For the first time in its 43-year history, the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts will be postponing the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The awards show will now take place on Sept. 10 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Holonolulu. The star-studded gala will honor the best and brightest in Hawaii’s music community and will be broadcast live on KFVE-TV (K5), and streamed internationally.
“After extensive consideration, it is with a heavy heart that we share our decision to postpone the 43rd annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards,” said Amy Hanaiali‘i Gilliom, president of the Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts. “The health and well-being of our community, award nominees, staff and thousands of people who attend the awards show each year is our first and foremost priority. From our HARA ohana to yours, we’d like to send our love and aloha to everyone in Hawaii and globally who are affected by this pandemic.”
The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts has established the Kokua Hawaii Entertainers Fund to benefit its members — many of whom are without work during this pandemic. To help launch the fund, HARA is working with KFVE-TV to co-host a two-hour television concert series at 7 p.m. April 25 on KFVE-TV.
“We hope that this fund will be able to provide some much-needed relief to our members – many who are suffering during this pandemic. Our members are incredibly generous and are often the first to help those in need. We hope that the community will come out and support them during their difficult time,” Hanaiali‘i Gilliom added.
The special will be hosted by Billy V and feature memorable moments from past Na Hoku Hanohano Awards. It will repeat at 3 p.m. May 3 on KHNL.
All funds raised will go towards helping HARA’s musicians during this difficult time. For more information on the concert series or to make a donation, visit www.harahawaii.com.
Members have been voting for the preliminary ballot of the awards for the past two weeks. The five entries receiving the highest number of votes in each category will appear on the final ballot, which will be announced Wednesday.
Online voting on the final ballot will run May 6-27. From June 10 to July 8, people can vote online for Favorite Entertainer of the Year.
The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts was established in 1981 with a mission to preserve, perpetuate, promote and celebrate Hawaii’s music and recording industry. The organization is responsible for coordinating and hosting the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, which today has evolved into an industry awards ceremony administered by recording professionals. HARA also honors music industry pioneers at its Lifetime Achievement Awards
For more information, visit: www.nahokuhanohano.org.