To Van Halen” Tin Idols (Tin Idol Productions)

“Life Tips on Dumpster Diving” Kauz of Affliction (Big Rock Records)

“Uncovered” Average Joes (PLAY THAT DISCO PRODUCTIONS)