Grammy Goes Hawaiian

Disappointing story on the front page of today's L.A. Times that promises, at least on the headline, to chronicle how the Grammys are finally awarding a Hawaiian music statuette.

But after the first two graphs, the story turns into a harangue on how the Recording Academy gives out too many Grammys:

Or could that crowded feeling be coming from Cazimero's fellow nominees? In the thick of the Hollywood awards season, there's no suspense about one thing: If they gave an award for the awards show with the most awards, the name in the envelope would be this year's Grammys. With 107 categories up for grabs, the nominee list fills 63 pages.

Who knew you could win a Grammy for best surround-sound CD or best packaging of a boxed set?

Well, we did, for one. Maria, after all, designs box set packages for Rhino.

The story did nothing to explain why the Hawaiian music Grammy was so long in coming, considering the other music forms that have long been recognized, like polka.

After all, Hawaii is home to a unique and vibrant recording industry. The music is as mainstream as it gets in the state -- name another regional music that's as widespread. Several of the state's top-rated radio stations play island music; I don't know of any other markets where, besides Spanish formats, the regional music is played on the No. 1 station in town.

Yet the genre was ignored by the Grammys -- until this year. (The Hawaii Recording Academy's Na Hoku Hanohano awards have filled the void for decades, honoring all types of Hawaiian music, from traditional to instrumental to Hawaiian reggae, or "Jawaiian.")

This year's nominees: "Some Call it Aloha... Don't Tell," by the Brothers Cazimero; "Ke'alaokamaile" by Keali'i Reichel; "Amy & Willie Live," by Willie K and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom; "Cool Elevation" by Ho'okena; and the compilation "Slack Key Guitar, Vol. 2."

I played tracks from all five nominees last Thursday night on "Hawaiian Eye"; tune in this week -- Thursday nights/Friday mornings from midnight to 2 a.m. on 88.5 KCSN-FM-- as I play the entire winning CD.

Meanwhile, Maria and I are off to the Staples Center to catch tonight's show. (It'll be our first time away from little Evan!) We'll bring the digital camera and hope to report on it later.

(See how Hawaii's Honolulu Star Bulletin covers the first Hawaiian Grammy here. And no, I'm not the Variety reporter he mentions attended the Friday night event at the Cinegrill.)